Saint Peter Basilica watercolor original by GinetteCreations

Found this gem of a painting on Etsy.com. I love the interpretation of Ginette Creations. Her choice of colors is vibrant — probably the aura of such a beautiful architectural masterpiece. Check more of her works at GinetteCreations.

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Oberammergau vintage ashtray from CallMeOut

Spotted this Oberammergau vintage ashtray from CallMeOut on etsy! This year is when Oberammergau performs their Passion Play. Don’t you just love vintage pieces? They’ve got other interesting stuff, too.

If you’re planning to include Oberammergau in your trip this year, there are still some tickets left. For more information, Check out my Oberammergau packages.

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I’ve been checking out stocking filler travel gifts for ideas on what to give my friends. I’m thinking travel here to inspire them to go and discover places next year! Here are some of my ideas.

6 globe charms by TimeAndMaterials

6 globe charms, only US$ 3.50

How about buying these 6 globe charms and making pendants for five of your friends and yourself? Make this a group reminder to be globetrotters for 2010!

These 6 globe charms are available from the etsy store of  TimeAndMaterials. Put together other travel related charms for that personal touch. Your friends are sure to treasure these!

Use colorful ribbons and reusable cards to brighten up that stocking!

Unscented beauty body butter by CozyMoments

Unscented Beautiful Body Butter to go, only US $3.00

Perfect for a friend who needs to stay pampered while on the road. This luxurious present has the consistency of cake frosting — thick and rich.

Created by CozyMoments and made with 98% natural ingredients. Beautiful Body Butter was formulated to nourish and deeply hydrate the skin. This intensely moisturizing cream is loaded with rich shea butter and creamy cocoa butter to soften, soothe, and pamper the skin. Includes Vitamin E and C, plus Japanese Green Tea Extract to help combat free radicals.

World traveller vintage cameras and maps by piddix

World Traveller Vintage Cameras and Maps in 2.5 inch squares digital collage sheet, only US $2.00

Piddix carefully paired a wide variety of vintage cameras — from the early 1900s-1960s  –with vintage maps scanned from France, New York other wonderful locations around the world.

Perfect for little thank you notes, hang tags, and more. You won’t find anything like this anywhere else. go ahead, be creative and surprise your girlfriends!

Whipped satin luxury cream by pinkdandyshop

Whipped Satin Luxury Cream 1/2 ounce,
only US $1.00

Friends never get tired of creams! These sample travel sized creams are by pinkdandyshop on etsy.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Grapeseed Oil (Vitis Vinifera), Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera), Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cocao), Emulsifying Wax NF, Palm Stearic Acid, Lavender Extract (Lavandula Officinalis), Grape Extract, Wheat Starch, Fragrance, Phenonip.

Luggage tags by meghandesign

Luggage tags Colorful Asterisks, only US $5.00

These luggage tags are far from ho-hum! Check out the striking colors — downright ho ho ho as a stocking filler!

Friends will easily spot their bags with these handmade luggage tags. Created by meghandesign on etsy, these are just the right size your business card in and still keep it closed for privacy.

Meghandesign has more items as stocking fillers. She chooses her fabrics so well! And if you’re thinking of getting stockings, she has mini stockings just too yummy looking to give away. Buy a bundle and decorate your mantle with these little darlings!

Cute mini plane charms by PoPnEyE

Cute mini plane charms, only US $ 3.00

Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly awaaaay… goes the song. Show your friends you mean what you say and give each one their very own private plane… that they can hang around the neck. Hey, it’s the thought that counts!

Created by PoPnEye on etsy. About the finish:

• Please note that due to the nature of patination, the shades of patina may vary
• Hand finished in an antiqued/oxidized patina. It will continue to age with time
• The pieces in the photos are characteristic of the finish. They are shown in several angles so you can see how lighting changes the appearance of the finish.

8 great travel charms by bluedaisy1222

8 Great brass travel charms, only US $ 4.50

Pretty charms for the travel charmer. Tuck this in the stocking of that special friend. She’s sure to rave over these treasures! You’ll find these in bluedaisy1222‘s etsy store.

This set includes: the Eiffel Tower, Coliseum, Passport, Airplane, Charge Card, Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Parthenon and a suitcase.

The fun part is seeing how these frugal but meaningful gifts will make your friends look forward to another exciting year!

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Pocket Inspiration cards on etsy

Women love being inspired. We watch movies, read books, arrange flowers, sew, cook, paint, play the piano to get us going. Guess what I found… these delightful little cards filled with the simplest thoughts. Pure inspiration!

Seven inspiring thoughts by Pocket Inspiration on etsy

Each card is rendered with Maya’s original, Japanese-style brush stroke illustrations, and carry messages that promote joy, moving forward and pursuing one’s dreams.

