Greece - purchases

I find I buy less than I used to, when traveling. There's still that nagging little voice that makes me feel like I have to find souvenirs for everyone I might see in the next 3 months (family, friends, coworkers). I'm getting really good at ignoring that voice. If someone requests a particular item, or if I happen to see something perfect for a particular person, I'll buy it. If not, I don't buy anything.

I considered indulging in shoes or jewelry for myself this time around, but ultimately ran out of time and energy. Instead, I picked up a few odds and ends that I truly love.

Behold the haul...

{greek bounty}

A bag of gigantes, from the grocery store. They're so hard to find at home and when I do find them, they're terribly overpriced. And no, just buying the largest lima beans you can find does not work. They don't taste the same, somehow. 1 euro.

Two bottles of liquor. One of them is pomegranate, purchased for summer cocktails. The other is clear and unidentifiable.* I was in a little store in Nafplio, waiting for my order of loukamades to finish frying when I saw the bottle on the shelf and asked the owner what it was. He and his daughter conferred, but couldn't figure out how to explain it. Instead, they poured out some shots - the fastest way to promote universal understanding, truly. It is stronger than ouzo** and it doesn't have the aniseed flavor. 20 euros total (for two smallish bottles + 1 order of loukamades + free shots + free samples of every gelato flavor in the store)

{brass bowl}

Antique brass peacock bowl, found at the Monastiraki Sunday flea market (always fabulous). 4 euros

{tin figures}

Little pieces of hammered tin, also from the flea market, original use uncertain but we'll be hanging them on our Christmas tree. 10 euros total.


*I got curious while writing this and did some research. I think it might be tsipouro, a strong (45%) alcohol produced from the remnants of the wine making process. I'll have to examine the bottle more closely.

**I love ouzo but I don't bother purchasing it in Greece. It's fairly readily available at large liquor stores and I have never been able to distinguish between the various brands anyway, so I'm happy with whatever I find.