Travel and tips

Don’t you like going through your vacations photos? We all take pictures when we go on a vacation. It is a great way to perpetuate the experience and remember it for years to come. However sometimes taking pictures is not smooth. Unexpected problems pop up such as running out of film, running out of battery or just forgetting the camera in the hotel. In this article we will provide a few easy to follow tips that will help you in carrying your camera and taking pictures.
The first decision when taking a camera with you on a trip is which camera to take. One of the common mistakes people do when traveling is taking a camera that does not fit their needs. For example they take a high end heavy camera just to leave it in the hotel room since it is too hard to carry with them. It is important to take the right camera for the trip. For example if you are going to be walking a lot or trekking it is better to have a lighter weight smaller camera. If you are going to be driving a lot you can take heavier equipment and more accessories. You should also match the camera to the destination and to your photography level. If your goal is to capture memories a cheap small camera is more than enough. If your goal is to take high quality photos for future enlargements a professional high resolution camera is adequate.
Carrying the camera and its accessories is much easier with the right carrying bag. Most people are tempted to buy a bag specifically designed for their camera. These bags are easier to use and have the right compartments for the various accessories but they have a big drawback: they can draw the attention of a thief who is lurking for tourists. It is better to use a normal bag such as a backpack that does not look new or like a bag that holds an expensive camera. Digital cameras have many accessories some are optional and some are not. It is a good idea to make a checklist and use it when packing for a vacation. Make sure that you take the battery charger, the right adaptors for the power outlets in your destination, lenses, memory cards and more. Two very important things to remember when traveling are batteries and memory. Always carry a fully charged spare battery with you. One of the worst experiences is running out of batteries just before a great photo opportunity shows up. Charge both batteries at least every night when getting back to your hotel. Even if you did not take many photos that day and you think the batteries have enough power in them it is better to make sure by fully charging them rather than to take the risk. Also remember that batteries slowly lose their power even when not used so always recharge your spare battery too even if it was not used.
The equivalent of running out of film in old cameras is running out of memory in digital cameras. Make sure that you are taking enough memory cards for the whole trip. Unless you have a laptop with you to dump the photos to you will need the memory to last the whole trip. Try to guess how many photos you will take daily and then get enough memory to hold double that number. Remember that with digital cameras it is easy to take many pictures. It is better to take a few smaller capacity memory cards than one high capacity card. When a card is full you can leave it in your luggage in the hotel room. If worst happens and you lose your camera with the memory card in it you will at least have some memories in a safe place.
If you are an experienced photographer and want to take a tripod with you it is important to find the right compromise between a good tripod and carrying ease. If the tripod is too bulky and heavy you will end up leaving it in your hotel. You can also decide to carry two tripods a miniature one for when walking or trekking and a heavier one when driving around and stopping for photo opportunities.
Taking pictures when traveling is a great way to capture memories. When you get back home dump the photos to your desktop computer make backups and enjoy them for the rest of your life.

The number-one rule in packing for a trip is to pack lightly because we often forget how frequently we’ll have to lift or carry our luggage during our travels. Consider how, you’ll be dragging your luggage into the trunk of your car and out again, through the airport, off of the luggage carousel, through another airport, back into the trunk of your rental car and out again until finally you get to the hotel where hopefully they’ll have a porter.
On top of having to lug your bags around, your airline will have strict rules on the size, weight and the number of bags you can travel with—for both carry-on and checked baggage. Make sure you check your airline’s website for current information on restrictions and don’t assume that what you took last time will be allowed this time—especially if you are travelling on a different airline. Luggage size and weight restrictions can vary by airline or travel destination.
*MONEY-SAVING TRAVEL TIP*Packing lightly for your travels can save you money. Many airlines are now charging fees for overweight bags, oversized bags, and for checking more than the allowed number of bags per passenger. Other great reasons for packing lightly: shorter waits around the luggage carousel, less need for porters (and tips!) and easier Customs inspections (after all, if you had to force your bags closed, imagine how happy the Customs agents will be!)Travel tips for packing your carry-onYour carry-on should contain all your most valuable items and must-have documentation like:• Your wallet• Your passport• Your tickets• Your traveller’s cheques• Your emergency medical travel insurance • Your medications (be sure to keep them in their original bottles)• Phone numbers and addresses of where you’ll be staying• A small amount of local currency for immediate use when you arrive• The maps you’ll need to get where you are staying once you’ve arrived• If you must bring valuables like jewellery with you, your carry-on is your safest bet – but leave them at home if you can.
