What souvenir(s) did you bring back from the Camino?

[Peregrino Falcon]

Aside from the amazing memories, what souvenirs did you bring back from the Camino?

 

[wayfarer]

My wife bought me a silver shell for me in St Jean the day before I set off and she bought a silver Tau cross in Santiago for me after I arrived. These have never left my neck since except for cleaning.

 

[Kanga]

A silver enamelled scallop shell ring for me and three flamenco dresses for my grand-daughters. Unfortunately my grand-daughters' other grandmother had just been to a conference in Andalusia and guess what she took home for them?

 

[Dave2525]

I bought a t-shirt with the Cross of St James. It was only after I got home I realized it was off-centre. I did try it on in the store but I guess the excitement of being there got the better of me.

 

[Gailsie]

A t-shirt with the village names of various stages on it. I love it. When I wear it I get asked lots of questions about it.

 

[Icacos]

A key chain .... I was so concerned about getting both the arrow and the shell pointing in the same direction, I didn't notice that the peregrino was going the other way

 

[wayfarer]

He is just walking back home.

 

[Icacos]

He is just walking back home.

What a lovely thought! Thank you, @wayfarer. That key chain will now forever remind me of you!

 

[Former member 42123]

A key chain .... I was so concerned about getting both the arrow and the shell pointing in the same direction, I didn't notice that the peregrino was going the other way
View attachment 20076

I too got a key chain,but mine was the Irish flag with a scallop shell on it.It is always with me.

 

[scruffy1]

Not a keychain but a watch fob. No pocket watch so the small shackle keeps it on a belt loop all the time-always. The shell opens to reveal a figure of Saint James and hjis sword/cross. Available for 2-3 Euros at any less than first rate souvenir shop.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I got a T.shirt with all the names off the villages and towns on it. Got lots of questions about it when I wearing it. Then they got the hole story of it ( the short version )
Wish you all well, Peter.

 

[Jan_89]

I bought a stick in St. Jean and wanna walk with it again, also a bracelet with an arrow!

 

[RobertS26]

I met my wife walking the Camino but I'm not sure she'd like me calling her a souvenir.

 

[Sue M]

I found sort of woven ribbons for 1 euro each - I think you're supposed to tie them round your wrist. One is the Lord's Prayer and the other is the Hail Mary, in Spanish of course, with appropriate pictures illustating each phrase. Available everywhere.

 

[Magwood]

A selection of pretty shells from the beach at Finisterre. They sit in a dish on my dressing table and I see them whenever I sit down.

 

[Dennis D]

I purchased a ceramic tile with a yellow arrow on a blue background. I put it in a frame and it is hanging just outside the front door of my house. It reminds me every day how lucky I am to be a member of the ever growing Peregrino family and where the origin of my Camino begins.

 

[Biff]

Leave only footprints,
Take only photographs.

Plus I bought a fridge magnet with a 'shell' waymarker.

Biff

 

[Mark Lee]

A key chain .... I was so concerned about getting both the arrow and the shell pointing in the same direction, I didn't notice that the peregrino was going the other way
View attachment 20076

Kind of like this confused peregrino in St. Jean? Maybe he couldn't get a bed at the albergue and said, the heck with it and headed back home.

 

[tyrrek]

After my last Camino I returned with 6 terracotta tapas dishes and a multi pack of Chupa Chups lollipops.

I already had a t-shirt.

 

[Icacos]

......I returned with 6 terracotta tapas dishes .....

Please tell me you've used these dishes!

 

[tyrrek]

Please tell me you've used these dishes!

I used the Chupa Chups first.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

A fridge magnet everytime. I like buying things at the cathedral shop: my way to comtribute to the renos .last fall I saw a book that explains the architecture of churches and regreted not buying it.I did this time. Also a mug from the cathedral and one of the University of Santiago.and this year also a dozen tin shells made by a local crafstman, for my Xmas tree. Bought the, in a little shop in Rua Nova, jist a bit to thr left of PilgrimHouse whem facing it. And a silver mini pillbox for my collection. Favourites are the tin shells and Uof santiago mug. Use it daily at work.

 

[JennyH94]

I bought the BEST souvenir last year in Santiago ... Pilgrim Duck! He sits next to my laptop and he's a constant reminder of how much the Camino means to me.

