We're leaving on Saturday...and we're now at the point we're making lists of things to bring back for family & friends. Trying to think "outside of the box" (ie. other than a T-shirt etc.) and would love to hear some of your favourite memorabilia/souvenier ideas.

It doesn't have to be something from a shop...my brother (who was born in Aruba) has asked us to find a small quartz crystal for his kids.

Favourite purchase ideas are appreciated too (and the shop name would be great!).

We'd eat seagrapes as kids, but maybe I didn't have the tastebuds for them....Question: would you bring back a bottle of seagrape wine for someone you liked?!

Thanks - 4megs

I meet some very nice people that have lived on the Island all their lives...and they gave me some license plates from years gone by..and I put them on my walls in the ' home ' office.

My wife has a hand painted Christmas Ornament that a local had made.

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I lead with my Heart and my Body follows

Dan & Sweet Georgene

I always thought a piece of hooibergite would be kind of cool but I'm don't know if it's allowed. A quartz crystal sounds like a nice piece of natural memorabilia. Of course, there's always seashells. A couple of years ago, I brought back a jar of sand as a special request from a friend. I was a little concerned that a jar full of a white powdery substance might draw the attention of customs officers but it didn't. Don't know what she did with it but she was happy to receive it. Maybe it went into an aquarium or something.

Never tried seagrape wine but I did like the fruits as a kid.

I like t-shirts, myself, so they work well for me. The best selection and prices that I have found were at the shop at casibari.

Remember kwihi tables? I think they still make them and you can order one to be shipped to your home. Of course, you're talking big bucks for one of those.

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Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

I always bring back a great tan. However, it seems to disappear, forcing me to return.

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Walt

"Vacation is what you make of it, what you take from it and what you leave behind."

I always buy a x-mas ornament every trip! Maybe one day our tree will be covered with ALL Aruba ornaments! I usually pick out the ones with something from the island on it like the Lighthouse, Iguana's etc. We got some really cute ones.

My son likes to buy the Bottled Coke that says brewed in Aruba and drinks it, washes it out and then puts sand from Eagle Beach in it. When we get home we crazy glue the top on! (He even managed to pack some unopened bottles last trip and they made it home safely).

My fondest memorialiblia(sp) is a 1.00 casino chip that I keep in my wallet 24/7! It reminds me of our 2nd trip to Aruba where hubby and I both won alot in the Royal Casino then proceeded to buy our timeshare at LaCabana! If I change wallets its the first thing I transfer over!

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"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

My favorite item to bring back to friends and family is ARUBA ALOE products.....you can get the lotions, shampoos, lip balms, and sun screen and sun bathing lotions all at Aruba Aloe store in Bubali (all taxi's know how to get there) or you can get it in every grocery store on the island.....everyone raves about it, it's the only skin care products I will use and when they run out it can be ordered online from a wholesaler in Miami. Here is the link. I lived in Aruba from 93 to 99 and I am hooked for life on the stuff, it is fantastic stuff.......if you go to the Aruba Aloe store they also have gift baskets of their products, but what I do is buy it bulk and make my own baskets when I get home........

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Some people get lost in thought because it's unfamiliar territory.

seashell, you forgot the link...

Iguanas !!!!

I have them hanging all over the deck and garage. This way, I can sit out during the warm summer months and always have memories of Aruba. I also have two hanging on my livingroom and two in my master bath. Some may thing this is odd, but I think they look great!

What do you feed them?

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Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

This probably doesn't count, but I used to have an old camera that took special polaroid film. I have some black and white polaroids that are square format. There are my favorites.

The other one is the notebooks full of observations, short stories, and sketches of things I saw, did, and people I met on the island. I have 10 small ones and number eleven is about to break out of the wrapper.

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Novelist, Pilot
http://www.bentpage.wordpress.com/

With Love and Attention of course

Oh, you walked right into this one. Here is my newest favorite:



This was from the first series of chips from the first casino on Aruba (the Aruba Caribbean), and it's a beauty! Those chips first hit the tables in 1959. I'm waiting for a couple more chips to arrive, and I will be ready for a whole new chip show, if anyone still cares to see them.

Woooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

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Chip Collector

http://www.arubaaloe.com/index.cfm

Love the idea of hooibergite - and will definately check the legality of buying/picking up a piece.

I'm lucky enough to have the kwihi table that my folks bought in Aruba! Always thought it was interesting since it's made with a longitudinal "half" versus a horizontal slice of the tree. It was a "blast from the past" watching my daughter (when she was about 3 years old) slide down part of the high-gloss branch that I used to!

There is a "T-shirt" shopping list going too - so the referral is greatly appreciated!

Thanks - 4megs

Hi BigPapa,

The license plate would be a great idea - I've seen "book covers" made with them - what a fab travel journal/memorabilia book that would make!

Wonder if they still make the license plates at the jail?

Thank your wife for the Xmas ornament idea too!

4megs

....oh *that* counts! Big time.

...you had me at "notebook". Just put together my travel notebook for this trip - this one is made of kraft-like paper which should make for great sketching and notetaking. Added pockets for memorabilia. Love the well-used/worn look the books pick up after a trip.

I scrapbook. Photos and journalling mean everything - if the house was burning down - photos and albums would be right after making sure everyone was safe.

