We left Almagro with our souvenir water colours safely packed away. We don’t buy souvenirs any more because inevitably we get them home and wonder why? Most impulse purchases get thrown away but we do still have the water colours.
My grandparents first went to Spain for a holiday in 1960 or thereabouts. They brought back exotic stories of exciting overseas adventures and suitcases full of unusual mementos, castanets, replica flamenco dancing girls, handsome matador dolls with flaming scarlet capes and velour covered bulls that decorated their living room and collected dust for the next twenty years or so.
This is their story…
Every Picture Tells a Story – Benidorm c1960
What is the worst souvenir that you have ever brought home?
Have Bag, Will Travel 
Thank you for sharing the trip of your grandparents. It is nice to read about those days.
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Thank you for stopping by.
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We too do not get souvenirs, as it is we have so many photos. Nice to read about your grandparents.
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Photos are the best souvenirs.
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Love the matador!
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He is rather splendid!
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always love these stories of old and family. Of course, those souvenirs are my own so have plenty around my house ::) Cheers
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Thanks for the contribution!
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My photographs are my souvenirs, but I do have some small souvenirs from a few places, that’s OK!
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It is the impulse buy that I always regret!
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😀😀
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I think coffee mugs are the worst! You end up with a kitchen cupboard full of mismatched cups.
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I stopped buying souvenirs a long time ago, but John can’t help acquiring Chinese mementos. Every time he visits on business he comes home with something he has been given. Tea I welcome, bottles of Chinese liquor I don’t. The books of stamps, paper cutouts, embroideries, painted stones etc I just don’t know what do do with! I’m threatening to set up a museum in the spare bedroom.
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Sounds as though you may need a house extension!
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I love all my mementoes, even the odd looking ones. They are all an aide memoire to a time I don’t wish to forget. My first from Spain were the same as your grandparents (probably we are of the same generation), the bull, the flamenco dolls, the Banderillas that had pride of place above the fireplace, and the gorgeous pottery. Worst one? Maybe a garden gnome from Cornwall!
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I have some nice pottery boats from Malta that I won’t part with. Thanks for adding your memories to the post!
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Looked around and couldn’t come up with a single souvenir. Perhaps that’s a side effect of moving around so much from house to house, each one getting smaller than the last. That generally tends to clear out any bits that have escaped the dust bin previously! I also think my late husband inoculated me by creating ‘collections’ of just about anything you could ever think of. I bet Bryson could make quite a story out of it.
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We have just moved house and discovered a lot of things that we didn’t really need!
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I enjoyed reading about your grandparents, Andrew. Seems like they were quite adventuresome for their time. And I like the theory that your grandfather had a secret source of cash. 🙂 As for souvenirs, Peggy and I have pretty much stopped gathering anything. She brought plenty into our life from her previous marriage! –Curt
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To take a continental holiday in the 1960s was quite an exceptional thing to do Curt.
We have just moved house so had a big de-cluttering exercise but Kim says that I have to go through my boxes for a second attempt!
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Even more so from the US, unless you were wealthy. I did manage a quick tour on my way home from the Peace Corps in 1967, however. It was whirlwind but I hit a lot of places.
When we were downsizing, Peggy made the mistake of leaving me home for a couple of days by myself. The dumpster and I became quite close. I was careful not to throw away any ‘treasures,’ however. Every once in a while Peggy still wonders about where something went. “Not a clue, dear.” 🙂 –Curt
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Aren’t they all? The only souvenirs I’ve bought when overseas is the duty free Bourbon, something useful appreciated (by me) and never kept long enough to gather dust
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That’s what I call a proper souvenir although I generally bring back gin!
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I’ve been a whiskey (bourbon) man since 1963 when I got my first taste. 🙂
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I have never been a fan of Bourbon but I do like Irish whiskey now and again. English gin for me even though everyone in the World now makes the stuff and sells it at inflated prices!
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Beautiful 🙂
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Thanks!
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I hate such impulse purchases too… 😦
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And what to do with them is the question?
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I’ve just done a trip to Brussel (Belgium). It is was very nice and I am planning to go see more cities. Check out my blog for more about Brussel! https://elignora.wordpress.com/
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We no longer do impulse shopping, rather we just pick up a magnet from each city that we visit. It’s more like a little token of that place!
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Collect to many and you will need a bigger fridge!
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Oh there are many souvenirs!
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And so little space to display them… Thanks for stopping by!
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Wow it was so good to read, like traveling back in time for a bit! Worst souvenirs? Not really into buying all the useless crap, fridge magnets are my thing 😀
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Plenty to choose from then! Thanks for stopping by.
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We always avoid souvenir stalls wherever we travel. Instead we save up for big and meaningful ones such as a handmade carpet.
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Avoiding souvenir shops requires willpower. Thanks for stopping by.
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Wow, I have almost that same doll (the one with the red dress and black mantilla) except mine is yellow- my dad brought it back from a trip in the late 70s to Spain. For me, I stopped buying souvenirs years ago, although one or two still seems to sneak into my bag each year. I prefer the memories and the photos. I’d like to make some photo gifts, maybe triptychs, of our travels.
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Thanks for the contribution!
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Good read
Thanks Andrew!
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Thank you for stopping by.
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Wow very nice artical. thanks
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Spain is a beautiful country for journey. But your post on memento is more beautiful.
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Thank you, I appreciate the comment!
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Absolutely love spain!!
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Probably my favourite!
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Thank you for the terrific post
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Thank you.
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