Souvenirs – Dust Collectors, Keepers of Memories or Household Helpers

I like to ask people what drove them to buy the item, how they go about buying one and where. It’s something that fascinates me. Some people turn their souvenirs into real miniature mausoleums. In such cases, they usually really turn into dust collectors that often end in flea markets, reuse centres, raffles and similar places. And yet others turn into stories. Not long ago, I heard of a family who brings a Christmas tree decoration from their travels. It sounded like a really great idea. Christmas tree decorations don’t have to be covered in Christmas motives. They just have to include something so they can be attached to the tree. Now the family has a Christmas tree full of memories from their travels. How lovely.

Some people buy mugs, spoons, umbrellas and other useful things that can actually be used. In other words, things they bring home from their travels instead of buying them in ordinary shops. Practical and memorable. I also happened to buy a plate or a bowl on occasion, something that doesn’t just gather dust, but also has a purpose in a household. A formal purpose, that is, something that can be used for special occasions.

But I’m otherwise not really a passionate souvenir shopper. It sometimes feels great to walk down the market or turn to a boutique or two, but these souvenir shops can also bring great disappointment and, erm... anxiety. I’m not going to generalise because, naturally, one can have a completely positive experience, but taking large European cities as an example, like Rome or Paris, shopping can turn into a true nightmare. Right upon entering and being greeted by the seller, whose features suggest Asian origin, most of these shops fail to hide the fact that the souvenirs aren’t even remotely produced in the country where they’re being sold. A great example are all those identical Eiffel Towers and Roman Colosseums, as well as tons of other items, that are being sold in all souvenir shops, except that they differ in price by half a euro. Local craftsmen can quickly get buried in this avalanche.

But if you make just a bit of effort in trying to find these local craftsmen, you’ll realise their products come with an added value and truly tell stories. In my opinion, the only real gift or souvenir you buy is the work of a local artist, craftsman, community or institution. In some places, I’ve noticed a strong awareness of the importance of local products and those places even go so far as to try to stress that fact. They also make it much more difficult to find really cheap items ordered from abroad.

Postcards, however, are something I like to bring back home. They don’t add extra weight to my backpack and don’t require extra space either, and they don’t gather dust because I have a special place reserved for them on my wall. I hope to someday find a frame for each of them, so they’ll be able to continue decorating my walls. Of course, I have certain conditions. If possible, I don’t buy the usual postcards with attractions on them. Instead, I prefer city illustrations and moments captured in photos, eternalised by the author’s personal touch. It is this very personal touch and the local product that, in my opinion, should be something to strive for when buying a present or something that will remind us of past adventures.