Here he is:



Cheers - Jenny

 

[Anamya]

I only got a yellow arrow pin, now in my backpack. I love it, it weighs nothing and is perfect for a future Camino.

But I admit I felt like buying a "Peppa Pilgrim" T-shirt.

 

[annakappa]

A key chain .... I was so concerned about getting both the arrow and the shell pointing in the same direction, I didn't notice that the peregrino was going the other way
View attachment 20076

Key ring, as the photo, only my Pilgrim is walking in the right direction ( the arrow points the other way).

Not a keychain but a watch fob. No pocket watch so the small shackle keeps it on a belt loop all the time-always. The shell opens to reveal a figure of Saint James and hjis sword/cross. Available for 2-3 Euros at any less than first rate souvenir shop.

View attachment 20081

One key ring ( which Scruffy calls a watch fob, but I use it as a key ring)!
Loads of frig magnets, for us and friends.
Two bumper stickers.
One flamenco dress for my youngest granddaughter.
One torta de Santiago.
The usual touristy T- shirts, but also one very stylish one, which I renewed this year, due to 'fabric fatigue' on the other.
Forum badge from Ivar.
One t- shirt for granddaughter with written ' Somebody who loves me brought this back fromSantiago.
Several Compostellas!
One dog scarer ( see recent post in CP).
Book written by a local pharmacist fromSantiago about Costa Rica!!!
CD's with Gregorian music.

 

[annakappa]

Forgot the mug and several pins and a bracelet from the Pilgrim office.

 

[Bajaracer]

Two tarta Santiagos
One big can of Cola Cao
Two bags of Spanish coffee
Two packs of saffron
Two packs of polvorones
Two cans of Pimenton (smoked paprika)
Three different bottles of Andalusian olive oil
Several bags of the La Jolca olives.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Ah right, let's not forget the booze for the bartender in the family: orujo from a gourmet shop in Leon and fromthe airport this liqueur used to make cocktails called 54, I think, and this time around another liqueur called Tunel, made with herbs from Mallorca. No clue if it's any good.

Then ther's a tshirt I have never worn because I don't wear that type of Gildan like Ts, but I loved the slogan: "la ilusion es el Camino, Santiago mi destino'. Depending on the meaning ilusion takes, illusion or hope/dream/great joy it's either the joy is the Camino, Santiago my destiny, or the illusion is the Camino

There is a reason I bring one of those super collapsable nylon duffle bags with me: for the shopping!

And thenI stock up on prescription meds for my dogs, and Malvela nail polishes for me. Got to love Spanish farmacias, they will sell you anything you ask for and practically give it away. My bet doesn't see me very often

But I want that rubber ducky!

 

[WldWil]

I kind of prebought my souvenirs here and one other forum, like the refrigerator magnet and bandanna with a Camino map on it. Does that count? Usually, the only thing I get on a trip is maybe a photo album if it ties in with where I am at. Yep, Our house still uses photo albums after each trip.

 

[LauraK]

From three visits to Santiago:
A Galician cookbook
Leather key chain with pewter shell attached
14k Gold scallop shell necklace
Small handmade Galician-design ceramic dish
Small blue tile with scallop shell
Orujo (for husband)
Silk scarf from Cathedral gift shop (for daughter)

 

[mspath]

Ten years ago when nervously beginning my first camino a kindly volunteer of the Amis du Chemin de Saint Jacques in SJPdP offered me a pilgrim shell; I wore it with pride.

Today that first precious shell hangs at the door of our farmhouse continuing the timeless tradition of marking a pilgrim place.

For me it is the camino and priceless.

MM

 

[Kanga]

The first time I walked the Camino I brought back t-shirts with the village names along the Camino Frances. It was a very handy reminder. I gave them to everyone in our immediate family; husband, two daughters, son-in-law. They all eventually walked the Camino.

 

[Stephen]

I bought back a CD of Festa Celta Galician pipers, a blue tile with the yellow arrow on it, and an ambition to return and do it all again.

