what "souvenir" did you bring home from Rome?

Hi, I used to buy souvenirs when I traveled, but I don't anymore. I pack so lightly that I usually end up buying a t-shirt and wear it....... but that is about it.

One thing I go is send a postcard to myself that I receive when I get home and it reminds me of what I saw on my vacay and what a wonderful time I had.
If I mail it to my office - it is a nice treat to enjoy when I am back to work and sitting at my desk ...

I carry a composition book and tape with me. I post my receipts, museum guides, clippings from the day's newspaper (IHT for me) and postcards from the places I visit - basically all of the scrap paper that accumulates. I jot some notes about what I've seen and I bring home a great souvenier.

I keep a journal, buy postcards (lots of them), put together a memory book when I get home.
I buy magnets, little spoons, tea towels, books.

I liked collecting soccer scarves throughout Italy. They're about 5 euros each and small as well as clearly local.

We bought a poster of ancient Rome, we framed it and have it hanging in our living room. I take tons of pictures and pick a couple from each trip to have blown up to an 8x10, then we have them displayed all thru the house to remind us of our travels.

We always collect Oil Paintings, Lithographs or Etchings from the places we visit in Europe. We got a great deal when we were in Rome last summer, we bought a 2' x 3' oil painting of Castle de St Angelo at Piazza de Navano

My wife and I each keep a journal. Then one the first anniversary of our trip we read them. It is almost like being there again. We take the time to discuss, sip some wine and it is great. But we also buy some things. France we bought a sculpture and a serving plate with a very Frence scene. For Italy we bought two wonderful photo when in Volterre that will keep Tuscany fresh in our mind, and of course some wine. We also bought a small Morano glass scooter which fulfilled two desires. Having some Morano glass and a reminder of ALL those scooters running around the streets of Rome.

Olive Oil! Our last two trips we have shipped back 40 bottles of olive oil. We give them out to friends & family, but best of all I use LOTS of Olive Oil all year long.

I brought back a calander for the following year so I could see the sites every day of the next year. (sigh) I have to go somewhere this year so I have another calander.

I bought a small print, etching or watercolor of each city we visited. I got back home last night, can't wait to pick up some frames and arrange them.

I also bought some extra favorite postcards to keep, in case something happened to my digital photos. I also saved ticket stubs, restaurant, hotel cards which I will scan and add to a hard-bound photo memory book I'm creating on-line.

A small scarf or two for friends , ditto t-shirts.

PS regarding photos, a friend we met in Florence, lost 5 weeks of photos when her camera was stolen, over 800 pix! Next day I downloaded mine to a disc at an internet point (they did it for me)and continued to do that every few days.I felt much better!

We tend to shop very little on vacation but I often buy a book about attractions that are particularly interesting. It's nice to have the extra history lesson and pictures when we get home. We also buy a Christmas ornament on every trip. They're small items, usually not expensive and don't take up a lot of room to bring home. Unwrapping the memories of all those wonderful places, and being thankful for having been able to see them, makes trimming the tree so much fun!!! CD's by local musicians are great too!