Last year was my first trip to Europe. I had wanted to go for so long, but could never seem to get there. In my early thirties now, I am sure I could have traveled at least a bit more luxuriously, but I wasn’t interested- backpack or bust! So I purchased the bag, the roll-up sheet, good walking shoes and off we trekked.

We traveled by plane, train, metro, bus, bike and foot. We saw so many amazing things (too many to mention here but if you haven’t been- get yourself there already!). Of course each stop had its fill of touristy souvenir shops, which I giggled my way through. And at the end of several cities, I had accumulated no excess goodies- No Mind the Gap t-shirts or small Eiffel Towers. Nothing. Now, I’m not a nick-nack person, but surely I should have wanted something as a memento.

Then as we wandered through the small streets of Venice, Italy (which is also lined with tons of shops), I saw a hip young girl making jewelry that she displayed on an open umbrella sitting on the ground. I approached her and her musician friends and noticed how beautiful her pieces were. After some conversation, I bought two pairs of earrings and walked away grinning ear to ear.

It was then it dawned on me. I had done this exact thing in every city I had visited. I had bought a lovely bracelet at the Portabello Market in London. My partner had surprised me with a unique ring I was admiring from small little street vendor in Paris. And here I was with new earrings (and a new acquaintance) from Venice. This is what I had chosen to collect to remind me of my time spend in Europe as well as other cities throughout the US. It wasn’t just about buying a $5 t-shirt from a store clerk; it was about something uniquely made by the inhabitants of the area and about the situation in which the purchase occurred. I couldn’t be happier with my collection.

Only you can know what is important to hold on to and what you care to pass by.