Little discoveries during big adventures: a round-up of current travel souvenirs.
GUGGENHEIM BILBAO
The buyer for the museum’s shop goes well beyond stocking standard-issue trinkets. We were unfamiliar with the designs of Corsi, an Italian brand that creates clocks, placemats, trays, bowls, and vases from colorful, glossy resin. We left with easily-packable coasters but have our eye on this humorous clock and catch-all bowl.
VILLA MAGNAN
This 7-year-old small hotel just outside Biarritz is instagram-famous for good reason. We like that you can re-create their comfy and high-design bedrooms by taking home their inventive sheets and bed-coverings.
LA CANOPÉE BAUME
The french pharmacy is a mixed minefield of hype + genuine must-haves. Intuition lead us to this “Olive, Vanilline, Lavande” soft balm for babies. It has a lovley, gentle scent and is truly skin-softening. A winner.
FOLDING HAND FAN
Wrongfully, these were always dismissively filed under “dramatic Marie Antoinette-esque prop”. Late to the party, we now understand the great necessity of a folding hand fan. Indispensable in 111-degree heat and many versions out there are tiny works of art.
LES PRÉS d’EUGÉNIE
Friend and friend-of-the-brand, Ginny, introduced us to this beautiful property in Landes. The restorative pink clay bath is an experience we will not soon forget. Snagging a few of their generously-sized bags of loose tea, Tisane Minceur — a mix of heather flowers, cornsilk, horsetail, uva ursi & cherry stalks — is a lovely, long-lasting drinkable souvenir.
CHILLIDA LEKU MUSEUM
This gorgeous, small museum displays a curated collection of sculptures by the Spanish artist across open fields and within the spare gallery spaces of a country house. It puts you in mind of a small-scale Storm King or Château La Coste. The gift shop is unsurprisingly well-curated and we selected this blocky candle with a matching brick of matches as a small memento.
CARISSA’S
Godchild, Vivian, turned us on to this glorious bakery / restaurant / kitchen with three locations on the eastern tip of New York. If summer travels bring you within driving distance, go and order everything. Several exceptional pantry items are available to ship for those further afield.
