Souvenirs to leave behind

At this time of year all over northern Europe, bottles carefully brought home from southern Europe have traditionally been opened in a fever of anticipation. But those who expect their treasured wine mementoes to prolong the warmth and languor of the summer holiday just past have all too often been disappointed. The red, white or rosé that tasted so glorious on a vine-shaded terrace seems just plain ordinary under grey skies. Cue the perennial question: why doesn’t this wine travel? Except that it is rarely the wine’s fault. That wine tasting is a subjective experience is particularly clearly illustrated by this frustrating phenomenon. It is almost invariably ourselves, our mood and our environment that have changed rather than the wine. Modern wine is made to withstand long journeys. Many a bottle on a British supermarket shelf was trucked across English Channel only days before.
And this phenomenon is by no means restricted to wine. Dusty bottles of ouzo, Metaxa and Fundador lurk in cocktail cabinets everywhere as testament to hopeful travellers keen to import liquid souvenirs. Even professionals are not immune to the charms of local drinks that take on a quite unjustified allure when consumed sur place. I remember quite happily downing local brandy and lemonade, a combination I would regard as an abomination in London, on our one and only holiday in Cyprus.
But as more and more holidaymakers fly rather than drive to and from their destinations, these liquid souvenirs are becoming a thing of the past. In our new hyper-security-conscious era, flying is an operation that is inimical to the old mores of a wine lover. I remember clearly how outraged I felt the first time I encountered any restrictions on flying with a bottle of wine. It was eight o’clock one morning in 2002, before British airports had started to collect all our water bottles. I was being screened at Shanghai airport before boarding a plane for the currently troublesome far western Chinese region of Xinjiang. Just as I was leaving my hotel that morning the local distributor had left me a sample of Grace Vineyards Chairman’s Reserve, said to be the most promising wine then made in China. There had been no time, or inclination, to taste it then but I thought I’d be able to take it with me on my flight to Urumqi and taste it that evening. But no. Apparently here in China they had this quaint prohibition on carrying glass and liquids on flights. But Grace’s wines were virtually impossible to find. I was so loth to hand over my one and only bottle to the security guards and miss my chance of tasting it that I dashed over to a cafe, got a tumbler and proceeded to pull the cork and have a taste as hordes of extremely bemused Chinese air passengers streamed past me at the security gate. (The wine was worth it.)
Nowadays of course air travellers everywhere are prohibited from flying with anything even remotely resembling a liquid in their hand luggage, and corkscrews are presumed dangerous weapons too – even in China now I should imagine. (I wonder how many corkscrews there are in China...) This particular prohibition has also had implications for travelling wine lovers and wine professionals. Corkscrews are tools of our trade, although admittedly not as deeply personalised as the batterie of knives that professional chefs are now precluded from taking on board with them, even on the briefest of trips. I treasure a small but tough and effective plastic corkscrew that lives in my sponge bag. It is sheathed innocuously. The material does not set off any alarms. And I have had it so long that it, mysteriously, carries a long-forgotten logo of British Telecom International.
But in my experience wine producers the world over have an inbuilt urge to transfer as many bottles as possible from their cellars to visiting wine writers that remains largely unaffected by our new era of flying restrictions. This varies by region and by personality but Italians in general, as one might expect, are the most insistent that no visitor departs empty-handed. Bleats about flying tonight, hand baggage only, severe weight restrictions and more fall on deaf ears. The important thing, as with Italians generally, is that generosity is manifested in all respects. Even if it means that the visitor has to leave the bottles in an airport lavatory.
The professional quandary of being given too much wine is not, I fully realise, going to generate much sympathy with normal people who do not write about wine for a living, but perhaps some of them in other professions have come across the dilemma of being presented with other heavy and voluminous mementoes on their travels – gifts which it would be discourteous to refuse yet highly inconvenient to take home on a flight. My heart sinks as rapidly as my arms whenever I am presented with the definitive illustrated monograph on wine region X that will surely take me over my luggage limit.
It is not easy to fly with wine, even in checked-in baggage. Not only are they heavy, wine bottles are also much more fragile than most other things sensibly packed in a suitcase, and even I find it hard to think of a bottle of red wine so precious that it is worth the risk of its leaking all over my clothes. On the rare occasions I have flown with a bottle in a suitcase I pack it tightly in a polystyrene tube and swathe the whole thing with sellotape. So far, so good. But polystyrene, the lightest and safest packaging material for any wine in the hold, is horribly difficult to recycle, and has a nasty tendency to shed clingy white particles. Packing wine in a suitcase is a practice I adopt only in extremis such as travelling as an overseas judge at an Australian wine show where they persist, current flying restrictions notwithstanding, in the custom of expecting us to bring very serious bottles for consumption at judges’ dinners (as if we needed them after tasting 200 wines a day).