“Travel light” * “Unfurl your wings and fly” * “Throw your heart over the bar, and your body will follow” * “Never cease to be amazed” * “Whether you see the glass as half full or half empty, you are right” * “Dance like no one’s watching” * “Bee happy”

These Pocket Inspiration cards are meant to be used without an envelope (but she’s throwing in seven white envelopes). Slip a card into someone’s bag, in between the pages of a book or tack it on a mirror, next to someone’s computer screen or on a vision board. Tuck it into someone’s suitcase (as she did here), use it as a greeting card to accompany a present, or give the boxed set as a gift that keeps on giving hope and enthusiasm. As with all things that intend to bring joy, use liberally — why not share one with someone on every day of the week?

Convincing your girlfriends to join you on a fun trip? These cards are the perfect stepping stones to entice them to pack their bags!

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Ruffled waist purse by Kinies

This travel purse with ruffles doesn’t really look like a purse so I am assuming it doesn’t attract roving eyes of bag snatchers when you go out at night. If you’re going out to dinner or taking a stroll back to the hotel, you don’t have to bring your bulky travel day bag with you. Relax and take this travel purse instead.

What can you put in it? There’s space for your essential cosmetics, iphone (a great travel buddy), passport, wallet… a handy digital camera (minus the tripod).

I think this is also handy when you go dancing. You can keep on wearing this when you do your thing on the dance floor! Check out Kinies‘ other items, too! There are other travel purses and travel bags available.

Approx Measurement & Spec:
Width: 11″ (straps not included)
Height: 7.5″
Strap: Max 42″
Interior has 3 pockets
2 x Pocket: (W)3.5″ x (L)4″
1 x Pocket: (W)4.5″ x (L)4.5″

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Shopping in Rome

by Guiseppe Mancuzo

One of the big attractions for anyone on a visit to Rome is the shopping, and there are plenty of attractions for tourists. If you love shopping but don’t know where to start when it comes to Rome, here are some options.

Campo de Fiori The oldest market in Rome is Campo de Fiori, held in the Piazza of the same name where it’s been held for almost a hundred and fifty years. Specializing in food and flowers, the market is open weekday and Saturday mornings and is surrounded by bars and restaurants.

Eco Solidarity Market An antique and used clothing market in the Via Ostiense, the Eco Solidarity market can be a fun trip.

Mercato delle Stampe This excellent location is great for used book lovers – check out this market in Largo della Fontanella di Borghese for prints and engravings, old books and antique periodicals. Open Monday to Saturday, early morning to afternoon, this market is full of treasures.

Mercato di Testaccio Unlike many Roman markets, this one has a permanent structure in the Piazza Testaccio. Here you’ll find butchers, fish sellers, cheese and milk sellers, as well as purveyors of the best fresh vegetables Rome has to offer. Food lovers shouldn’t miss this shopping experience.

Porta Portese Between Porta Portese and Stazione Trastevere on the Tiber’s left bank, there’s a Sunday morning street market each week. There are mostly clothes at this market, but they range from the latest fashions to second hand stalls, so there’s something for everyone.

Via Frattina, Via Condotti and Via Borgognona These three parallel streets start near the Piazza di Spagna and run all the way to the Via del Corso. These are the most famous fashion streets anywhere in Rome, worth a look for anyone who’s interested high end clothing, even if you only do a little window shopping at the most famous stores.

Via dei Coronari Another street known for its antiques, along with Via Margutta, via del Pellegrino, Via Giula and Via del Babuino

Via dei Gigli d’Oro For those who love the art of ancient Rome, this street offers reproduction mosaics that are worth a look.

Via dei Sediari This very famous street has been providing quality household items and furniture for centuries.

Via Margutta This is a small street in the Campo Marzio region, featuring art galleries, restaurants and antique shops. Plus, in the fall and spring, the Cento pittori Via Margutta group use the street as an open air gallery.

Via Sannio Near the San Giovanni subway station on Rome’s A line, this market sells fashionable clothing and accessories. The middle of the market is covered, but surrounding streets feature uncovered stands. Open in the morning on weekdays, this is a great place to look for clothing.

Of course, that’s not all you’ll find when in comes to shopping in Rome, just some of the most popular and well known locations. Be sure to check them out and find out more about this great city when you visit!

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Most travelers visit no further than Amsterdam when they come over to the Netherlands. To cap their trip, the search for interesting souvenirs begins. A lot of these will have the blue on white designs of windmills and dutch countrylife or landscape.

Delftware has been around since the late 16th century with pottery houses in Gouda, Rotterdam and Dordrecht but the more famous ones were the ones in Delft. These products used to be tin-glazed but not anymore — too expensive, and you know how the Dutch are — very practical.

So, looking for that Delft blue souvenir? Btw, if you find “Delftblauw” at the bottom of the product, these are then authentic and considered as collectibles. If they’re cheap, it’s not authentic BUT they do make wonderful keepsakes or little gifts to friends back home.

Koos Rozenburg Antiquiteiten specializes in Delft Blue tiles from the 17th and 18th centuries. Saw this shop and checked out his tiles. Address is Markt 2, 2611 GT Delft. Tel. 015 2147828.

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