Travel tips for packing your checked luggageThe following tips should help you keep your luggage light and leave enough room so you can pack souvenirs when you return:• Find out if where you are staying offers laundry services or has facilities you can use. This is one of the major secrets of packing lightly.
• Coordinate your outfits around a central color so you’ll be able to mix and match.
• Plan your outfits so you can layer instead of bringing lots of coats.
• Take a solid color sweater that will match any outfit to use to keep you warm • Why pack the rain gear if rain is nowhere in the forecast? Check the weather online, so you can pack weather-appropriate clothing without wasting space on things you won’t need.
• Rolling clothes rather than folding them will help prevent wrinkles and optimize your limited space.
• Take small sample sizes of toiletries that will last just long enough instead of huge bottles. • Don’t waste an inch of your luggage space, pack underwear and socks inside your shoes. This will also help your shoes keep their shape. Pack your belts around the edge of the luggage. A final travel tipAlthough already mentioned as one of the items you should keep in your carry-on so it doesn’t get lost, emergency medical travel insurance is a must-have for all Canadians. Even Canada’s Consular Affairs don’t mince words when they say on their website “DO NOT leave Canada without supplementary medical insurance.”Even for the smallest of accidents, or the most common illnesses, emergency medical travel insurance offers you protection by ensuring you get the attention you need, when you need it while not having to worry about how your emergency treatment will get paid.
Before you leave, get emergency medical travel insurance quotes from competing insurers online and get the coverage you need. And don’t forget to pack it with your other must-have documentation!Compare emergency medical travel insurance today!

Travel tips to get through TSA security by Maxine Greco TIPS from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will help get travelers on their way and will help speed travelers and their gear through airport security procedures. Here are a few tips for traveling with golf gear since there is no better time than a vacation to hit the links. Fertilizers used on many golf courses can trigger explosive trace-detection equipment. Before flying, be sure to clean off clubs. Also remember to pack clubs in a travel bag and consider leaving it unlocked. Vacations are also a great time to go scuba diving, catch some fish or go camping. Scuba tanks are not allowed on commercial airlines for safety reasons. Ship scuba tanks or consider renting a tank at your destination. Fishing tackle and sports gear – such as bats and lacrosse sticks – must be checked. Outdoor enthusiasts will pack sun tan lotion, bug repellent and other skin care products. Usually, it is fine to pack these items in either checked or carry on bags, but travelers should check with their airline before flying with aerosol canisters as some canisters are flammable. Summer travelers who want to bring back favorite foods from their destination can do so, but should know that some food products might cause your checked bag to be screened for security reasons. And check prior to packing food items, as there are some restrictions on some fruits and vegetables. Pack food products in carry-on bags. Use special TSA locks and locking straps only. It can be tempting to over pack bags when vacationing. TSA suggests that travelers consider how they pack and understand that Federal Security Screeners may have to open and physically search a bag as part of the screening process. Overstuffed bags are more difficult to close once opened which could result in delays for checked luggage. Also, small items won’t get misplaced if you use plastic bags or special packing cubes made for this purpose.
Family memories last a lifetime, and so should photos and videos. Passengers traveling with underdeveloped film should pack these items in their carry-on bags. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage or destroy undeveloped film. Have your passport, boarding pass and photo ID readily available. Airport ID’s are ideal for this purpose. Avoid over packing and carry one of those fold up carry bags for additional purchases. Check ahead of time with your airline or travel agent for maximum weight and luggage size limitations. Otherwise, you may be surprised with additional travel fees.
The following general packing tips apply to both carry-on and checked baggage and will help you to move through the screening process more quickly: · Do NOT pack or bring prohibited items to the airport .
· Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. If your bag will pass through the X-ray machine more than 5 times ask for a hand inspection to prevent damage · Carry-on baggage is limited to one carry-on bag plus one personal item. Personal items include laptops, purses, small backpacks , briefcases or camera cases. · Don’t forget to place identification tags with your name, address and phone number on all of your baggage, including your laptop computer. It is a good idea to place an identification tag inside your baggage as well Also have your passport, photo ID and boarding pass readily available. http://www.villageluggageandgifts.com

New York, New York – so good they named it twice – is one of the most fascinating, exciting and cultural cities in the world. Within the 20 square miles that comprise Manhattan can be found some of the world’s greatest museums, shops and restaurants, as well as a spectacular skyline that’s known the world over.
You could spend a lifetime in New York without experiencing everything fully. Some of the sights that any first time visitor to New York must see include the Empire State Building – for many years the world’s tallest building – the immigration museum at Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and the United Nations Building.
One of the joys of visiting the city is simply to wander through the different and varied neighborhoods – Greenwich Village, Chinatown, the Theater District, Harlem and Little Italy. The outlying borough of Brooklyn has several attractions including the botanical gardens and the famous amusement park at Coney Island.
One of the biggest attractions is the city’s diversity – in New York you can hear virtually any language spoken and dine in a different ethnic restaurant every night for a month. Apart from Manhattan, the borough of Queens is also well known for its wide selection of foreign restaurants.
Shopping in New York is equally satisfying, offering world class department stores with such famous names as Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdales. At the other end of the shopping spectrum are street markets, designer boutiques and specialty stores.
New York has some of the greatest museums in the world – several conveniently located together at the edge of Central Park. The Metropolitan Museum of Art attracts more visitors than any other place in the city and offers everything from Egyptian mummies to 20th century masterpieces.
On the other hand the city has over 50 smaller but fascinating museums dedicated to such diverse subjects as firefighting, tenement living and the history of finance. Children are not forgotten – there are several museums aimed at children as well as the ever popular Bronx Zoo with its more than 4,000 animals.
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, one of New York’s biggest attractions has been the remains of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. More than a tourist attraction, to many it’s a site of pilgrimage and a poignant reminder of the events of that day.

There are many things that you can do to pre-prepare yourself and your family for travel. By being as prepared as you can be, you are setting yourself up for a great getaway that will minimize any unpleasant circumstances that sometimes arise with travel.
In order to have the best vacation possible, I’m going to share with you the must know tricks and travel tips before you travel.
The very first thing you must do is RESEARCH. You want to learn as much as you possibly can about your destination prior to arrival. Yes, this is going to require some time and effort on your part but it is going to be more than worth it. This is the only way to truly understand what it is you want from your vacation and what you want to do on your vacation. Here are some things that you should always know about your destination.
Weather – You need to know what you should be packing and planning for.
Paperwork and Documentation – Know what is needed to travel to your particular destination.
Know if there are any diseases common to the area you will be traveling to – this way you are able to take preventative measures.
Costs of local items – You want to be able to properly plan your budget; remember to include taxes and tipping.
Holidays and festivals – check to see when these occur for your destination as you may find limited services on those days.
The best holidays are the ones we are most prepared for. Do yourself a favour; make it a habit to always know as much as you can about your destination before you travel. It’ll make all the difference in the world!What are some other things that you can do to prepare yourself? Use these travel tips before you travel.
1. Make 2 photocopies of your passport. Take one and put it in a safe place or leave it with a friend. Take the other one with you and keep it in a separate place from your passport, this way should your passport become lost or stolen, you can use the copy to exit the country and it will also facilitate the replacement process.
2. Email yourself important information such as: airline numbers and flight information, credit card numbers, passport and driver’s licence numbers and anything else that may be of importance to you. This way if anything is lost or stolen, you are just and internet connection away.
3. Know your banking information. For your credit card, make sure that the valid dates will remain valid while you’re traveling, know your available spending amount and don’t forget to leave some room on it for emergencies. Check your ATM and debit cards’ daily and total limits.