Bring Home the Memories with Wholesale Souvenirs

Author: mrmj2009 Wholesale
souvenirs allow your guests and customers to take a remembrance with them. People enjoy collecting souvenirs that help them savor their memories of travels and visits. Wholesale state and regional souvenirs, political memorabilia, and sports collectibles all make excellent cheap souvenirs. If you sell wholesale souvenirs, find them on closeout for the best deals. Buy the perfect wholesale souvenirs at deep discounts to gift to conference attendees, friends, and clients.Why Travelers Buy SouvenirsWhether traveling for business or pleasure, people enjoy finding the perfect souvenir for themselves or their loved ones back at home. When mom or dad returns home, their kids are sure to follow the welcome home greeting with, “What did you bring us?” With wholesale souvenirs, the answer is sure to please.

Souvenirs are so popular, they have become a part of our culture. Postcards send the “wish you were here” message. And one type of souvenir t-shirt even says, “My parents went to…and all I got was this stupid t-shirt.” Bringing a souvenir home is an expected part of a vacation. When visiting friends or family in another country, bring souvenirs of your home country or state. Foreign exchange students find that souvenirs are a great way to share a piece of their culture with their hosts.Collecting SouvenirsMany travelers enjoy collecting souvenirs from every country, region, state, and city they visit. When they return home, they place these souvenirs in places of honor, displaying them in cases in their homes. Some collectors try to complete a set, searching for just the right souvenir. People on holiday will often search from gift shop to find just the right item for their collection. Wholesale souvenirs make great collectibles because each item is cheap in price but rich in memories. Collectors cases even have spaces for each of the states, allowing frequent travelers to fill-in as they work towards their goal of traversing the country.

Types of Wholesale SouvenirsThere is an endless variety of souvenirs available for collectors. Souvenir t-shirts, cups, key chains, license plates, figurines, shot glasses, spoons, and commemorative plates provide ample opportunity to pick up a keepsake. Postcards are an easy-to-find and cheap souvenir that travelers can even share with their friends. Mugs and steins are memories you can use or display. Some hosts enjoy giving guests a choice of souvenir glass or plate at dinner parties. Conference attendees also enjoy a regionally appropriate souvenir. Beyond the traditional wholesale gifts, sauces, spice blends, and preserves give a touch of local flavor.Where to Find Discount Wholesale SouvenirsTourists look for souvenirs at resort and hotel gift shops, airport duty-free stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and anywhere they travel. If you are a store owner, hotel manager, conference planner, or frequently host people at your vacation home, buying souvenirs wholesale will earn you great discounts. Buy after the summer to get great closeout discounts. With a stock of wholesale souvenirs, you will have a great hospitality gift for any visitor. This article has been written by Marc Joseph. An expert in finding good deals, Marc Joseph has also written articles on how to save money by buying items in bulk, which includes wholesale souvenirs wholesale baby

It's Christmas Again, What Do I Buy Him? 4 Tips for Finding Great Gifts for Men

Are you one of those women who dread Christmas because it's so hard finding great gifts for men? You spend hours in the stores browsing all their mens gift ideas, but still you can't find anything for him ? You wonder if you'll ever find a gift for him that he'll just love?

Men are the worst to buy gifts for. Finding great gifts for men is an art, and it's one that you'll need to master if you're looking for a great gift idea for a man. Because there's nothing worse than a Christmas day where you give him his Christmas present and you see that look on his face, the look that says "here's another gift that's going to end up under the bed until I can safely throw it".

Men are so hard to buy for. Here's some hot tips to finding great gifts for men.

1. Start early. Unless you know exactly what he wants there's no point in starting looking for his Christmas gift on 20th December. If you're really going to come up with a great idea for a gift for your man for Christmas it takes some time. I know women who start the gift finding process for next Christmas just after last Christmas.

