Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Shopping, while not my main attraction when traveling, can be quite fun. The different ambiance of other countries around the world makes the shopping excursion a delight to all of our senses. Any pictures?
I love to shop for souvenirs on trips (one of the reasons I'll always have to check in bags for return trips), and I seem to shop more for clothes when I'm somewhere else. I never go clothes shopping where I live. Part of the reason is that certain favorite destinations, like Palm Springs, is where I'll find the TYPE of clothes and styles I like.
On the other hand, when I went to NYC I never shopped for clothes at all except for a store that was going out of business and selling cheap. Also patroned outdoor markets.
Shopping outside the USA is a pleasure. Especially in the developing world where prices are low and haggling is expected.
I do hate shopping in the US, though. Everything is overpriced, most of it is mass-produced garbage made in China for pennies on the dollar anyway, there's no variety, and you can rarely negotiate prices or discounts.
When I am in a new place, be it foreign or domestic, I LOVE to go to shopping. Grocery stores are my favorite. Gives me a chance to really experience being a "local". No need to by anything. Just walk around, mix in and get the vibe of the place.
I was recently at the Grand Canyon and spent some time at an in-park store that sold food, camping supplies, souvenirs. It was packed with young back-packers, students on field trips, elderly day-trippers, Americans, Europeans. Lots of different languages being spoken. It was fabulous mixing with that crowd. Thoroughly enjoyed it. (And there was one heck of a Monsoon outside, so it filled a couple of hours while the storm passed.)
I got over the international shopping impulse as I learned that you have to lug all that stuff around while you're traveling on vacation. I learned to lug as little as possible. Any souvenirs I buy are going to be very tiny and very lightweight.
I remember a rug vendor in Turkey who was hounding us to look at rugs in his shop. To get rid of him I finally told him we were traveling with small suitcases and couldn't possibly carry away a rug (what are they thinking trying to sell these massive carpets to tourists??) He ran after me claiming that "I have a great selection of small rugs!"
No thanks.
Fortunately however, jewelry is lightweight and easy to carry.....
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