4. Learn some local phrases. If you are traveling to a country with a foreign language, it’s always nice to know some of the local phrases. Knowing the “polite words” and just a few local phrases will be a huge help. You will find that natives really appreciate this and will tend to be more receptive to your questions. Maybe you’ll even make a new friend while you’re at it!5. Be aware of the voltage that’s used for the country you’re traveling to. If you are taking anything that requires an outlet; cell phone, computer, video camera, etc. make sure to purchase plug adapters. For things such as hairdryers, curling irons, electric razors, etc to purchase an actual voltage converter unless your appliance has multiple voltage currencies. When traveling to a foreign country it’s always best to be as prepared as you can be. Do as much research as you possibly can, remember these travel tips before you travel and your trip abroad is sure to be a success. Here’s your final checklist: Passport, tickets, car rental and hotel reservation receipts/agreements, credit cards, medications or prescriptions, if required, addresses, password and any other important information that you may need. Don’t forget the most important thing: your adventurous travel mind, see and learn as much as you can and have the time of your life!

There are common sense travel tips, like “Check at least three web sites to get the best deal on plane tickets.” Then there are the tips that are more along the line of “secrets.” These are the little-known tricks learned by experience. Here are some of the best of those.
Cheap Travel TipsFind out where local visitors from within the country stay. The cheapest “tourist hotel” I could find when in a resort town in Mexico was $135. I asked a local businessman where to find a cheap room, and got one for $10. There wasn’t a swimming pool, but the room was spotless. I was there to travel, not to lounge, so this suited me fine.
Negotiating room charges is common in many countries. In Banos, Ecuador, we negotiated our room rate down from $12 to $6 per night, by paying for several nights in advance. The trick here is to be sure that there are other options, then make your final offer and walk away. Most owners will call you back and lower the price.
Consider hostels, if you don’t mind sharing a room. They’re much more common overseas. This saves you a lot if you are single, because you pay for the bed. I once spent four days in a hostel for $4 per day, breakfast included. I shared a room with several others, and a TV room with travelers from 16 countries.
Hotels in the U.S. are less likely to negotiate, but we have done it. Most small chain motels are not company-owned, but franchises, so it is usually the owner behind the counter. Paying for several nights in advance, or just starting to walk away, has resulted in discounts for us many times.
Travel is often only as cheap as your plane tickets. For international travel, search the fares to several countries that you would like to visit. Go to the cheapest one now – the others will be cheap another time, and a savings of $500 can buy a few extra days, or an extra mini-vacation some other time.
Anywhere you go, there are things you can do to keep it cheaper. Eat where locals eat, for example, instead of at tourist restaurants. See the free and cheap attractions first. You might have so much fun that you’ll never get around to doing the expensive things. Higher prices mean better quality with travel bags, but not necessarily with travel experiences.
Other Travel TipsE-mail important documents to yourself. These should include a copy of your passport, other IDs, phone numbers of the U.S. Consulate offices where you’ll be, and your itinerary or e-tickets for any flights. In this way, even if you are robbed and lose everything, you’ll have access to all the important documents from any internet cafe in the world.
On a streetcar, I once had a pocket unzipped and the wallet removed without feeling a thing. Many pickpockets are experts. Fortunately, it was a “decoy” wallet, with nothing but a few pieces of paper, and a fake credit card. Other ways to protect money, cards and documents include putting a bill or two under the inner sole of running shoes, safety-pinning a hidden pocket inside your pants, and hiding cash in several different places.
I see young travelers in other countries walking anywhere they feel like it at night, and then being shocked that they are robbed. Aren’t there places in New York or Chicago where you wouldn’t walk at night? Ask the locals where it is safe and where it isn’t, and trust your intuition when it warns you. Leave expensive clothing and jewelry at the hotel when you are just out for a walk. Safety tricks are the most important travel tips.

Visiting South America is an exciting prospect with it’s vibrant, passionate culture, the music, dancing and fabulous beaches. The continent has some of the worlds most exciting cities, rainforests, jungles and mountains. Rio de JaneiroEvery day feels like a carnival in Rio de Janeiro, you are never far from the pulse of the samba. Situated between glorious beaches and lush mountains it’s a perfect place for a lively holiday.
WeatherThe weather never gets cold in Rio, the rainy season is from October to January and temperatures can drop to 23C. The humid climate reaches 28C in the summer. Transport: how to get there and aroundThe airport in Rio serves flights from all of Latin America, Brazil, and beyond. Long distance buses depart from Novo Rio Rodoviaria.