There's no reason to wait. You know Christmas is coming, it's not here yet but it will be sooner than you realize. So start working on mens gift ideas early. Like the first half of the year.

You don't need to start looking in the stores just yet, but maybe start making a list of great ideas for gifts for men who are hard to buy for and hone that list over a few months.

2. Look for clues. Your man will give you clues about the sorts of things he likes. And one of the best times to look for clues is Christmas. When it's Christmas listen to what he tells you and write the ideas down.

Maybe his best friend got a great Christmas gift this Christmas, and your man is raving about it. Write it down and it may be a brilliant gift for him next Christmas.

Watch him when he's observing others opening their gifts on Christmas day. See what his reaction is to any other gifts that other men in the family got. Did his eyes light up at something in particular?

3. Talk to his friends during the year. Often his friends may have a better idea about what gift idea would knock him out than you do. That's because he may well talk about different things with them than he does with you. Perhaps they have something that he'd love to have. It's unlikely that you'll find out about it unless you ask them. Be direct. Ask them right out if they can suggest any great mens gift ideas that they know would knock your man out.

4. Shop online. The best stores stocking the biggest range of great gifts for men are online. There are literally tens of thousands of gift ideas for things that you would never even know existed. The chances that you see most of these things in a regular store are pretty slim. Regular stores stock a tiny fraction of the masses of new products that are developed every year for the man who has everything.

But online stores can sell just about anything, often because when you order they just get the supplier to send it to you direct. Often they don't need to stock the item at all, they know that customers expect it to take a few days for postage, so they can put the gift idea on the website even if it won't be a big seller, because they don't need to worry about being left with surplus stock if it doesn't sell.

The range of fantastic gifts for men is massive, 90% of them you'll never find in a regular store.

So if you're looking for hot gift idea for your man for Christmas this year, there's 4 tips to finding hot gifts for men. It may be too late to start early for this Christmas, but it's not for the Christmas after.

So get started, look for clues, talk to his friends and shop online. That's the way to find hot gifts for men so that when you give him his Christmas gift this year you won't get "that look" this time.

7 Fun Facts About Souvenirs

Souvenirs are bought all around the world in tourist locations in every major international city every day of the week by travellers wanting keepsakes and mementos for themselves, friends, loved ones and colleagues.But here are some interesting and questions that we have tried to find the answers for, including some tit-bits that you might not know:

1. What does a "souvenir" mean?

The word "souvenir" originates from the French meaning of the word (of the same spelling). It means memory, and they are often used as a keepsake or memento of a memorable event or holiday location.

2. What are the most common types of souvenirs?

Common souvenirs that are often bought by international tourists and travellers include clothing such as t-shirts, hats, and scarves, and also common household items such as mugs, tea towels, spoons and stationery.

3. Why do we usually buy souvenirs anyway?

Travellers often buy souvenirs as giftware for friends, family and co-workers who could not attend the trip. This is especially so in Japan, where traditional "meibutsu" or "omiyage" are items of food or handicrafts, and are big business in Japan, to the point where is is deemed shameful if you do not return from your trip without gifts for those left behind!

4. What souvenirs can't we bring back from our holidays?

Bringing back souvenirs to the UK from overseas could land you in a lot of trouble with HM Revenue and Customs if the souvenirs are certain types of animal skins, shells and ivory, due to international trade restrictions.You could land your self in even more serious trouble if the item were "prohibited goods" such as unlicensed drugs (heroin, morphine, cocaine etc), offensive weapons, indecent or pornographic material banned in the UK, material depicting extreme violence or counterfeited or pirated goods such as watches, CDs and DVDs etc.Without a license (which most if not all travellers will not have) if will also be illegal to import firearms, live animals (without a British import license), endangered species (whether alive or dead) and also certain radio transmitters that are not allowed in the UK.

5. What do souvenirs and Dan Fogelberg have in common?

"Souvenirs" is the title of Dan Fogelberg's second album released in 1974. It includes such tracks as "Song From Half Mountain", "Changing Horses" and the title track of the album "Souvenirs".