 

[amb1dext3r]

I met my wife walking the Camino but I'm not sure she'd like me calling her a souvenir.

very deep meaning. Did you mean you met a peregrine and she became your wife or you went with someone and finally married her

 

[gerardcarey]

I've made it a habit to collect music, generally CD's.
A Basque men's choir, entitled "NEKEZ ARI" Choeur d'hommes du Pays Basque, echoes delightfully through my house regularly. Bought in St Jean. You'll find them on UTUBE.
Regds
Gerard

 

[Maryimelda]

A fridge magnet that says "A pilgrim lives here".
Many T shirts but everyone's favourite seems to be the one with Homer Simpson as a pilgrim with a can of beer.
But come to think of it the pilgrim Frank Sinatra shirt that says "I did it My Way" might give Homer a run for his money.
Any number of scallop shells in all different forms.

 

[Irmavet]

From my first Camino, I bought in Santiago a yellow arrow pin (always on my bag) and a yellow arrow patch to stitch on my camino backpack, the same patch that my boyfriend -4 caminos walked- has on his backpack )
Ah! I forgot: a cookbook too about galicia food!

 

[Urban Trekker]

First Camino, a yellow and blue shell hat pin, a yellow arrow pin for my pack, a bronze shell for the back of my pack and a smaller one for the back of my hat, a ceramic camino shell tile for outside my house, a silver shell necklace with ear rings for my wife, and 14 days of memories.
Second Camino, another yellow arrow pin for my pack, a Portuguese Caminho tee shirt, and over 3 weeks of memories.

 

[RobertS26]

very deep meaning. Did you mean you met a peregrine and she became your wife or you went with someone and finally married her

I met my wife on the Camino at kilometer marker 58.

 

[ShellsG]

I bring back coffee or tea cups from my travels so I am looking forward to finding a local potter or similar along my way. I have mugs/cups from Russia to France to Turkey, Sweden and Disneyland (lol) and many more.

 

[LauraK]

I bring back coffee or tea cups from my travels so I am looking forward to finding a local potter or similar along my way. I have mugs/cups from Russia to France to Turkey, Sweden and Disneyland (lol) and many more.

There is a nice artisan shop behind the cathedral that carries local handmade Galician ceramics (also jewelry and other local crafts). I think it is called Amboa. Last time I was there they had some unique mugs. Have a wonderful camino!

 

[Larazet]

We've been home two months but my husband, not a medallion man, still wears the small gold religious pendant given to him in the Convent at Carrion de Los Condes around his neck. Say something for the strength of the cotton thread used! Mine is resting on my dressing table.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

A key chain .... I was so concerned about getting both the arrow and the shell pointing in the same direction, I didn't notice that the peregrino was going the other way
View attachment 20076

Revuelta?

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I bought the BEST souvenir last year in Santiago ... Pilgrim Duck! He sits next to my laptop and he's a constant reminder of how much the Camino means to me.

Here he is:

View attachment 20084

Cheers - Jenny

SO jealous! )

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Over the years:
2001 - paella pan, tee-shirts and ear-rings (for daughters) red and gold cloth "Camino de Santiago/Camino de Europa" patch
2002 - (hospitalero at Rabanal) red and gold cloth "Camino de Santiago/Camino de Europa" patch
2003 - Nunca Mais tee-shirt, more ear-rings, vieira de Santiago and St James' cross pins, various tiles
2012 - red and gold cloth "Camino de Santiago/Camino de Europa" patch, silver bracelets
2015 - more tee-shirts, ear-rings, Buff from Muxia with sello pattern, resin scallop shell for house wall, 3D map of CP
Was tempted to buy a 3D model of myself but that shop was never open

 

[Icacos]

Revuelta?

I think that applies more to @Mark Lee's peregrino in SJPP; he packed it in very early. My peregrino made it all the way to Santiago and, as @wayfarer suggested, is now going home. Regreso, perhaps ?

 

[WildPlace]

From various places along the way: A yellow arrow pin badge, an enamelled shell necklace, a mug, a sweatshirt, a tee shirt and a morcilla (black pudding) fridge magnet which I sadly dropped and broke when I was unpacking at home

 

[Juno]

WildPlace, is that why you're going back? To replace your magnet?

 

[vgen5122]

I brought Camino t-shirts for family and sent post cards.
I took memories, photos and the wish to return.
The Camino kept my heart.
Buen Camino.

