INA WO(A)NDERS: ABOUT SOUVENIRS
Island-shaped fridge magnets; keyrings bearing the name of the holiday resort; entire cathedrals in miniature format to take home: in some places, souvenir shops are as common as sand on the sea or fresh air in the mountains. Barcelona, for example, has an impressive 112 such shops, whose treasures lie somewhere between kitsch and arts and crafts. "Small object that someone buys as a souvenir of a trip": This is how the Duden dictionary defines souvenirs that are meant to prolong the holiday feeling at home a little longer. Or at least to prove where we have been. Evidence of what we have experienced. Trophies of what we have achieved. Certificates of our sophistication.
Souvenir means “memory” in French
In French, souvenir simply means "memory". There is something nostalgic about this word that is difficult to attach to a fridge with a magnet. A memory is the mental reliving of a situation from the past. And that is exactly what we want to achieve by buying a souvenir: to recall holiday moments and the pleasant feelings associated with them at the touch of a button. But what exactly do we want to remember? The moment when we stood in front of this cathedral in the scorching sun with 100 other tourists to take photos? The bad taste in our mouths because we somehow knew that the shop next door was an overpriced tourist trap? Or instead the inconspicuous bookshop where we took refuge from the rain - and where we met our holiday love for the first time?
Sustainable souvenirs full of holiday feeling
The reason I personally don't buy classic souvenirs is partly because I don't have the space to hang them up or display them. Let alone the time to dust them regularly. Instead, I buy something practical that I use regularly in places that I want to remember.
- The sun hat in English Harbour on Antigua – because the sun shone so beautifully there and I felt elegant and loved.
- The dough scraper in Tavira – because there, for the first time after a year of sailing, I felt joy again in my vagabond life in the van.
- The jewel box in Chavez – because it was my intuition that made me explore this beautiful little town that evening.
- And the two glasses in Ribadesella – because here I finally played street music again and touched people I didn’t know.
None of these souvenirs reveal where they come from. But every time I put on the sun hat, the sun seems to shine a little brighter. When I use the spatula, I feel like I can get a little more out of my days in Tavira. When I open the jewelry box, the intuition in my stomach purrs contentedly and stretches. And with the glasses, I drink to the magic of music day in and day out.
What is your favorite travel souvenir? Tell me! I am always happy to receive feedback, suggestions or questions – please leave a comment or send an email to i[email protected].
Here you can find an exciting article about collecting shells!
© Photos: Ina Hiester, Pexels / Nati
(1) https://all.accor.com/a/de/limitless/thematics/travel-tips-guides/urlaubsmitbringsel-europa.html
Ina Hiester
Ina is a digital nomad and travels through Europe by land and sea. The journalist is always on the lookout for special places for Good Travel, philosophizes about travel in her column, takes photographs, makes music and writes articles on all kinds of environmental and sustainability topics.
3 Comments
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Ina Hiester
Great! There will also be a column about this at some point - how we can take our vacation home with us "with all our senses". Because smells and tastes somehow go straight to the heart and don't even have to take the detour via the head. It's great that you discovered fenugreek seeds with their associated vacation memories, Bärbel.
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Li
I practically grew up in a souvenir shop, because my grandpa had one and I always did my homework there after school. That's why I love magnets, keychains, and all that. I also always take a magnet with me when I travel, as a memento of my grandpa.
Another thing I sometimes do is bring a perfume with me. Whenever I smell it or apply it, I'm reminded of my long walks and explorations.
Bärbel
My favorite travel souvenir is fenugreek seeds from an organic store in Mecklenburg. Whenever I sprinkle them on my cream cheese bread, I remember this vacation. I've already bought some more in the local store.