Getting around the city can be a little uncomfortable on the often crowded buses. For a cooler option try the air-conditioned subway which covers part of the city. Accommodation: Luxury to budget staysThe internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Rio de Janeiro. Attractions & Events*Unforgettable Costumes, dancing and body painting are paraded through the streets for the famous 5 day Carnaval. This event starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday.
* Throughout June is the Fiestas Junina, which takes place in public squares in the city.
*Festa de NS da Gloria do Outeiro is celebrated with street parades and stalls on 15 August.
*Each Sunday in October the religious festival Festa da Penha takes place.
Sгo Paulo Sгo Paulo is Brazils largest and most cosmopolitan city. There are many attractions for the visitor to enjoy including the art and culture, fine restaurants and pulsating nightlife. Transport: how to get there and aroundThere are three airports in Sгo Paulo. Congonhas for domestic and Sao Paulo/ Guarulhos both for domestic and international flights.
To avoid the congested streets the subway is a great option. There is a bus service but this can be crowded and uncomfortable.
WeatherThe city receives most rain during the summer months, although generally the weather is sunny and warm all year.
Accommodation: Luxury to budget staysThe internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Sao Paulo. Attractions & Events*In June the hot fashions are on show during Sгo Paulo’s Fashion Week, the same month brings the huge gay celebration Gay Pride. *In October sports fan can enjoy the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix Buenos AiresBuenos Aires has an old style European feel with its boulevards, cafй’s and architecture. But you’ll quickly find it also has a trendy chic side and a population that makes flair into an art form. And as home of the tango, the city has an irresistible allure.
Transport: how to get there and aroundThe city’s two airports known as Ezeiza & Aeroparque serve as an important hub for the southern region of South America. There is a bus service which connects the city with both airports. The efficient underground called Subte makes traveling around the city easy. You can also use the bus service 24 hours a day. Most of the tourist attractions are situated close to one another so walking is also an option.
WeatherThe best time to visit is during Spring and Autumn as the summer can be scorching up to 40C and the winters are cold. You will see some rain although its not generally heavy.
Accommodation: Luxury to budget staysThe internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Buenos Aires. Attractions & Events*Dancing is a popular celebration, the Buenos Aires Tango festival is held during February and March. * To celebrate Latin American literature the book fair The Feria del Libro takes place every April.
*Campeonato Abierto Argentino de Polo takes place in December.

“We’ve been robbed,” I told Ana. “All of it.” I grabbed the thief, who was no longer acting drunk at all. It was a lesson in travel safety.
It started when both my wife and I had a strong feeling we shouldn’t get on that bus in Cuenca. Neither of us said anything, because a taxi was two dollars, and the bus cost only twenty-five cents. It seems a bit TOO frugal now.
Ana found a seat, but there was no seat for me. I was packed in with the other commuters standing up. I noticed the drunk pushing his way through the crowd, randomly going this way and that, and I knew somethimg was up. I instinctively reached into my pockets to check on my money. I had just visited the ATM. The $170 in my pocket was the most cash we had carried during the entire trip. Still there. The old guy pushed against me like he was trying to find a place to stand comfortably. I checked my again.
Five minutes later some space opened up near Ana, and I moved over to her. When I reached into my pocket again, it was empty, and the other pocket was empty too. I never felt a thing. I told Ana, and saw that the old drunk was still on the bus.
We got off at the next stop, dragging the thief with us. An officer appeared, and a crowd formed. The thief was sober now, pulling his pockets out and insisting again that he was inocent. Search him, he said, and I did, but I understood now that his associate was long gone with the money, probably off the bus at a previous stop. His role had just been to distract me and push me into the right place on the bus.
He begged to be let go, and we knew we couldn’t get the money back. Nonetheless, we had the officer take him to the police station on his motorcycle while we followed in a taxi, paying with a twenty from under the sole of my shoe. Filing a complaint at least meant he would spend the night in jail, and though he would be released in the morning for a lack of evidence, his finger prints are on file now.
Travel Safety LessonsMost likely, a money belt probably would have prevented the robbery. Closing pockets help too, although I had a wallet stolen from a zipered pocket once, and I didn’t notice until forty minutes later. Fortunately it was a decoy-wallet, put there for just such an occasion – another little travel safety trick.