You must have some great Aruba photos. Are they posted anywhere? Great idea about the b&w photos - though I'll have to put mine thru Photoshop to get the film edges and look. Those photos will be added to the travel journal to finish it off when we get back...danki!

4megs

Thanks Liz!

Looking forward to checking out your recommendations!

4megs

That brings back fond memories!

When we arrived in 1961 the AC was the *only* hotel on the beach...I have pictures of my mom playing the slots the hotel. My dad just gave me the postcard he sent to his parents (with the AC on the front) to say that we were settling in fine...

Thank you for an enjoyable trip down memory lane! So looking forward to this trip!

4megs

Ah yes. Those were the days. Didn't the AC seem kind of lonely out there all by itself? It always did to me.

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Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

Jotting down your ideas - Love the "message in a bottle" suggestion!

Thanks - 4megs

Liz......thanks for posting the link I forgot in my post, my brain hiccups from time to time......

Sherry thanks for the reminder also....thanks God for other folks eyes !!!!

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Some people get lost in thought because it's unfamiliar territory.

Sorry - have to say it!!! But what can be better than a little
Arubian kitten (see pet section)!!!!

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Aruba Kitten Rescue
www.arubakitten.org

I bought a one litre beer glass from Balashi, at the Balashi store, i use it a lot.

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and they even meow in papiamento, lol. honestly... if i wasn't full up on cats and litter boxes that would have been the best souvenir to bring home.

My favourite memorabilia/souvenier is a slice of the branch off of the Divi Tree on Eagle Beach that was vandalized a few years ago.
When the Island's Clean Up Crew cut off the dead branch and trimmed the Tree they cut me a slice of the branch.
They remembered my web postings of the incident which was also used in the local papers.

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Eagle-Beach Boy
Ontario, Canada

My favorite souvenir is for coffee drinkers like myself. A really cute travel coffee mug, as in the kind you take with you on the road with the locking swivel lid. Got them at Dunkin Donuts and they hold a good two cups of coffee and are black with a wide colorful band including sketches of Iguanas and a good sturdy handle. The mug says:

"Dunkin Donuts"
Aruba
"worth the trip"

The Aruba license tags. I can identify my daughter's car Also enjoy anything with iguanas on it.

What fabulous ideas! I think we picked up each of your suggestions for ourselves or friends.

One thing eluded us...a piece of Aruba artwork depicting part of the island. What little we found wasn't what we were looking for....but the last evening the Surf Club sponsored a "bazaar" and we found a watercolour artist, Ramyro Lemminga there. He also sells directly on the Oranjestad harbourfront market during the week (if you're facing the harbour and Oranjestad is at your back it's the last kiosk on the right.). We bought a watercolour of Malmok with a divi divi in the foreground and California lighthouse in the background...*sigh*...

His family web-site is www.aruba-art.com

We did ask and apparently it's okay to take a piece of Hooibergite.

Linda A - thanks for the coffee mug tip! My morning coffee makes me smile even more now.

love the sand in a bottle have it at work i just look at it and it takes me back to the relaxing time at aruba also have a car tag

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lisa

A coffee mug. Been using it for years so can't remember where I got it.

My favorite is a Gecko doorbell for our home. Before that, it was the silver Gecko bracelet our daughter brought home for me. I still wear the bracelet everyday, but the doorbell gets a mention everytime someone comes to the door.

4megs..... I completely forgot about Ramyro's watercolors. I have three of them in my house and they get complimented by visitors all the time. His work is very reflective of the island and his watercolors are a good substitute for the real thing.....(actually being in Aruba) !!!

The christmas tree ornament idea I like alot and will look for some on my next trip, everyone has left some great ideas

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Some people get lost in thought because it's unfamiliar territory.

Dan and Georgene's hand-painted Christmas ornament is very special. I always purchase the small Christmas ornaments at the weekly bazaars. They are inexpensive and unique to the island. I have given them as small gifts, and each Christmas I take out my box of Aruba ornaments purchased over the years and feature them in the front of my Christmas tree.

I have sand in a bottle, and have also gifted it. Of course, I love the jewelry I have purchased over the years-----I love gold and have some beautiful pieces. I especially love my gold earrings---sun, sea horses, sand dollars, starfish. I have two bracelets that also feature sea creatures. The Australian coral is beautiful in a bracelet. My favorite jewelers----Shiva's, and Mike is my choice for a salesman.

I like to go to the flea market on the weekends. I have found great things.

Magnets and key chains with the island, iguanas, beach, footprints, etc.

Jewelry beaded, silver, etc for good prices.

Coasters made with the island scenes.

Silk wraps and scarfs.

You can barter and the more you buy the better the price.

T-shirts too.

Good luck and have a great trip. I leave next Saturday and am counting the days.

Jill

We have TONS of Arubian art throughout our house here in Ohio! Aruba is never far from our mind & we talk constantly about retiring forever there. We go to Aruba when we can & dream about being "local" some day.

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Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.
Mark Twain

During our first trip, I bought a map of Aruba, a very nice map and very detailed. After we returned I built a frame and hung it in my workshop. I get to look at it everytime I go out there do some wordworking. It give me incentive to complete more project which fund my spending account.

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Make some time to lose track of.
Breath in, Breath out, Move on.