Go Shopping
 
Some of my favourite souvenirs aren’t really souvenirs at all, but what I like to call 'local fashion'.  Whenever I travel, I find some aspect of the fashion trends of that country that I fall in love with.  And, of course, everywhere I go, I find shoes I can’t live without.  I’ve ended up with some really amazing and diverse clothing and accessories that I love mixing into my wardrobe.  Every time I put them on I’m taken back to the shop, market or street corner where I bought them.  Nothing pleases me more than having someone say, “Wow, I love your shirt/shoes/scarf!  Where did you get it?”  I can reply, “Oh I bought it in Italy to wear to the opera,” or “I haggled for 45 minutes on a street in Thailand.”
 
Listen to Local Legends
 
Reading about the folklore of the places you are visiting can give you some great ideas of things to bring with you when you leave.  I have a bottle of water from a spring in Greece that is supposed to bestow the gift of eloquence when drunk (I’m saving it for when I have severe writer’s block).  I also have a bottle of water from a church that is supposed to have healing powers.  Respectfully gathering things that the locals believe in is not only a fantastic souvenir idea, but also a great way to experience the culture.
 
Infused with the Spirit
 
I was a drama student once upon a time, so when I went to Greece I had palpitations of joy every time I visited an amphitheatre.  It was as if the history of the place was a palpable entity I could feel in the air.  So I took a little something from each of them, feeling like that spirit would follow me if I just took something physical away with me.  I keep them in a little velvet bag that I take with me to auditions for good luck.  It’s just a bag full of pebbles, but to me it’s a symbol of dreams come true and the long history of the people in whose footsteps I am trying to follow.  It is the most precious souvenir of any of the places I’ve been.  

Be very careful what you take, though.  In many countries, Greece included, taking anything that could be considered “ruins” is illegal.  It’s seen as defiling their history and can land you in jail.  I was very careful to take only things like nuts that had fallen off the trees or a pebble from the gravel path leading up to the sites.

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perfect keepsakes

With a little imagination and a sense of adventure, you can have souvenirs as personal and unique as your travels.  Think of what your interests are and what you will treasure for years to come instead of getting sucked into the souvenir industry.  Anything that takes you back to the place you got it is an excellent souvenir.  Never mind if it doesn’t have PARIS scrawled across it.