Every traveler that I run into seem to have some sort of collectible they like to pick up in every city or every country. I have met people who collect city magnets, sports jerseys, t-shirts, and even spoons. Sometimes it is not even an item, just something they try to do in each country. The most popular one is trying to get a passport stamp in every country they have traveled to. The somewhat new European Union borderless traveling has made this a lot harder to obtain passport stamps. The reason being you only get stamped when you enter a country from outside the Schengen Zone. Once in the Schengen Zone you will not get any stamps until you leave and enter again. The Schengen Zone = Most of Western Europe (not the UK or Switzerland)
Another collectible that seems to be popular is putting country flag patches on your backpack. I have a slightly mixed opinion on these. It is a pretty good talking point when traveling to show which countries you have lived in or where you are from. But personally while traveling I try to blend in a little bit, even though I know I stick out either way. I have noticed a ton of Canadians sport the maple leaf flag on their backpacks…I’ve heard it is so they don’t get confused for us neighbors to the South. Either way, it is nice to be prideful of your home country.
So what do I collect?
Shot glasses from each country. I have no clue how it started, but it turned out to be something I bought in every country. Sort of an addiction. The past trip I was on I had 15+ shot glasses in my backpack, I really wish I would of started collecting something lighter and less fragile. Although I haven’t broken any yet, the weight defiantly adds up after living out of a backpack for 3 months.
What do you collect when traveling? Let me know in the comments.
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