Other travel safety tricks? Put your money in at least three different places, like under the sole of your shoe, in a pocket you pin inside your clothes, and in your shaving kit. Carry two credit or debit cards in separate and secure places. Carry a list of “lost or stolen” phone numbers in another place. In areas with much crime, leave expensive watches and jewelry behind.
Learn a few tricks and you can travel more safely. Our experience also shows the importance of learning to trust your intuition. That was our lesson in travel safety.

However, along with all of these great places are the risks of getting into trouble, especially if the person is not yet familiar of the new surroundings and environment.
Here’s a list of some safety tips that one can use when on travel.
1. Do the homework.
Like any kind of decisions people have to make, it is always important to know the area they will be visiting so as to familiarize themselves with the laws, locations of best tourist spots, and the kind of people they have to deal with.
Going to a place without having the slightest idea what it is all about is just as bad as going to the wilderness with beasts lurking everywhere and there’s no gadget to protect them.
2. Never travel alone.
Of course, there are times when people just want to be alone and unwind so as to shed off all of the hustle and bustle of urban living.
However, with the imminent danger lurking everywhere, it is better to travel with someone than to risk their lives traveling alone.
After all, people will never know what will happen next as soon as they arrive at their destinations, especially when it is their first time on the area.
3. Planning.
When traveling, it is extremely important to plan ahead. This will give the traveler enough time to decide on which things need to be on top priority and which should be considered at a later time.
Besides, when a person has enough time to plan things ahead, he or she will be able to think on things that will protect them when they are on travel already.
4. Always be prepared for emergencies.
It does not necessarily mean that people must be pessimistic on the way they plan their travels. It’s just that they have to consider any possible emergencies and be prepared for it.
As they say, an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.
5. Be aware of hotel accommodations.
It is best to choose hotels that are equipped with the best innovative safety equipment. This is to ensure that travelers will be safe once they are alone in their room.
So, whether a person is traveling for the first time or for the nth time, it is still best to keep in mind safety traveling tips such as these one so that the experience will always be a gratifying one.

Vacationing in exotic locations all over the world can be enjoyable, but the best way to guarantee that you get the most out of your vacation is to plan properly and to make sure that you bring everything you need and are prepared for a number of situations. Are you planning a vacation to Mexico? Here are five things that you need to keep in mind to guarantee that your vacation is enjoyable and safe.
1. Choose a list of the destinations that interest you beforehand, so that you can plan accordingly. Once you have planned out your ideal destinations, you can map them out for the efficiency of your trip. If you do some planning beforehand, you will be better prepared to enjoy your vacation from beginning to end.
2. Do your research beforehand. There’s enough information on the internet that you can get any of the resources and answers that you need to plan a great vacation to Mexico. Plan ahead in order to decide how you will travel, where you will stay, how you will get around within the country, where you will eat, and what attractions you will visit during your vacation. Your vacation does not have to follow a strict regimen, but if you are prepared, you can worry less during your vacation when you should be enjoying yourself.
3. Pack as early as you can. Before you take off on your vacation, you should plan what you are bringing with you. Unless there is laundry service, you should plan to have a set of clothing for each day that you will be on vacation. There are three main things that you need to plan for when packing: Clothing, valuable legal documents like your passport, and any medicines that you need. By packing ahead of time, you can make sure that you do not leave anything out at the last minute.
4. Plan for emergencies. There is a good chance your cell phone isn’t going to work in Mexico, and even if it does, can you imagine the roaming charges? One of the best ways that you can prepare yourself for emergencies, as well as keep in touch with your family and friends, is to pack a phone card. http://www.iTravelKit.com offers great deals on phone cards for travelers. The call charges in Mexico are expensive, and packing a good phone card will ensure that if you need to make a call, you can, no matter how much it costs to do so in Mexico, or any one of 100+ other countries supported by the card. Their card works on Telmax payphones, as well. You may not want to think about the possibility of emergencies occurring, but it is still vital that you travel prepared.
5. Plan to bring back souvenirs. If you want to bring anything back from your vacation trip to Mexico, you need to make sure you’ve packed to accommodate any souvenirs that you may want to bring home. Do not pack your bags too full of stuff, but rather make sure that at least one piece of carry-on luggage has space for smaller souvenirs, and that there is some space in larger luggage to accommodate larger souvenir items.