The markets and shops of Mexico are crammed with colourful keepsakes. After all the research I did for you in Mexico City on folk art and handicrafts and stationery souvenirs, I couldn’t move on empty-handed. Here are some practical souvenir ideas from my purchases.
Unfortunately, being on the road full-time, literally living out of our Samsonites, means I can’t purchase as many take-homes on our travels as I have in the past and I have be very selective.
When I do buy keepsakes they need to be things I can actually use on the road or give as gifts for family and friends. Here are some practical souvenir ideas for your next trip from my own Mexico take-homes.
Vibrant Shoulder Bag
I’m using this colourful woven bag every day and I love it. I bought it from an indigenous woman selling crafts on the street near the San Angel markets. I try to avoid using plastic bags when we go shopping so it will be great for buying a few groceries or picking up some snacks from a food market.
Striped Linen Napkins
we can use these on picnics or for the casual dinner parties we like to hold in the holiday rentals we’re staying in around the world this year. They come in a range of colour combos. You can find them at the Museo de Arte Popular (MAP; Museum Popular Art) gift shop.
Jewellery Box
This pretty painted metal box is actually from Oaxaca not Mexico City, but I bought it from the MAP shop and it’s perfect for holding earrings and rings, which I am constantly misplacing when we’re on the road.
Kitsch Make-Up Mirrors
These petite make-up mirrors feature pop culture icons such as Frida Kahlo and the Lucha Libre stars on their covers and I just love them. They don’t take up any room in the handbag and always come in handy. I bought mine at the markets at San Angel, but they were actually slightly cheaper at the MAP store.
