Tradition: Travel Gifts

by Jennifer Cooper, posted on July 6th, 2010 in Ideas and Inspiration

When I was little, my dad was in the Navy. He was often out to sea. His travels took him to places like Haiti, Denmark, England and Puerto Rico. He traveled all over the Atlantic.

He always brought back gifts from the far away places he visited. It was a tradition. There was a hand-carved table from Haiti, a book of nursery rhymes from England, a wooden shoe from Denmark and a doll from Puerto Rico.

Recently my husband traveled to Mexico City for work. (you can view photographs from his travels here) And he, like my dad did before him, brought back a gift for the kids. He said he looked all over to find something special. Something unique.

What he found were Lucha Libre masks. They may just be the coolest travel gift ever.

Did your parents travel for work when you were a kid? Did they bring back trinkets? Do you or your spouse travel now? What traditions do you have on your return?

For more discussion and essays on travel visit our Travel Issue.

Tags: childhood, Parenting, travel issue

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3 Responses to “Tradition: Travel Gifts”

Danielle Haller Says:
July 6th, 2010 at 7:18 pm

I will never forget the beautiful wooden horse my father brought back from China when I was little. I also got Princess Leah and Luke Skywalker dolls that were bigger than Barbies. Those actually came from the airport store because he was in such a hurry on his business trip that year, he forgot my travel gift. If I would have kept them in good condition, they would have made a big contribution to my savings account current day. I can only imagine what they would be worth.
My Grandmother is from Germany and that is where the best travel gifts came from. I sure do miss those days…
Cheryl @ Mommypants Says:
July 6th, 2010 at 8:19 pm

My dad didn’t travel much. He occasionally would go to Chicago, and he’d bring us back these crazy flat potato chips that came in a can… Pringles, anyone?
joya Says:
July 7th, 2010 at 12:26 pm

i love the topic of traditions!

my parents traveled a lot with and without us. i loved the cloth dolls from various countries with their ethnic clothing they would bring my sisters and i back, i had a collection. my dad visited Cairo once and brought us all back our names engraved on a necklace in hieroglyphics, my boys love all things egyptian and love looking at that necklace today: “it really says ‘mommy’??” well actually joya

we also love to find unique keepsake gifts when my husband and i travel. my husband got on a kick of getting futbol jerseys for the kids from his various travels (perfect for this season of the world cup), and when in guatamala once also picked up those lucha libre masks for the boys! (although we gave it to uncle kevin bc the boys at the time were afraid)

great post and photos jen & dave!

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