Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter

souvenirs

I am sitting in the airport in Charlotte, NC, on my way home from an amazing trip to Mexico City.  It was a long trip, first a visit to my father in Florida, and then on to Mexico for a whole week. And I am pleased that I was able to do it all with one carry-on bag. Not only that- but I managed to bring some Zabar’s rugelach to our host in Mexico City.

Mexico City is amazing. It filled our eyes with color, our minds with history and our bellies with all kinds of wonderful food. Experiences are what I crave, and we had plenty, from the Pyramids of Teotihuacan to Casa Azul, to the home of Frida Kahlo. We also visited a few of the wonderful Artisan’s Markets. Some specialized in traditional Mexican Crafts like textiles, while others sold higher-end goods, like art or jewelry as well as fancy coffee beans and chocolate. All of them were full of temptation.

I admit, I get a little overwhelmed when I get to these markets. On one hand, I want it all. So colorful! So cheap! A way of capturing the memories of a wonderful trip and bringing it home.

But space… and really, I don’t need another tablecloth. On the other hand, I was with my daughter, and I don’t want to be Scrooge and impose my less-is-more values too much; and I hate to leave my husband for ten days and come home empty handed. So how to be thoughtful, careful, space conscious- but not grinchy?

At the Artisan’s Market (Cuidadela) my daughter and I found silver rings we really loved. Rings are small, and both of us like to wear them, and it was fun to negotiate a (small) discount for buying two.  Another day I bought my daughter a lovely necklace at one of the higher end markets, as well as a pound of fancy coffee for my husband.

Like so many things in our modern, consumer lives, souvenirs are tricky. The impulse to bring a little bit of the place home with you is understandable, and I sometimes feel like it is my duty as an American to spread a little cash. But I do try to remember that the experience of the trip is the thing- not the souvenir. So no, I didn’t buy the mortar and pestle (heavy!) or the embroidered blouse (next time?) – but I have my memories, my photos, and a very cool ring. And really, isn’t that enough?