 

[Mark Lee]

I picked up several nice scallop shells off the beach at Finisterre and brought them home after wrapping them up in layers of toilet tissue for padding in my bag. I gave them to my nieces and they loved them. Figured those off the beach at Finisterre are way cooler than ones bought at a shop.

 

[peregrina2000]

I bring back coffee or tea cups from my travels so I am looking forward to finding a local potter or similar along my way. I have mugs/cups from Russia to France to Turkey, Sweden and Disneyland (lol) and many more.

Hi, Shells,
This is probably not the type of mug you are looking for, nothing artisanal in the mug itself, but you can get your favorite stamps from your credential put on it. I think that's a pretty cool idea. http://caminoestrella.com

 

[peregrina2000]

I don't usually buy too much when I get to Santiago, but I was so happy to get my Tarta de Santiago metal stencil (two sizes, large and small, in the basement of the ferreteria in the Plaza Galicia). It makes the cake look so much fancier.

I don't wear much jewelry but I have bought both a sterling bracelet and necklace, with scallop shell made of sterling and jet (azabache, seems to be a "typical" stone from the area). It always gets a compliment, but that's maybe because people are so shocked to see me wearing jewelry. I used the advice from this thread and made sure to go to a real jeweler rather than a tourist shop: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/jewelry-store-in-sdc.5591/

I guess consumables don't count as souvenirs, but that's what I always fill up my duffel bag with -- lots of olive oil, the occasional special small production bottle of wine, smoked paprika from La Vera (became very popular in the US after a New York Times article, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/dining/14power.html and makes a great little gift for your friends who cook a lot), saffron (my friends tell me that the relatively cheap stuff I buy for them in Spain is ten times better than what they get here). There are also lots of great dried legumes, such as pardina lentils, Blanco Lechoso garbanzo beans (bigger than the normal US chickpea), white beans from Lourenza, etc etc. This is why I always carry on my hiking poles in a duffel bag and then send the empty duffel up to Santiago. I then fill it up and check it on the return trip home!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Hi, Shells,
This is probably not the type of mug you are looking for, nothing artisanal in the mug itself, but you can get your favorite stamps from your credential put on it. I think that's a pretty cool idea. http://caminoestrella.com

Thanks for this link. I think The Last Stamp albergue offers a similar service as well.

 

[ShellsG]

Hi, Shells,
This is probably not the type of mug you are looking for, nothing artisanal in the mug itself, but you can get your favorite stamps from your credential put on it. I think that's a pretty cool idea. http://caminoestrella.com

I have such a variety of mugs/cups that I bring home that this works perfectly. The only real criteria for them is that they represent either my travels or a local artist and that they must be a useable mug. Coffee conversation at my house often begins around the story of the coffee mug they are drinking out of and then evolves.

 

[LRM]

Aside from the amazing memories, what souvenirs did you bring back from the Camino?

I bought a rosary for my mom in Santiago and a shirt for my brother. I brought my shell home for my dad, and my compostella home for myself.

First time a tattoo with a shell and an arrow. The second time I met the man I later married. The third time we bought our wedding rings in Santiago...

 

[habanerocat]

I bought a t-shirt with the Cross of St James. It was only after I got home I realized it was off-centre. I did try it on in the store but I guess the excitement of being there got the better of me.

Ha, I got one of those myself.

 

[Stivandrer]

I bought a small enamel pin of the scallop and one of the yellow arrows, a ceramic tile with the route scallop, and finally a granite scallop (2" across), like the ones on the walls. And that was the most luxurious item I ventured to buy and to send home. After some time at home, one of the corners broke off and I had to glue it together at stick it onto a slap of granite tile , and is now sitting on my front steps.
Its importance is only known to me and some of the initiated that come to our house. It reminds me every time I set foot on the steps, to and from my workplace only a few kilometers away. These items are dear to me....It reminds of how easy it is to pick up my rucksack and my boots, and how far I can get, and how it all helped me after my cancer.
I Can Do This !!

 

[WildPlace]

WildPlace, is that why you're going back? To replace your magnet?

Absolutely! :-D Although really I'd bought the magnet in Burgos and because they had an event on during the 2 days I had there - they made the worlds longest morcilla/black pudding which was a pretty amazing sight!

