Souvenirs - Lili on the Loose

29 04, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Build Your Own Droids

By Lili|April 29th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2016, Disney, Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Droids, Florida, Hollywood Studios, Magical Weekend, North America, Orlando, Star Tours, Star Wars, USA, Walt Disney World|0 Comments

Years ago, I made my own custom Lightsaber at Disneyland. So when I went to Disney World (Disney's Hollywood Studios to be exact) I debated on if I'd get another one. But instead, I was entrapped by this fun area where you could build your own Droids! I spent much longer than I care to admit looking for matching legs for these two droids (before realizing there was a larger station behind me.) But I liked how they turned out. Purple accents and funny hats really makes it my own. And for geekiness, if you are wondering what types of

15 04, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Larimar, Stone of the Caribbean

By Lili|April 15th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2010, 2011, Caribbean, Charlotte Amalie, Cocoloba Shopping Center, conch, Coral Bay, earings, jewelry, Jolly Dog, Larimar, necklace, ocean, paradise, St. John, St. John 2010, St. John 2011, St. Thomas, USVI|0 Comments

Larimar is a stone only found in the Dominican Republic, but you'll find jewelry made from the stone throughout the Carribean as the "Official" stone of the area. It's beautiful aqua blue color does remind you of the ocean waves. I have 3 pieces of Larimar jewelry, all purchased at various places of the US Virgin Islands. The first piece The first piece, is actually my newest acquisition, as I got it right before leaving the USVIs on St. Thomas in Charlotte Amalie at a market usually serving cruise ship passengers. We had arrived by ferry and right after exiting found

1 04, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Suckered into Buying Papyrus

By Lili|April 1st, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, bargaining, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, hustle, Middle East, papyrus, papyrus museum, shopping, souvenir|1 Comment

One thing I didn't think I'd get in Egypt was Papyrus. I didn't think I'd find anything I'd want to display, and I had always seen cast-off papyrus at second-hand stores like Goodwill. But, when you are there in the moment you get caught up...and guilted. You see, our group stopped at a "Papyrus Museum" (aka showroom) on our way to Alexandria. They showed us how Papyrus is made, and then each one of us were allowed to look around. Except in Egypt, "looking around" means you get adopted by one of the many employees eager for a sell. An

18 03, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Starlight

By Lili|March 18th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Cairo, Call to Prayer, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Explorer, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Islamic Cairo, Khan el Khalili, Lamp, market, Middle East, Muslim, prayer, Souq, Star Lamp, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

I've told the story of trying to buy a lamp right as the call to prayer started, this is that lamp. I really wanted a star shaped lamp, and I loved that this one had stars and moons imprinted on it to spread the light. Although the purchasing of it was comically awkward... Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

4 03, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Waterfall Wood Art

By Lili|March 4th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2012, art, Central America, Costa Rica, Costa Rica Adventure 2012, Montezuma, painting, rope swing, waterfall, zip line|0 Comments

The day after I injured myself while zip lining, I decided to hang around Montezuma while the rest of the group went on a road trip trying to find great beaches to hang out at. As I still had a minor concussion, I mostly just walked the small main street and shopped a bit. One store I went into was sort of a depressing tourist market, that sold stuff like sun glasses, swimsuits, and sunscreen. I was about to discount it when I saw this on the wall. I had to laugh, this depicted the rope swing at the waterfalls

18 02, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Novelty Shot Glasses

By Lili|February 18th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: California, Coronado, North America, San Diego, shot glass, shot glasses, The Del, The Del Coronado, USA|0 Comments

I use to collect shot glasses everywhere I went. Back in my college days I'd even use them! But towards the end of me collecting shot glasses I finally caved and bought a few novelty ones that you couldn't drink out of, you know the types with something glued to the inside or outside of the shot glass. Here are 3 I bought in San Diego featuring the Del Coronado Hotel and an Orca. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

4 02, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Mini Painting of Antigua

By Lili|February 4th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2013, Antigua, Central America, Guatemala, Mayan Encounter 2013, painting|0 Comments

This is a miniature painting on an easel that shows Antigua's streets with the volcano lit up in the background by the moon. I really wanted a small painting like this to sit at my desk at work. And although this was a common souvenir it took me ages to track down. The problem was that either the work would be very poorly done or the prices would be outrageous. For example one store told me a small painting like this would be $80 USD. This was in a store that only sold various sizes of touristy paintings. I was the

21 01, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Toucan Sam

By Lili|January 21st, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2012, Central America, Costa Rica, Costa Rica Adventure 2012, Toucan|0 Comments

This simple clay Toucan is sadly the only Toucan I saw in Costa Rica. In fact to this day I've never seen one in person. For some reason their huge beaks fascinate me, and I really had hoped to see one in the wild. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

7 01, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Nativity Star Schwibbögen

By Lili|January 7th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2011, Christmas Arch, Christmas in Germany 2011, Christmas Market, Cristkindlmarket, Europe, German Christmas Market, Germany, nativity, Schwibbögen, star, Star of Bethlehem|0 Comments

A Schwibbögen is a Christmas arch candle holder made in Germany. This one is electric and is designed to be hung in the window. It features the Star of Bethlehem with a Nativity scene within it. Its tail has little stars and flourishes. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

24 12, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: German Porcelain Candle House

By Lili|December 24th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2011, candle, ceramic, Christmas in Germany 2011, Christmas Market, clay, Europe, Frankfurt, German Christmas Market, Germany, Kastel Keramik Haus, Lichthauser, market, porcelain, Tudor|1 Comment

One souvenir that you'll see commonly at German Christmas Markets are these little ceramic, clay, or porcelain houses. (Although now you'll see all types of buildings including churches to castles.) Mine are from Kastel Keramik Haus (or they are also known as Lichthauser) and I purchased it at my first Christmas Market in Frankfurt. It was the last night of their market, and so I got some of these little houses for 50% off. They either have a hole in a the back, or separate into two pieces so you can place a candle within it. You'll see the light flickering