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:
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.
What a bundle of joy. Some of these bits and pieces probably bought have much happiness to someone.
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...
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!
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.
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!
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
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.
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…
This trip? 2,000+ photographs. :)
V
Wow, even a horseshoe in there?
God bless you!
Cezar
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
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
Genie,
Textiles. I always want to purchase vintage and new textiles. I have a "thing" for them.
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.
I tend to go to small bookstores and buy a new book or trinket.
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
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.
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.
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
I see one that I would pick, which looks like a horse shoe!
I don't collect things anymore.
I'm reminded of the little plastic toys that I played with when I was a boy. :)
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