Souvenirs - Lili on the Loose

6 08, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: St John Clay Works

By Lili|August 6th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2010, 2011, Caribbean, clay, Clay works, handmade, Maho Bay Camps, potter's wheel, pottery, pottery wheel, St. John, St. John 2010, St. John 2011, USVI|0 Comments

Hands on experiences are always the best, and I had a chance twice to visit the Maho Bay Clay Works in St John, USVI and make my own pottery. This was my first little bowl I made, and it actually turned out pretty well! It use to be a nice purple color, but an Irish flag once got caught in some water in the bowl and the color changed slightly. I have another pot at this same trip in 2010, but it came out very weirdly so haven't taken a photo of it. My second trip I was more

23 07, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Clay Shot Glass

By Lili|July 23rd, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2013, Antigua, Central America, clay, El Mercado, Guatemala, Mayan Encounter 2013, shot glass|0 Comments

I use to be a little obsessed when souvenir hunting. I had a mental checklist of items I needed to add to my collection. Which is why I searched high and low for a unique shot glass in Guatemala. I shopped in El Mercado for hours but not finding anything. I was being too picky. And then I saw this little clay shot glass, small and dirty and for some reason I thought it was perfect. And so I bought it! And then a few stores down I found the actual perfect shot glass...but I had spent all my money!

9 07, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Mini Tea Cup

By Lili|July 9th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2013, Christmas in July, George Washington, Mount Vernon, Museum Madness, North America, ornament, tea cup, USA, Virginia|0 Comments

Its Christmas in July! This little tea cup ornament comes from Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. George and his wife Martha were very fond of tea. Read more at: Tea from the archives Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

25 06, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Siena Palio Contrade Banner

By Lili|June 25th, 2016|Categories: Events, Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2005, 2006, All in the family 2005/2006, All in the family Italy 2005/2006, Banner, contrade, Europe, horse race, Italy, Palio, Piazza del Campo, Siena|0 Comments

The Palio is a 90 second horse race in Siena, Italy that takes place twice a year in the heart of the city at Piazza del Campo. It is a race for honor and prestige for the winer representing one of the 17 Contrade (districts) within the city. Of the 17 Contrade, only 10 are randomly chosen to participate in the race. They then go on to get randomly assigned a horse, and then must find a jockey to represent them. There are very few rules to the Palio, its sort of a "anything goes" and rivalry between the different

11 06, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Mini Rootbeer Mug

By Lili|June 11th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: Kansas, North America, NuWay, NuWay Burgers, Rootbeer, Wichita|0 Comments

One constant of family road trips back to see the relatives were the crumbly greasy burgers and rootbeer from NuWay, a burger chain in Wichita, KS. We'd go at least once every trip, sometimes two or three times. Not by my choice. But because it was a "hometown favorite" of my parents. Every time we went, I'd get sick. So one time I didn't order food, instead I got a miniature rootbeer mug. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

28 05, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Baka Neko, Neko Basu: Cat Bus!

By Lili|May 28th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2004, Anime, Asia, Cat Bus, Chino, film, Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, Keychain, My Neighbor Totoro, Nagano, Neko, Sister Cities, Sister Cities Japan 2004, Tonari no Totoro, Totoro|0 Comments

Stupid Cat, Cat Bus! Baka Neko, Neko Basu or The Cat Bus is a bizarre character from Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbor Totoro). There was a Japanese legend that said as cats get older they can shape-shift, and given the nickname Baka Neko (Stupid/Crazy Cat). In Totoro, this Baka Neko become a Bus! Cat Bus Close Up Cat Bus at the Bus Stop Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

14 05, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Bones Rum

By Lili|May 14th, 2016|Categories: Drinks, Food & Drink, Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2011, bar, Bones Rum, Caribbean, Curzan, Curzan Rum, Pina Colada, rum, St. John, St. John 2011, St. Thomas, USVI|0 Comments

When you exit the St. Thomas airport, you are greeted with a sample of Curzan Rum. Then when you get off the ferry in St. John, you get...another sample of Curzan Rum! Not that I'm complaining at all! But on my second trip to St. John, I was happy to find a new store had opened up. It was a "Pour Your Own Rum Bar" featuring a locally made Rum: Bones Rum! Now usually I'm not a fan of dark rum mainly as its not great on its own, but Bones is smooth and tastes good every way you want to

30 04, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Tile Art of Mexico

By Lili|April 30th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2013, art, Central America, Chichen-Itza, Latin America, Mayan Encounter 2013, Mexico, Playa Del Carmen, stormy, tile|0 Comments

The drive from Playa del Carmen to Chichén Itzá is about 3 hours one way. So it helps to stop a few times along the way. At the first rest stop, I saw a man on the side of the road painting. I like to get a piece of nice artwork when I find it, and so purchased this for $20 from him. Its quite small, but the quality seemed good. I was a bit shocked when he handed it to me and it was much heavier than I anticipated. I didn't open the back of the box until I got

16 04, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Las Vegas Snow Globe

By Lili|April 16th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2011, collection, Girl’s Weekend, Las Vegas, Nevada, North America, snow globe, USA|1 Comment

I like this snow globe from Las Vegas, as it has all the major "sights" from Luxor, NY NY, Paris, and more. The base brings back the Vegas motif with cards, chips, dice, and coins. Read about the History of Snow Globes or view a Buying Guide to find the perfect Snow Globe on your next vacation. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

2 04, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: German Steiff Triceratops

By Lili|April 2nd, 2016|Categories: Dinosaurs, Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2011, Christmas Eve, Christmas in Germany 2011, Europe, Germany, Munich, plush, Steiff, stuffed animal, Teddy Bear, toy, triceratops|0 Comments

One souvenir on my checklist from Germany was a real Teddy Bear made by Steiff, one of the first makers of the modern Teddy Bear. I have a few old and antique Teddy Bears, and figured one directly from Germany would be a great addition to the collection. But while in Munich I stopped into a toy store...on Christmas Eve of all days! It was absolute chaos. I dodged and dived between rambunctious children. Just as I was about to give up and turn around I saw the Steiff section and decided to have a look. But I had walked