[Culturechat] Shopping

[Peter Haggart]

In our view (Pete is writing and Maggie may want to respond herself later)
shopping is part of the experience. So we do shop on all of our UnTour
trips.

We buy some things to keep, some to share, and usually something for our
children or a special friend. Since I do wood working from time to time I
will often buy something to use as a pattern idea later on - not exactly
what the artist had in mind, but I do it anyway! One year we used very thin
wood angels on our Christmas cards, I was inspired by ones I had seen in the
Swiss Heartland. We usually buy something that will remind us of the region
or culture. Usually what you would expect and probably what all of the
tourists also buy - but maybe not at the same price or quality (what we get
is usually better). We have an ornament on our tree from every Idyll trip we
have taken. We once kept a bottle of  a then "young" French wine on the
shelf for 4 years and then had it on a special occasion with family. It was
worth the wait and brought back good memories. Also, since we have 2 or 3
weeks to make up our minds we can find the bargin that we are looking for -
paying a return visit to a village just to make a "final buy" on something.
None of this distracts from our other interests in being in the country - it
just seems natural!

Pete


----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrea Szyper" <Andrea.Szyper@untours.com>
To: <culturechat@untours.com>
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 11:51 AM
Subject: [Culturechat] Shopping


> Hello, friends!
> I hope you are not too bogged down in holiday shopping. I know it's easy
to
> lose a little of the meaning of the season as we race from mall to mall.
>
> As the gift-giving season is upon us, I am wrapping Christmas gifts for
> family and friends. I went to Italy in November and brought many gifts
back
> with me, so my holiday shopping was fun this year: scanning the outdoor
> markets and artisans' stalls in Florence for the right scarf for my mother
> or pottery for friends.
>
> It got me wondering how much shopping you all do on your travels. Do you
> bring back gifts for others or significant souvenirs for yourself? Is it
> Swiss chocolate, Gouda from Holland, a good Tuscan wine to share with
> friends? Or more durable and personal goods you'll keep to invoke
memories?
>
> How can we capture the essence of a culture or an experience in an item we
> buy at market? Is it worthwhile to try, or can shopping distract us from
> experiencing a place or culture in a more meaningful way?
>
> I'd love to hear your thoughts.
>
> Happy Holidays!
> Andrea Szyper
> Untours, the Italian Team
>
> P.S.
> I "captured Italy" on this trip with a new pair of boots, some truffle
> paste and wine for myself.
>
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