To my list of souvenirs I forgot to add the mouse mat with the names of many many places that I stopped at, I use it every day and it makes me happy.

Someone mentioned tattoo, I had a scallop shell tattoo done when I got back home

 

[ShellsG]

I guess consumables don't count as souvenirs, but that's what I always fill up my duffel bag with --

On the contrary ... those are the best souvenirs of all !!

 

[woodlady]

Aside from the amazing memories, what souvenirs did you bring back from the Camino?

I bought a rosary for my mom in Santiago and a shirt for my brother. I brought my shell home for my dad, and my compostella home for myself.

I usually bring smal Stones and seeds from trees and flowers.And also I have bought a silver ring. You have to carry it,so it cant be big.

 

[ShellsG]

I usually bring smal Stones and seeds from trees and flowers.And also I have bought a silver ring. You have to carry it,so it cant be big

You have to be careful as the importation of seeds etc. may be illegal. Many plants are invasive and I am pretty sure that when I fill out a customs declaration upon return to Canada I confirm that I am not bringing any plants etc. with me (I cannot remember the exact wording) and of course if found they would confiscate them and possibly dole out other consequences.

 

[peregrina2000]

Just saw an interesting article, describing that the tradition of jewelry making with azabache (jet) goes back to the Middle Ages. If you've been to Santiago you have probably noticed the rows of jewelry stores around the back of the Cathedral and on the street leading down to the Praza Obradoiro from Cervantes.

This article also says that Santiago is the only place in Galicia where azabache jewelry is made, so if you're looking for an "authentic" souvenir, this may be it! It's not terribly expensive either, and I would recommend going to a "real" jewelry shop rather than a tourist stop if you want something that will last.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Kanga]

We are definitely not allowed to bring in seeds and live plant products, (and many other things).
I quote from the Australian quarantine service, but I'm sure it's relevant to other places as well:

"Live animals and plants, plant material, animal products and certain food from overseas could introduce some of the world’s most serious pests and diseases into Australia, devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and unique environment.

The Department of Agriculture (the department), along with other jurisdictions, industry and the community, plays a vital role in maintaining Australia’s clean and wholesome food supply—at home and abroad. Australia’s biosecurity system protects our human, animal and plant health by reducing the risk of unwanted pests and diseases arriving in the country. Everyone benefits from a strong biosecurity system so everyone has a role to play."

I've witnessed animals being slaughtered wholesale to prevent the spread of an imported disease. It ain't nice.

Please declare your souvenirs if they are on the quarantine list.

 

[tpmchugh]

I too got a key chain,but mine was the Irish flag with a scallop shell on it.It is always with me.

I want one of those, guess I have to go back. I brought home a t shirt, blue with simple scallop design over heart, two fridge magnets and a scallop shell lapel pin. Second time I got a botafumeiro ornament and a yellow arrow lapel pin. As it was just before our 40th wedding annivesary I got the wife a gold cross of St James encrusted with rubies. The most striking souvenir however was brought home by my son. A blue tile with scallop symbol to stick on front door but only after a compass app was obtained to settle the argument about which way to Santiago from our front door.

 

[Annerman]

Over the years:
2001 - paella pan, tee-shirts and ear-rings (for daughters) red and gold cloth "Camino de Santiago/Camino de Europa" patch
2002 - (hospitalero at Rabanal) red and gold cloth "Camino de Santiago/Camino de Europa" patch
2003 - Nunca Mais tee-shirt, more ear-rings, vieira de Santiago and St James' cross pins, various tiles
2012 - red and gold cloth "Camino de Santiago/Camino de Europa" patch, silver bracelets
2015 - more tee-shirts, ear-rings, Buff from Muxia with sello pattern, resin scallop shell for house wall, 3D map of CP
Was tempted to buy a 3D model of myself but that shop was never open

You were lucky. I (unfortunately) had a 3D scan done in the IALMA 3D shop in Santiago around 23rd July 2015. I paid fee and postage to Ireland. Nothing has arrived. It appears the shop is now closed and I can find no contact details for the company IALMA 3D. They appeared to be professional, but I'm out of pocket to the tune of €135. They stated that they were having a problem with their 3d printer and if I waited they would send the next biggest model instead. I never heard from them again.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Scallop shell, and my eternity ring made in Santiago and set with azabache; plus other minor items over the years.....

