Victoria Street Market

The First stop on our city tour of Durban yesterday was at the historic Victoria Market. We spent about an hour browsing the African items and souvenirs available for purchase at the various stores. As we are known for exercising restraint in spending we only purchased one fridge magnet and one casual hat.

I enjoyed seeing all the bright and colorful African goods and gave my camera quite a work out taking upclose shots. 

Magnetic Memories

Back in April 2003 I shared these thoughts on buying souvenirs.

"Although we spend quite a few $$$ on our travel I find it very easy to reject all of the souvenirs and mementos that we see our fellow travellers buy. I am fascinated by the people in our tour groups who get irritated when the tours don't have time allocated for shopping. I travel to see the sites and meet the people.

My souvenirs are my memories, my diaries and my photographs. I occasionally make an exception and buy a fridge magnet that I put on the metal filing cabinet beside my desk. I enjoy looking at these little shapes that remind me of a few of the places we have travelled.



Top drawer of my filing cabinet displays some magnets collected in the past year (2023)

I have sometimes been tempted by a book which is usually an autobiography of someone associated with a site we have visited. I gave into temptation at Disney in Tokyo and bought myself a practical shopping bag. Not many of the souvenirs I come across are practical and/or good value for $$$."

I have been home from our recent holiday for a week and this morning finally located and unwrapped the magnets I purchased in Europe. These ranged in price from one to five Euros but the memories they evoke when I look at them are priceless. 

Magnets collected on our October/November 2024 journey

Always aware that we have to drag our luggage around I exercise restraint when purchasing (heavy) books. I can proudly report that I only purchased two books during our 45 day journey. At Greenway, Agatha Christie's country retreat, I bought Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman. In Amsterdam at The Van Gogh Museum I couldn't resist Face to Face with Vincent Van Gogh.

In Anno Itinerantur - No thanks

In the past year since  travel opened up for Australians Robert and I have taken several journeys at home and overseas. While I posted many photos of these adventures on Facebook I want to leave a more permanent record of some of our adventures. This challenge provides me with opportunities to share my photos and stories while recording some personal history. 

I plan to share photos and stories from our travels between April 2022 and March 2023.  My theme this year is In Anno Itinerantur. 

Although we spend quite a few $$$ on our travel I find it very easy to reject all of the souvenirs and mementos that we see our fellow travellers buy. I am fascinated by the people in our tour groups who get irritated when the tours don't have time allocated for shopping. I travel to see the sites and meet the people.

My souvenirs are my memories, my diaries and my photographs. I occasionally make an exception and buy a fridge magnet that I put on the metal filing cabinet beside my desk. I enjoy looking at these little shapes that remind me of a few of the places we have travelled. 

Top drawer of my filing cabinet displays some magnets collected in the past year

I have sometimes been tempted by a book which is usually an autobiography of someone associated with a site we have visited. I gave into temptation at Disney in Tokyo and bought myself a practical shopping bag. Not many of the souvenirs I come across are practical and/or good value for $$$.

Handy shopping bag from Disney, Tokyo

Among the necessities I purchased were three hats: a beanie to ward off the cold in Ireland, a sunhat that wouldn't blow away in Rome and, after mine flew away, a new bucket hat to keep the sun at bay.

Avoiding the sun's rays in my new bucket hat in Jaffa, Israel.

Of course if Robert wants to buy me a nice piece of quality jewellery as a memento of our travels I can't disappoint him. 

Just looking - In Florence, Italy

When harangued by enthusiastic street vendors I just say "No thanks" and walk on. When fellow tourists swarm into tourist shops I stay outside and may take a photo of the goods on offer or find a seat and watch the passing parade.

I took a few images of the temptations (souvenirs) I resisted in tourist towns during the past year.

Florence, Italy

These little bells in Comogli, Italy were pretty 

This old girl doesn't do tourist tshitrts

I peeped through the door in Verona, Italy

Oops - I may have transgressed and bought a scarf in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

I sat in the coach in American Samoa while some of the shopaholics did their thing

I must admit these figures in Lerwick, Scotland were cute but not for my house

I took plenty of photos of the real thing so it was "No thanks" to these models in Alberobello , Italy

It was hard to resist these houses in Siena, Italy but common sense prevailed

We found these all over Italy. Made in China?

Stall spoiling the ambience in the main square in Siena, Italy

There were numerous stalls outside Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia

I should have bought one of these cute fishy magnets in Chania, Crete

Not my style in Santorini, Greece

No shortage of pottery and plates in Kusadasi, Turkey

Ripoffs in Japan

Souvenirs

 When we travel I rarely buy souvenirs except for the occasional book or fridge magnet. I do, however, have rather a large collection of pens and pencils that I souvenir at the hotels in which we stay. Rifling through my tub of pens reminds me of some glorious and ghastly stays.

I took some photos of my collection today.