Souvenir Purchases

[elceecarr]

Can anyone give me an idea of what souvenirs to purchase (for people back home and self) where. Headed for Corfu, Mykonos, Santorini & Crete in April 2010. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Onessa]

We don't "do" jewlery or anything expensive. So not having any other clue as to what kind of price range you are looking for:

 

We got my friend who was watching out house some very nice locally stitched needle work pillow covers in Santorini -- The prices ranged from 10-20 Euros and since they are sold without the pillow forms, they packed easily.

 

In Greece in the souvier shops you'll see a lot of inexpensive trinkets with the Evil Eye or with traditional orthodox icons (religous pictures).

 

Olive oil soaps wrapped in paper and decorated with painted plaster of paris relief "sculptures" or other olive oil products (lotions, etc.)

 

Tiles - particularly the individual tiles for like house numbers. One of my BIL's girlfriends was assigned with the Navy in Rhodes for a few months one year near Xmas and got each family a framed version of their address in Greek made tiles (fortunately we all relatively short street addresses!)

[jocap]

Lots of olive wood items; the olive oil soap as said, always is welcome for gifts; Greek cookery books; ceramics and wine. There used to be a bead shop opposite the cathedral in Santorini, where you choose the beads and have them made up- friends still wear those, esp. ones with a tiny angel bead. We bought a hat-loving farmer friend one of the Greek hats with pom-poms and streamers.....he says he uses it when milking....doubtful!

jocap.

[Poconolady]

The olive oil soaps make great gifts as well as packages of vacuum sealed olives, these both pack easily and don't add much weight. The olives need to go in the checked luggage since they would be considered as "liquids". We picled up some lovely hand made silver pendants and terrific sundresses for the little grandaughter.