 

[C3 to Camino]

I haven't done the Camino yet, but did spend a month in Satiago last summer visiting friends. I brought back CDs of Galician music, safron, wine, and my husband bought me a pendant set with jet (the local black stone). I know when I do the Camino I plan to write myself postcards and send them on home, so I have a collection of memories when I get there.

 

[Pablo_masa]

I bought CAMELLIA OIL, a natural oil to moisture the skin that comes from gallician camellias. It is awesome!! I recomend you all. It is difficult to find but I found it just behind the cathedral (shop Camelia, 19 Xelmirez street).

 

[Cindyrella]

I purchased a ceramic tile with a yellow arrow on a blue background. I put it in a frame and it is hanging just outside the front door of my house. It reminds me every day how lucky I am to be a member of the ever growing Peregrino family and where the origin of my Camino begins.

Do you recall where you bought your tile, great souvenir!

 

[auburnfive]

The friends I walked with surprised me in Santiago with a miniature botafumeria, as a gift for planning our trip. I wear it on a necklace that stays on all the time.

 

[Roland49]

I did bring a T-Shirt from SdC with a small blue-yellow print on the front. A did bring the shell, like in the old days.
In Porto (from there I flew home to germany) I have bought a handcrafted wooden fan with nacre inlays for my wife.

Buen Camino!
Roland

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Along the way I picked up pins, patches, shells, refrigerator magnets, postcards and such. When Peg got her compostela she also got a surprise packet of souvenirs.

 

[David Tallan]

The camino is supposed to teach us to travel light - that we don't need so much "stuff". Looking at my piles of souvenirs, I clearly didn't learn that lesson! Perhaps I need to walk another camino to try and learn again. Realistically speaking, however, I know that I won't and that I'll return from my next camino with even more souvenirs and mementos. Some things that I have picked up include:

• many, many tee shirts
• a fridge magnet for home that looks like the rectangular blue sign with the arrow, the stylized shell and the stylized walker
• a tiny copy of those granite waymarkers for my desk at work
• various camino patches and pins
• decks of Camino de Santiago-themed playing cards
• books
• a set of commemorative postage stamps for the Camino Portugues with a stamp for every place I stayed at in Spain on my last CP
• a tie that I am wearing now from Santiago de Compostela that has a pattern of crosses of Santiago

I'm sure there are more. Those are just the ones that come to mind. And that list doesn't include the compostelae and other certificates, the photo books I had put together and printed after my return, the other books I've bought here, the wall map I had made of my 2016 camino....

As I said, there was a key lesson that somehow escaped me.

 

[DwainS]

Two tarta Santiagos
One big can of Cola Cao
Two bags of Spanish coffee
Two packs of saffron
Two packs of polvorones
Two cans of Pimenton (smoked paprika)
Three different bottles of Andalusian olive oil
Several bags of the La Jolca olives.

I don't usually buy too much when I get to Santiago, but I was so happy to get my Tarta de Santiago metal stencil (two sizes, large and small, in the basement of the ferreteria in the Plaza Galicia). It makes the cake look so much fancier.

I don't wear much jewelry but I have bought both a sterling bracelet and necklace, with scallop shell made of sterling and jet (azabache, seems to be a "typical" stone from the area). It always gets a compliment, but that's maybe because people are so shocked to see me wearing jewelry. I used the advice from this thread and made sure to go to a real jeweler rather than a tourist shop: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/jewelry-store-in-sdc.5591/

I guess consumables don't count as souvenirs, but that's what I always fill up my duffel bag with -- lots of olive oil, the occasional special small production bottle of wine, smoked paprika from La Vera (became very popular in the US after a New York Times article, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/dining/14power.html and makes a great little gift for your friends who cook a lot), saffron (my friends tell me that the relatively cheap stuff I buy for them in Spain is ten times better than what they get here). There are also lots of great dried legumes, such as pardina lentils, Blanco Lechoso garbanzo beans (bigger than the normal US chickpea), white beans from Lourenza, etc etc. This is why I always carry on my hiking poles in a duffel bag and then send the empty duffel up to Santiago. I then fill it up and check it on the return trip home!

