California Souveneirs
Aug 2nd, 2006, 04:12 PM
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California Souveneirs
My husband and I will be leaving (finally!!) for our trip to CA on Satruday morning. We will start in San Diego and make our way up to San Francisco over 2 weeks. We will be going to Tijuana for a few hours, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Monterrey and San Francisco. Are there any special souveneirs I should look out for? I would like something that is typical of California or Mexico. Is there anything I should stay away from?
Any other words of wisdom would be appreciated!
Any other words of wisdom would be appreciated!
Aug 2nd, 2006, 04:27 PM
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I like to purchase wine openers or other paraphernalia from the wineries I visit....they always have the winery name or logo....and they are small.
There are kinds of Mexican artifacts. You'll just see them everywhere when you go to Tijuana. It's up to you to decide what is useful or artistic. There's a lot of nice silver, but shop carefully.
There are kinds of Mexican artifacts. You'll just see them everywhere when you go to Tijuana. It's up to you to decide what is useful or artistic. There's a lot of nice silver, but shop carefully.
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Aug 2nd, 2006, 06:16 PM
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Be careful with Mexican pottery...especially if you intend to eat off of it. It MUST be lead free if you intend to place food on it. And unfortunately, if you ask if it is lead free...they will say yes just to make a sale. I'd stick to decorative pieces only to be safe.
Hope this helps...
Debi
Hope this helps...
Debi
Aug 2nd, 2006, 06:36 PM
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Not to be a killjoy but I really suggest skipping Tijuana. We decided to check it out two summers ago and it was really awful. If the street hawkers have their way the souveneir will be Viagra! I have been there before several years before this trip and it has gotten really bad. I saw a few decent shops with craft items I liked but the prices were about what you could find then for in San Diego. We took a bus from the US to Mexico which was worth the money for the time we saved crossing the border back into the US. If you feel like you must go, don't drive your car. The border crossing time must have been at least an hour the day we went.
Aug 2nd, 2006, 09:26 PM
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If you are expecting TJ to be like Cancun then you will be very sad.
If you want to experience a VERY different culture than what is only 2 miles away in San Diego then TJ can be a very fun day trip.
Beggers, hasslers, poor kids selling gum, fun shops with stuff made in China, donkeys painted to look like zebras, lots of guys trying to get you into their store. That about sums up TJ. We enjoy going there once every few years.
Do not drive. Park on the US side and take bus or walk over.
If you want to experience a VERY different culture than what is only 2 miles away in San Diego then TJ can be a very fun day trip.
Beggers, hasslers, poor kids selling gum, fun shops with stuff made in China, donkeys painted to look like zebras, lots of guys trying to get you into their store. That about sums up TJ. We enjoy going there once every few years.
Do not drive. Park on the US side and take bus or walk over.
Aug 3rd, 2006, 11:24 AM
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THanks for all of the suggestions. I am thinking wine will be a great souveneir. Also, the bread would be unique and probably unexpected!
In regards to silver, how do I know if it is real? What kind of marking should I look for?
The advice for the pottery is great; I was going to get my mom some but know they will only be for decoration!
In regards to silver, how do I know if it is real? What kind of marking should I look for?
The advice for the pottery is great; I was going to get my mom some but know they will only be for decoration!
Aug 3rd, 2006, 11:45 AM
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Be careful with Mexican blankets. A friend bought one at a cruiseport and her cabin was thereafter infested with bugs who had been living in the blanket. If you buy one, bring a ziploc bag to store it in till you can get it home and check it out.
Aug 3rd, 2006, 03:55 PM
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Sourdough bread is pretty common throughout California, not sure about other places. I do not particularly care for sourdough and sometimes it seems like you can't walk down the street without tripping over a loaf.
Aug 3rd, 2006, 04:28 PM
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San Fran Christmas tree ornaments of cable cars.
San Diego Seaport Village has alot of nice tourist shops. I like nice picture postcards or small watercolor painitings of a distinguishing feature of the area.
Sometimes I buy picture calenders of the are for next year.
Santa Barbara has nice shops & farmers market where I have bought some nice things. Occasionally I have seen nice winery T shirts, or aprons or ball caps...I have seen some beautiful carbed wood and glass wine glases...
San Diego Seaport Village has alot of nice tourist shops. I like nice picture postcards or small watercolor painitings of a distinguishing feature of the area.
Sometimes I buy picture calenders of the are for next year.
Santa Barbara has nice shops & farmers market where I have bought some nice things. Occasionally I have seen nice winery T shirts, or aprons or ball caps...I have seen some beautiful carbed wood and glass wine glases...
