I like to say that I don’t collect souvenirs when I travel, I collect memories. Let’s face it—I’m only traveling with a small backpack so there isn’t much room for purchases along the way!
There are some exceptions to this general rule. If the purchase helps create the memory or mark a significant milestone, I definitely go for it. For example, I purchased my first bra at the Galleries Lafayette in Paris and proudly wore it to a fancy dinner at Le Tren Bleu.
And on a later trip to Paris, I purchased my first bottle of perfume. J'adore by Dior is still my signature scent!
But oftentimes, window shopping is more than enough. I spent hours in Shoe Heaven at Harrod’s, which was the perfect way to spend Boxing Day in London!
And sometimes the purchase means as much to the seller as the purchaser. I enjoy buying small items to support local artisans, such as these wooden bracelets from Senegal that still accompany me on my travels.
And sometimes the memories are worth more than any purchase. Like my first marriage proposal (in Luxor, Egypt when I was 12?!), my first taste of foie gras (Jules Verne Restaurant, Eiffel Tower), or my first performance on an international stage (Valencia, Spain).
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