Souvenirs - Part 2

No thank you. No room in our backpacks, I always say. We do not buy souvenirs of travels – it’s one of our top 5 traveller’s rules.

But as I sit here at my desk, I’m actually surrounded by objects that came from our travels. At least one is a completely ‘normal’ souvenir, although it does not have a country or city name printed on it.  A few are what is considered ‘normal’ for a knitter to buy on their travels. One is technically illegal, and the rest are either ephemera or junk.

Let’s get to the illegal bit – at least I’m pretty sure it was illegal.

This story comes from a time when we were still travelling using… I’m embarrassed to say it… suitcases. As I think back now, we had enough luggage that we couldn’t comfortably manage to move it all, and our toddler in a stroller, any distance. Such a different way of travelling.

For context, the ‘toddler’ is now 20, and we travel all carryon, with a backpack and a smaller front pack. And we can easily walk pretty significant distances with all our luggage without too much difficulty.

As an aside, stepping off the plane in Cusco, Peru, after weeks at sea level, was a bit of a challenge. I quite happily relinquished one of my bags as I struggled to breathe at high altitude. Two full packs at that moment did not seem like such a good idea.

But back to the illegal part.

About 15 years ago we travelled to Cuba where I began a relationship with a beautiful white shell. At least this is how I remember the story. 

We stayed at a resort, in a little beachfront cottage with a tiled front patio, and when we arrived there was a beautiful, large white shell beside the door that had been left by a previous guest, I presumed. At some point in our stay, the shell was accidentally dropped on the aforementioned tiled front patio, and a large part of the outside ‘swirl’ broke off. In a ‘you break it, you buy it’-type of thinking process, I decided to bring it home with me.

I’ve had that shell in my various offices ever since. It’s right over there to my left, within my peripheral vision as I write.

Cuba expressly forbids removal of natural objects like shells, so I probably shouldn’t mention that I also have Cuban sand in my office. But that is a story for another day.

Don’t break the law, kids. But also, natural souvenirs are the most beautiful souvenirs – even when they are broken due to rough handling.