Saturday, February 11, 2012

Souvenirs?


One of my favorite markets is at Place d'Aligre, a daily market about which I have posted many times.  On a recent Sunday I spied two large boxes with an assortment of plastic toys and trinkets. In looking at the photos I took, it seems that I might have wanted a single souvenir to perch at home among my little collection of Pez dispensers.  I would not have wanted a dozen but just one, the right one, of course.

Certainly, I have bought my share of Paris souvenirs and have towels, hats, aprons from many cities around the world, but in recent years have been most happy with small little remembrances:  an old key bought from a Paris friend in the Marais, an antique handkerchief with a hand-embroidered initial for my husband, fêves (bien sûr), old post cards and photographs, a Champagne glass, a grocery tote from the Monoprix, second-hand children's books, etc.

What about you? 

Not counting edible items (macarons, fromage, baguettes), what do you buy as a reminder of your trip to Paris or any other place in the world, near or far?


Marché d'Aligre
Place d'Aligre
Métro Ledru-Rollin
75012 Paris

22 comments:

  1. I remember people, first. Then scenes. My wife remembers all the food. We tell a great story, together.

    About this box. Junk? Treasures? Take you pick.

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  2. What a bundle of joy. Some of these bits and pieces probably bought have much happiness to someone.

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  3. I don´t dare come back from Paris without Fauchon´s tin cans for my only daughter!

    She eats de contents and I keep the tins...

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  4. It depends on the place I visited. I take some sand from a beach, or shells, a stone from mountain. Postcards: ALWAYS!Bookmarks too, I collect them..
    On your pic, the two white "chinese ladies" on the right made me smile: when I was around 10/12, they were offered in coffee boxes!so,they are 'a little) old!

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  5. Usually some silly thing. Last time I was there with my husband, who passed away 3 1/2 years ago, I bought a snow globe with the Eiffel Tower in it, along with an elderly couple on a bench.

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  6. Hi Genie, Some things stay with me forever, coffee pots from Morocco, Aboriginal artifacts from Australia, paintings from China....but the most valuable is a silly little cracked plate I bought in what was West Germany in 1966 the plate showing a windmill by the autobahn which was used by the YMCA organisation who fed coffee and cakes to passing British soldiers!

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  7. I don´t buy souvenirs anymore in Paris but every Autumn I pick a chestnut down on Champs Elysées and I bring it in my bag the whole year - till the Autumn successive. It is my talisman for the whole year.
    But usually I bring home many "edile items" :-)
    Nice weekend to you and to your family Hana

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  8. I like to buy ordinary household objects. I think this stemmed from my first trip to Paris when I hadn't taken any nail clippers. So I bought a pair of nail clippers in a pharmacy on the Champs Elysee. I hadn't set out to buy them there, but I did. They were gold (Australian ones are silver). I loved those nail clippers... And every time I cut my finger nails I thought about Paris. Last trip I bought a folding trivet which I like seeing in my kitchen drawer. I also buy soup cookbooks in French, and always make sure I need to buy toothpaste, so that I can use French toothpaste on my return- I leave it in my travel bag so it lasts even longer.

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  9. i use to travel in the north, so i buy yarn, toys, shoes and clothes. sometimes a guitar or something for my computer or my camera. it depends of my location…

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  10. This trip? 2,000+ photographs. :)
    V

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  11. Wow, even a horseshoe in there?
    God bless you!
    Cezar

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  12. I traveled mostly to England, Scotland, and England, and I always brought back either a hanky or a bone china cup. Oh, and I did year after year bring back wool Christmas ornaments of the kings and queens of England. From France I have a precious mini silk back pack which I adore. Hope you are well. As of late our paths have not ben crossing. Love the hodge podge of goodies in the little box. the other Genie

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  13. Do you know the word bric-a-brac?

    By the way, my B and W paperweight is in fact a flat photo, a normal one, processed with something called Artizen

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  14. Genie,

    Textiles. I always want to purchase vintage and new textiles. I have a "thing" for them.

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  15. You have some interesting comments here. I don't think I would be shopping in that box. What we buy depends on where we are traveling. Last trip was in December to Holland-Germany-France-Switzerland for Christmas markets. We came home with santons, a cuckoo clock and a pyramid with candles.

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  16. I tend to go to small bookstores and buy a new book or trinket.

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  17. I love the stories and the suggestions... How many times have you seen people buying the little Eiffel Towers? (Well, okay, I have done that as well..) The fact is that depending on our preferences we can always find something that will remind us of a special trip and it need not be bought in a tourist shop.

    I like the idea of Hana picking up that chestnut each fall and of Louise's household items. Virginia, I am right there with you and the thousands of photos; Gringo, it sounds like you have an amazing collection of your many travels; Maria, I have several of those pink tins from Fauchon; Malyss, I have a bowl of shells and beach glass from St. Barth's.

    Bibi, I know that your snow globe is the most precious of all. What an enduring memory.

    Bises,
    Genie

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  18. I'm booked for my first trip ever to Paris in October. Whatever I bring home will most likely have to be small, but I want it to be something that will always remind me of Paris. I would like to think that among the souvenirs will definitely be a book (or two) and maybe a small piece of artwork. Aside from that, I think the possibilities are endless.

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  19. I always like to try and bring back a small piece of art, some glass, a small local dish or plate to serve nuts, olives, snacks on. I also like to have a fridge magnet from special places. But the best thing I bring back are wonderful memories and 1000's of photos.

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  20. Two-cents, I bought a watercolor on my first trip to Paris and started a tradition of buying a small piece of art in each city I visit. My photographs are a personal memory but the art has given me an opportunity to meet a local artist (and take their photograph). I know you will have a wonderful trip and I look forward to hearing about your plans.

    Al, I have a few pieces of glass art but usually have them shipped so it is a rare occasion

    Bises,
    Genie

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  21. I see one that I would pick, which looks like a horse shoe!

    I don't collect things anymore.

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  22. I'm reminded of the little plastic toys that I played with when I was a boy. :)

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Merci for your comments!