6. What are the most popular souvenirs for tourists in China?

The most popular souvenirs for those coming back from China are Chinese Tea, arts and crafts, and clothing. This all comes from a survey from the 2008 Beijing Games and travel to China by VISA international.

7. What is the most expensive souvenir?

Well in 2008, a bank note with a face value of £1 million (which was not legal tender I might add) was sold at auction in London for £78,300. It and one other known surviving note was kept as a souvenir of the eight Marshall Plan £1 million bank notes in World War 2 by British and American secretaries.

Birthday Gift Ideas For Your Boyfriend

Whether you and your boyfriend have been dating for three months or three years, he deserves to have a wonderful present from you whenever he celebrates his birthday. Well-thought out gift are always a great way to show your affection and love for your boyfriend. Some men may not be as open emotionally as women, but your boyfriend surely could not resist giving you a kiss or a hug in exchange of all the time and effort that you put into finding the perfect birthday present for him. Here are some great and romantic gift ideas to give the most special man in your life on his birthday:

1. Something romantic.

A birthday present does not always have to be something expensive. Be creative in thinking of a romantic birthday gift for your boyfriend. If he has always given you flowers before, why don't you return the favor by giving him a dozen red roses? It will make him remember you as the only girl who ever gave him roses for his birthday. A little effort would go a long way, too. Cook him his favorite dish and invite him over for a romantic picnic or dinner. Bake him a birthday caker, invite his friends over and surprise him with a birthday party. Shower him with love notes, or make his entire day special by giving him a different gift in the morning, noon and at night. Be creative in thinking of something fun, romantic and special to give him a birthday that he is not likely to forget.

2. Something that he wants.

If your special someone is into gadgets, give him that game gadget or music player that he is always talking about. If he is a car enthusiast, get him a great car accessory. Or, rent a sports vehicle or his dream car for him to drive on his birthday. Go out and spend a day indulging in the sport that he just loves.

3. Something naughty.

Glow-in-the-dark boxer shorts are a sure-fire way to tickle his fancy. An intimate yet funny gift will remind him of the intimate moments that you shared together as a couple.

4. Something nice and traditional.

A gift basket with all the things that he likes on one delightful package also makes for a great birthday present for your boyfriend's birthday. A basketful of chocolates or wine is a wonderful birthday present. If he is an executive, get him an expensive tie, cute cuff links or a nice wristwatch. Give him a set of his favorite cologne, perfume and aftershave. If he loves sailing, get him an antique compass that he can use.

5. Something that says "I love you.

"You can literally give him an item with the message of how you feel. Give him a keychain for his car and house keys with an engraved message. Even small items like this would make your boyfriend feel special. Remember that it is not always the cost that counts when giving out presents for your boyfriend on his birthday. A well-thought out gift that would remind your boyfriend of how special he is to you will send out the right message on his birthday.

Unique Presents For Bridesmaids

Your wedding is fast approaching, you have faced major challenges and now is the time to manage the minor ones. Being a meticulous bride, you want everything to fall into places, even to the tiniest detail of your wedding. Aside from the wedding favors that you will most likely handling after the major ones are through, the bridesmaids gifts are perhaps at the bottom of your check list as well. Although they are not mandatory, but these little details can make a huge effect in your entire wedding.

It has been a tradition to give bridesmaids gifts. It is a way to show appreciation for the hard work of the bridesmaids, as well as acknowledging their presence at your wedding. Finding and purchasing bridesmaids gifts can be both fun and challenging. Since they are your closest friends, you will surely enjoy shopping gifts for them, but not just mere gifts of course. Be creative and thoughtful so that your gifts will never be forgotten by your friends.
Opting for unique presents for bridesmaids is a genuine idea. However, make sure that you are choosing the right kind that fits their personalities. If you think it is challenging, well you are wrong. There are several ways, tips and ideas on how to come up unique presents for bridesmaids. Read the following ideas below and consider them as your options.

Gift Certificates

Gift certificates can make unique presents for bridesmaids. If you have doubts or uncertain on what to give, gift certificates will never go wrong. This unique gift idea can send your bridesmaids to their favorite restaurant, bookstore, spa, movies, theater, sporting event or etc. This is also perfect as you can have them bonded with each other while enjoying your unique gift for them.

