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When my pals M&A were getting ready to leave Austria after they'd spent their winter vacation with us (this was in my expat days), they spent a good deal of time poking around the supermarket to find things to bring home to their kids. Their choices seemed comical at the time -- toothpaste, bath salts, maybe even a box of cereal, items that you could absolutely get at home -- but they weren't off the mark. The foreign language, the new tastes and smells, the exotic packaging, this was stuff that was useful but came very clearly from Somewhere Else. The kids went nuts. My same friends once brought me an inflight magazine from Asia because the English translation was so hilariously bad, they knew it would send me in to hysterics. They were right, of course, and that souvenir was way better than a "My friend went to Shanghai" t-shirt.
It is easy to be suckered into Italian ceramics, Chinese brocaded fabrics, Czech handmade lace, only to discover that it was all made somewhere other than where you are and available for the same price at the Pier One or Cost Plus or whatever import store is near you. Globalization, baby, it's messed up your souvenir shopping. That's why the supermarket is such a great place to get souvenirs - it's the last bastion of localism.
Budget Travel has an oldie-but-goodie slideshow: Budget Travel Magazine Supermarket Souvenirs if you're looking for inspiration.
Viator's blog posts some additional photos of odd, extremely local purchases.
Eileen Smith's post on Boots N All has some terrific examples of supermarket souvenirs -- I love the squid shaped squid, though I'm not sure I'd foist that on anyone, much less risk it exploding in my luggage.
Saving Money in Real Life suggests you buy edible souvenirs -- fine advice, who doesn't like to get yummy treats from elsewhere -- but I'd add that you'll avoid a little heartbreak by making sure you can carry it through customs.
Nifty Thrifty also gives supermarkets the thumbs up -- get cool stuff, save money, and what ARE "super slutty socks"?
Save money, buy cool stuff you can't get elsewhere, win over those who didn't get to tag along with you, and maybe even support a small local business...A big win, all around. Now, who's going to get those packages of Hula Noodles we got in Hawaii?
Pam blogs about travel and other adventures at Nerd's Eye View.