Iam a chef so I like your souvenirs.

 

[DwainS]

The camino is supposed to teach us to travel light - that we don't need so much "stuff". Looking at my piles of souvenirs, I clearly didn't learn that lesson! Perhaps I need to walk another camino to try and learn again. Realistically speaking, however, I know that I won't and that I'll return from my next camino with even more souvenirs and mementos. Some things that I have picked up include:

• many, many tee shirts
• a fridge magnet for home that looks like the rectangular blue sign with the arrow, the stylized shell and the stylized walker
• a tiny copy of those granite waymarkers for my desk at work
• various camino patches and pins
• decks of Camino de Santiago-themed playing cards
• books
• a set of commemorative postage stamps for the Camino Portugues with a stamp for every place I stayed at in Spain on my last CP
• a tie that I am wearing now from Santiago de Compostela that has a pattern of crosses of Santiago

I'm sure there are more. Those are just the ones that come to mind. And that list doesn't include the compostelae and other certificates, the photo books I had put together and printed after my return, the other books I've bought here, the wall map I had made of my 2016 camino....

As I said, there was a key lesson that somehow escaped me.

At the end of the day if looking at your souvenirs makes you smile and brings back good memories, and stories to tell friends and family they are worth the weight of bringing them back home.

 

[Sjp007]

Aside from the amazing memories, what souvenirs did you bring back from the Camino?

I brought back an authentic bronze shell marker (the ones you see imbedded into the roads). It came with a certificate of authenticity....I embedded it into the doorway of my art studio and every day I step on it on my way through the door reminding me of the many paths I can take and explore with my art

 

[Ella L.]

Aside from the amazing memories, what souvenirs did you bring back from the Camino?

Interesting topic...it DOES depend on how much backpacking you have left to do before you get home. For me it is always a tile ( for ME...not for others). The routes I walk these days don't necessarily have a matching tile....so I buy the generic arrow ones and write in my path. Yes, a bit of vainglory but I am pleased with the overall effect.

 

[Kathy F.]

A key chain .... I was so concerned about getting both the arrow and the shell pointing in the same direction, I didn't notice that the peregrino was going the other way
View attachment 20076

So typical.

 

[Kathy F.]

Aside from the amazing memories, what souvenirs did you bring back from the Camino?

A beautiful, tiny piece of hand embroidery from Santiago; a refrigerator magnet; a little set of earrings given to me by a fellow peregrina; a set of slippers from the Parador (they give them away when you spend the night, no worries); a tee-shirt for my hubby back home; lots of pamphlets; bars of Froiz and Lagato soaps.
I knew no one else would truly appreciate the souvenir for what it meant to ME, so I went light. My photos, my FB friends, my journal. Yeah, looking at it, it is a pretty lame list of souvenirs.
Oh, yes, an unused package of Compeed. Take that, you nasty ol' blisters!!!

 

[Karl Oz]

I brought back an authentic bronze shell marker (the ones you see imbedded into the roads). It came with a certificate of authenticity....I embedded it into the doorway of my art studio and every day I step on it on my way through the door reminding me of the many paths I can take and explore with my art

Where can one obtain these?

 

[Karl Oz]

Some tiles from SdC, and another (the rooster) from Leon cathedral, a white gold scallop shell necklace, and one of Weiho's paintings!

 

[KJFSophie]

Aside from the amazing memories, what souvenirs did you bring back from the Camino?

Tattoos...no dusting

 

[rometimed]

Tattoos and over 12,000 photos

 

[KJFSophie]

Tattoos and over 12,000 photos

Agree! I've several tattoos now and tens of thousands of photos ( none of which ever get old )

 

[nycwalking]

November 2019, I purchased two pink Santiago sweatshirts, and sweatshirt and several tee-shirts with a Black woman riding a bike with a bottom banner which read: Camino de Santiago. And, two of those Camino Frances tees with the cities and yellow arrows of CF on them.

A Santiago coin purse for a young cousin.

Peregrino tee for young male cousin and two Santiago bibs for babies in family.

Hate to admit, but once home, I asked a friend to purchase nine more of those above-mentioned Black woman tees and ship them to me; late Christmas presents.

