Travel Advice: Souvenirs and Shopping

A common pitfall of travel is feeling a bit of guilt over not being able to bring everyone with you. To assuage this guilt most people will resort to buying souvenirs for those back home. Unfortunately this often results in overloaded luggage and additional stress over the search for something "just right" for everyone on your list. The distance traveled shouldn't dictate your shopping activity. You might find a perfect gift for someone at the local craft market just as well as halfway around the world.

Over the years we've developed a simple strategy.

• Don't make a list.
• Leave the guilt at home.
• If you find something that screams "Aunt Susan" or "Cousin Bill" then buy it and don't think twice about who you "forgot" this trip.

I've purchased books for a first cousin, once removed (my Mom's first cousin, to be precise) as well as a graduation gift (8 months before the event) for the daughter of a close friend while in London. We've purchased Christmas tree ornaments in Uruguay for a half-dozen relatives at once, and scallop shells from Santiago de Compostela for a minister friend.

Most of the people I know would rather have something meaningful and thoughtful than another random trinket you felt obligated to deliver that will only collect dust. First, they'll be pleased to know that you thought of them during your travels. They'll also be appreciative that you have paid attention in the past to know enough to select a thoughtful gift. Finally (hopefully?) they'll gain some enjoyment from the practicality of the gift.

We've adopted a similar policy when looking for mementos for ourselves. My wife likes to collect Christmas ornaments from places we've visited, as they're a reminder of our adventures each year when we decorate the tree. Other than that, we seek out things that we can use on a daily basis. A set of leather drink coasters from Uruguay, a hand-carved wooden tray for pocket change from Jamaica, woolen scarves from Scotland, and a cap from London are good examples. A blanket from Mexico can make a fantastic ground cover for the beach or a picnic, but that huge sombrero that seemed like a good idea after your fourth margarita in Cozumel isn't likely to see much use. 

My wife is a quilter and a knitter, so she looks for fabrics and yarns unique to an area, then she can incorporate those in a project at some point in the future. Don't overlook the possibility of a "make your own" souvenir possibility if you're a creative person!

T-shirts can be great, but go for quality over quantity. I have shirts from trips we took 25 years ago that are a bit faded, but in excellent condition otherwise. I also have shirts from 10 years ago that are no longer suitable for use as rags to clean the windows.

A little thought and consideration will not only avoid unneeded stress, it will also elevate your status among your recipients. We've found that quality over quantity and frequency is much appreciated.

Poutine in London

4 April, 2017

Tuesday we headed to Covent Garden for some shopping, people watching, beer, and lunch. I've been following The Poutinerie for quite a while, based on positive reports from friends who have visited them several times while in London for business. They are a mobile operation, setting up at markets on a rotating basis, so you have to watch their FaceBook page or Twitter feed to know where to find them from week to week. My last trip to London I tried to connect with them but couldn't manage to get everything lined up.

This trip I planned more effectively.

 This is Paul, aka "Paul the Poutine Guy." (At least that's what I call him, as it's descriptive and a bit poetic. Hopefully he doesn't find it offensive, should he ever read my blog.)

While Paul is Canadian, he's not from Quebec, he's from Toronto, but he knows how to turn out some incredible poutine. Never had poutine you say? Think cheese fries, but the cheese is in the form of soft-ish curds instead of being a melted and runny sauce. Then add gravy, which is warm, and helps make the cheese curds a bit melty along with the warm fries (which are proper English 'chips' - not skinny fries that are usually served in the states.)


The menu is uncluttered:

• Poutine (available with vegetarian gravy if you like) 
• Poutine with rib meat (from the Rib Man - another London legend)
• Spiced Chips

If you like things spicy Paul also has some hot sauce he can add to your order as a dressing. The photo at right is my regular-sized order, with rib meat, and a generous dab (but not a full douse) of spicy sauce.  Whatever you do, bring your appetite. The portions are generous and so incredibly delicious that it is unlikely you'll be able to stop before you scrape the bottom of the container. The only way you could possibly improve this magical creation is to have a nice pint with it. Next time around I'm going to see if I can make that happen!