Handmade Gifts

One great way to come up with unique presents is to make your own. Handmade gifts for bridesmaids are becoming very popular these days, as many brides are into DIY's. There are plenty of gift ideas that are actually pretty easy to make. All you need is to be creative and complete the materials to make your own bridesmaids gifts. Suggestions like handmade scented candles, soaps, bags of goodies, personalized Cd's, scrapbooks and keepsake boxes are a few easy-to-make gift items you may consider making yourself. Handmade bridesmaids presents are also a way to get creative and letting your skills and talent to shine through.

Personalized Gifts

Personalized gifts can really make unique gifts for bridesmaids. Today, where almost everything can be personalized, you are sure that you can come up with unique bridesmaids gifts with your own personal touch. There are so many gift items these days that can be customized to meet the needs of consumers. For brides like you who wants to present something that can set their bridesmaids apart from the rest, engraved or embroidered gifts are the perfect option. A few personalized suggestions include embroidered handbags, engraved jewelry pieces, personalized picture frames, personalized keepsake boxes and other bridesmaids apparel that are available for personalization.

How To Find Souvenirs Everyone Will Love

Everyone loves a souvenir gift upon returning from vacation. Actually most people expect them, whether they say so or not. Souvenirs make a nice little thank you gift to the neighbors who watched your home while you were gone, the babysitter who regularly watches your children, the pet sitter or anyone else you hold near and dear. Souvenirs are also nice for "just because" gifts. Never forget to buy plenty memorabilia for yourself as well. If you drive yourself or your family to your vacation destination, it's nice to stop in each state you cross through and pick up a little something with that particular state's namesake.

Normally you can find an impressive selection of souvenirs near the borders of the states, at an Oasis, truck stops, or individual souvenir stores. Most of these stores have at least one clearance table where you can find some really great deals that everyone will love. The most popular souvenirs are refrigerator magnets in the shape of the state or depicting the states persona. Coming in second would be shot glasses and ashtrays, whether you're a drinker, a smoker or not, these make cute little knickknacks.

Key chains, stickers and miscellaneous art depicting the state symbol, bird or flower make nice gifts for kids or as back-ups in case you accidentally forget someone. Miniature spoons, bells, and tea sets are a great gift and look nice on a display rack, often sold with a wide selection of state spoons. And who can walk away without buying at least one t-shirt or hat with the states name or logo on it? Theme parks like Disney, Universal Orlando, Sea World, Great America, Indiana Beach and the like, normally have masses of retail stores with clothes, toys, hats and knickknacks that can only be purchased from them. Many also have outlets where you can buy personalized gifts, like a necklace with a persons name written on a single grain of rice (which is available at most theme parks,) or an air brushed T-shirt, personalized in any way as you wish. Most theme parks have a souvenir photo shop where you can dress in a variety of costumes and pose for a photo in an old time western background.

These professionals photographers do an excellent job in making your picture look as realistic and old fashioned as possible. You can pose as a cowboy or a bandit, a saloon gal or a proper lady and be pictured in an old time MOST WANTED poster. There are a variety of costumes, backgrounds, and posters available offering a choice of photo packages to choose from. These make great souvenirs or as personal gifts. Medieval Times has a great selection of souvenirs that would appeal to all ages. From costumes, to costume jewelry to real swords and daggers, you'll find these all at Medieval Times.

There are a number of packages you can buy to become knighted, where you will have a public ceremony with the King and Princess and have your picture taken with them. After the ceremony you will receive a certificate of your knighthood and a real sword to take home with you. New York is popular for its "I love NY" logos. New York is a very proud state and you can find their name on almost anything, from T-shirts to pencils. The souvenir selection in New York is endless. It's always nice to pick up a post card and mail it to a friend or family member. Many of these post cards have pictures of your vacation area that would add a nice touch, showing your friend or family member that you are thinking about them.

When ever selecting a souvenir for a family member or friend, keep in mind what would be a thoughtful gift for this person? For a child or an adult with an affinity for teddy bears, find a cute plush bear with the theme park or state logo. For the knickknack collector, shot glasses, bells, miniature tea sets or spoons would be a nice addition to their collection. Older children or teenagers would most likely enjoy a T-shirt or some other thoughtful gift. Wherever you go, make sure that your souvenirs include the state's name or logo, or if you go to a resort or theme park, make sure the gift bears its name.