Along with
photos, I’ve started giving up on the practice of collecting souvenirs while I
travel. It’s not that I’m against
souvenirs, or that I think they cost too much (which, in most cases, they do).
It’s actually a far more practical consideration of space and weight. I tend to
pack very densely to begin with, so I don’t have a lot of space for these
items.
I’ve also
grown weary of the typical gift shop fare. Most places all seemed to be stocked
with the same assortment of shirts, mugs, magnets, keychains, and other
knick-knacks. It’s hard to find a souvenir that really speaks to me, something
that will not just sit on a shelf collecting dust. Consequently, I don’t get
much in the way of souvenirs, anymore.
However,
when I do find something I want, in today’s world of online commerce, it’s
possible to get souvenirs from a vacation well after the vacation. I’ll use my
phone’s camera to take a picture of what I want so I can buy it after I get
back home.