Souvenir Shopping

Globalization has killed the souvenir trade and the fun of giving and receiving of souvenirs. I went all over looking for something authentic and found nada!

Most of what is now sold in that area of Mexico at their markets are plastic chucherrias from China. The artisans and craftspeople are no longer producing what they used to. Because this was not a tourist spot, they aren't even producing those items for each other. I used to get these gorgeous hand carved lil boxes and they are gone. In fact, the more typical Mexican items can be found at Fiesta in town! No need to go into the interior. Tourist areas like Oaxaca and Cancun still make souvenirs, talavera can be found anywhere but the real stuff is a bit trickier anyway, you can get the fake and real stuff in town. Non tourist spots used to carry the more authentic items because they were actually used everyday and made for Mexicans by Mexicans. Hard to believe that is gone or at least tres difficult to find because of it's pending extinction.

Anyway, a friend of mine was in Europe last year and had that exact same problem. What to bring the friends in Texas...something authentic and European, unique, not found or seen here in Texas...she found nothing! So that is why you didn't get a souvenir from me. You should go visit Mexico though. The border towns are just a tiny part of Mexico and they are pretty unique towns and don't give you an inkling of what Mexico is all about.