If you've been to Covent Garden you know how much time you can spend browsing stalls and shops when you're not occupied watching the street performers. Being new owners of iPhone 7's we found ourselves in need of headphone adapters, having left ours at home, so we visited the Apple Store for an impromptu purchase. Afterwards my wife wanted to peruse the stalls, so I chose a quiet spot to wait for her instead of adding to the bustling crowd.

As I stood, quietly catching up on the events of the day on my phone, I was approached by three university students from Belgium who were conducting a survey on the BREXIT situation. Given that they didn't realize I was an American until I started talking it made for an interesting exchange. BREXIT flowed to the Presidential election and the similarities between the two issues, both perceived and real, and it was a nice chat among people from four different countries. In other words, it was a typical London experience.

After a bit of shopping we headed towards Strand, stopping off at the Whisky Exchange to pick up a bottle for a friend (and a couple of rare gins for me) before heading around the corner to another favorite spot for dinner. 

Tapas at The Port House always hits the spot for us, and their selection of Spanish and Portuguese wines offer an opportunity to expand our exposure to different varietals and winemaking styles. After several visits we've never been disappointed with any of our food or beverage selections. It's a fantastic place to go with a group as the tapas format lends itself well to sharing and conversation.

Make sure to check out the port and madeira flights they offer, as this is another excellent way to expand your knowledge. Generally speaking flights also provide an opportunity to enjoy something that might be a bit more expensive than what you would normally order. 

Little Venice

3 April, 2017

Hidden in plain view just to the northeast of Paddington Station is a part of London that contrasts sharply with the image of a bustling international megapolis. "Little Venice" is the focal point of a series of canals and basins that loop through northern London, connecting to the Thames from around Kew Gardens to the west and near Canary Wharf to the east. For a nice stroll take the Bakerloo line to the Warwick Ave stop and walk a couple of blocks south on Warwick to the canal. You'll find steps down to the footpath just a few yards NE of the intersection of Warwick Ave and Bloomfield Rd. (If you cross the bridge you've just passed Bloomfield Rd.)

The canals are lined with narrowboats of various description, from weekend cruisers to water buses and party boats to full-time residences. As you stroll along the pathway of Little Venice you'll almost certainly encounter a boat owner undertaking some sort of routine maintenance.

Along the way from Warwick Ave to Paddington there are several opportunities to stop for refreshment, but public toilets are limited to land-based cafes and restaurants, so plan accordingly. The meandering stroll is about a mile in length and (assuming it's not the dead of winter) the greenery and flowers offer a stunning backdrop. If you're inclined you can catch a water bus to Camden (or, if you like, stop off at Regent's Park, home of the London Zoo.) Likewise, if you're visiting the Zoo you can exit to the canal and catch a ride on the water bus to either Little Venice or Camden.

A trip to London is incomplete without a trip to Hatchards, as those who have read this blog are well aware. In addition to picking up a few surprises for friends and family we managed to find a book or two for ourselves. Fortunately books are tax free, so they don't impact the duty-free allowance and there's no hassle involved with reclaiming VAT upon departure.

A quick nip next door to Fortnum & Mason for a couple of small items we overlooked on our previous visit put a lid on the shopping for the day and we hopped a cab back to the hotel to drop off our loot and prepare to meet our son for dinner.

 Everyone in our group loves Burger & Lobster, so that was a simple choice. Leicester Square is a central location between our hotel and our son's university, so we chose that location this trip. While the food menus are identical, each Burger & Lobster location has a different atmosphere and drinks menu. The food offerings have expanded a bit from the original choices of burger, lobster, and lobster roll. You now have a choice of burgers and a Singapore lobster roll (it includes shrimp and is a bit spicy.) The fries (they're shoestrings, so I don't consider them chips) and salad remain in their original, scrumptious incarnations. We were fortunate as far as seating goes and enjoyed a relaxing and delicious dinner with designs to grab dessert at BubbleWrap Waffle just around the corner. (For the record, I had the Singapore Lobster Roll, and it was delicious. I'm still partial to the original Lobster Roll, but have no complaints.)

After dinner we discovered a queue of approximately two hours at BubbleWrap, and even though I'm no slouch when it comes to ice cream, this exceeded my tolerance for wait-times so we took a pass.

Perhaps we'll luck out in the future.