Gosh, do I wish I were there!

 

[Anamiri]

Apart from photos and very dirty clothes, I brought back little souvenirs for the family, mainly necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. I love my shell earrings, I get a different pair for myself each time.
But last time I also bought two tiles, one with the arrow the other with the shell symbol. I will figure out where to attach them to the house eventually.

 

[Sjp007]

Where can one obtain these?

I can’t recall the name of the shop, but it is in the old part of Santiago (there were a few shops selling them)

 

[Stivandrer]

Where can one obtain these?

I saw some in SdC last Sept.
Quite hefty prices, they were numbered and made from bronze...
...

 

[Stivandrer]

A proper , 1 litre Bota, traditionally made with traditional resin and all.

 

[Pelen]

I have just bought a bracelet in skin.

 

[Kanga]

I always bring back Pimentón de la Vera.

 

[Bradypus]

As I arrived at the cathedral at the end of my first Camino Galician music was playing from one of the souvenir shops near the south transept door. I bought a cassette of the album being played (yes - it was that long ago ) and played it often until my toddler son thought it would be fun to pull out all the tape! Thankfully it is all on Youtube these days


PS: On a later Camino I was sitting at lunch and whistling one of my favourite tracks from the album softly under my breath. A very lively dance. I was struggling to remember the name of the track. Then I glanced at the bottle of wine I had been given with my menu del dia and the brand name on the label was the name of the track: 'Brincadeiro'

 

[Sjp007]

I saw some in SdC last Sept.
Quite hefty prices, they were numbered and made from bronze...
...

The price was actually cheap considering they are made from pure bronze, each is a piece of art, so comes with a certificate of authenticity

 

[JillGat]

I had a fun time searching all over Santiago for a small San Roque statuette. Santiago is full of stores selling saint figures, but San Roque is hard to find. I finally found one in a small shop on a back street, selling religious icons. San Roque is the saint you see in churches along the way, holding up his robe to reveal a plague sore and he has a dog by his side. The story is that the dog licked the sore and healed him (never mind that the dog probably carried the fleas that infected him), so he is invoked against the plague and also is the patron saint of dogs. As an infectious disease epidemiologist and a dog lover, this appealed to me.

 

[Geodoc]

My first reaction was "Nothing but photographs and memories," but after reading all the responses, I took a closer look.

A key fob with a shell on it. That went to my Sprinter van - more travels!

A couple of fridge magnets and patches.

A carved slate kitchen tile with a shell on it.

Two certificates from Fisterra and Muxia.

My certificate of distance (damnit, Jim, I walked 782 km, not 779.5 km).

The two compastelas were for others (In vicare pro), so they wound up elsewhere. Maybe, one day, to return to me.

Other than my certificate of distance, the one thing I brought back and treasure the most are the friends I met along the way. None of the other things I brought back come even close to them in importance to me.

 

[Theatregal]

Of the few special things I’ve brought home, my favourite is a tiny “book”, about 1” high that was given to me as a gift along the way during my first camino. When opened, it contains photos of scenes from Santiago de Compostela and carries wonderful memories. Along with my shell, it travels every camino with me.

 

[David]

Nothing from Santiago (feel I missed out now!) but I was given a hand-made wooden cross by another pilgrim at Eunate, made by his pastor from a felled tree in their church ground - I treasure it - and I keep it in my main first aid bag so it travels with me every visit - oh, and I did pick up a nice case of Lyme's on the Meseta!

 

[Theatregal]

Nothing from Santiago (feel I missed out now!) but I was given a hand-made wooden cross by another pilgrim at Eunate, made by his pastor from a felled tree in their church ground - I treasure it - and I keep it in my main first aid bag so it travels with me every visit - oh, and I did pick up a nice case of Lyme's on the Meseta!

I hope you’ve discarded, tossed, lost that Lyme's souvenir!

 

[David]

I hope you’ve discarded, tossed, lost that Lyme's souvenir!

Ditched it as soon as I got home!! (Took a few weeks)

 

[WildPlace]

WildPlace, is that why you're going back? To replace your magnet?

Yes, I replaced my Morchilla de Burgos magnet in Burgos in 2015 and it still sits on my fridge