[momraine]

What souvineers did you buy while you are in Russia?
If you have not traveled yet, what do you hope to buy?
Also those that traveled what do you wish you had bought or bought more of?

[Bcelli]

Our favorite keepsake is 2 pieces of art - one for each son - and I wish I had gotten more. We bought an assortment of stuff - Matroiska dolls, a chess set, a Ushanka hat for DH, a hockey jersey for our oldest son (nothing anywhere near small enough for the little guy), a couple of icons, some hand sewn embroidered eggs, birch box, lacquer box, majolica figurine, amber, etc. But we made a list of things to get with each adoption - a daily newspaper, a current magazine, a region flag, a national flag, pop music, Russian-label clothes, a Russian toy, etc., to put in a keepsake box for each boy. One thing I didn't think about that had I known, I would have made accommodations for was at the airport in Amsterdam - they had genuine Dutch Blue Delft Christmas ornaments for $4 each. They were incredible.

[momraine]

I bought my daughter some wood christmas ornaments, and some boxes, pictures and of course matroiska dolls and a couple of toys and a white dress she was baptized in. I wish I had bought more.

[kretzklan]

We should have bought more...but at that time the financial stress was eating at us and we were being very budget conscious. We bought nesting dolls - two traditional and two silly (our two favorite football teams). We bought the boys the fur military hats, DD got one of the beaded traditional head pieces. We bought things for the people at home who had helped and supported us - mostly the carved birch boxes. We splurged on a beautiful painting of St. Basils that a street vendor painted right before our eyes...so we know it's "original". I think there were a couple of other small items...but that's about it.
I wish we would have bought MORE. I don't really know what I feel like we are missing...but something!

[heikewould]

We bought the usual also, nesting dolls and the hats. The one thing I'm glad we bought is a porceilan (sp) doll whose dress is the decorative dress of the TVER region. This doll is handmade and beautiful. Also a Russian fairytale book that is translated into English. I bought a Russian Mink Hat that I love and wear skiing! Complements everytime I have it on!

Don't worry, now a days with the internet it is possible to get whatever you need sent to you. Depending on the age and memory of the child I think should have some determination on the items you would want to bring home with you.

[MamaChinch]

I wish I had bought more, also, but was also watching budget and room in suitcase! Of course, several Matroyshka dolls, painted egg pendants, birch boxes, laquer boxes, a few various items for people back home, like lacquer compact mirrors, pins with Matroyska dolls on them, some books for DD, two paintings, a crocheted hat for DD, two pairs of shoes for her, she just outgrew the second pair. A lacquer eggs, lacquer hair clips, a Russian outfit for DD, and I also bought sixteen items for her each to give her on Adoption/Family Day. I bought some keychains with matryoska dolls on them to give out, some pens, some Christmas ornamanets....okay I did buy alot, but it still doesn't seem like it. (he he!) I bought a music box with St. basils on it, Delaney likes me to play it when she goes to bed. the one thing everybody loves seeing is my Big Mac wrapper I saved! A flag, some toys. Never thought about the newspaper! Got a map, though.

[kahoxworth]

We bought the typical nesting dolls and birch boxes and whatnot as well. One of my favorite things that we bought on the fly was a CD from a street musician on Old Arbat street.

What do I wish I'd bought more of? Princess Noori Selected tea!!!

[Kasey]

The usuals, dolls, xmas ornaments, some clay figurines, did newspapers from the day we met and also adoption day and I also collected some dirt from outside their baby homes in a ziplock bag. Postcards from the towns, which are neat, they show the city from 50-80 years prior and then current.

[Bcelli]

WOW! The dirst was a fabulous idea. I wish I had thought of that. I bet it still smells like Russia.

[MamaChinch]

That IS a great idea! Y'know, I collect sand from all the beach places I go, guess I didn't think of the dirt since were in mid-Siberia!

[Max'sMommy]

We just returned from our second adoption and I agree with Heikewould. Tver Region has the most beautiful outfits on their figurines. I bought 5 carved wooden dolls with elaborate details on each one. I bought a little wood stove that compliments the dolls and resembles a drawing from Puskin's Fairy Tales. I would suggest getting a FairyTale book as well. We did because we went on a private tour of the region with two of the tour guides from the area and they took us to the wonderful little park with all these bronze sculptures of fairy tales. We have different items from two different regions and of course many, many Christmas ornaments. Maybe 40-50. We also picked up 3 larger stones one the the orphanage, one in Moscow and one in the park in the Region, I go a little crazy when shopping

[Dmitry'smom]

We bought the typical nesting dolls and fur hats. We also bought some jewelry with a stone found in the area. My husband also got a huge ball of the stone that sits on his desk. I was given some wooden decorations and a porcelain watch. My favorite thing (besides Dmitry) is a tea set that I purchased there. It was made in the area and they actually tried to talk me out of buying it. They wanted me to buy a "nicer" set but it was not made there and was ugly. My set was plain by their standards. We tried to get things from that area.

[SingleMama2B]

Honestly, I thought that I had bought ENGOUGH, But I was sooooo wrong! I did the typical tourist stuff for family, friends and co-workers. For DD, I bought a beautiful music box, a huge stuffed kitty cat (her traveling companion in the hotel and plane seat (was big enough for her to use as a pillow), Christmas ornaments (she has her own Christmas Tree (artificial) in her room during the Holidays. We usually split the Russian ornaments (1/2 on her special tree, and 1/2 on the Livingroom tree)! This is how it starts, and by a week's time, all of the Russian ornaments MYSTERIOUSLY disappear off the Livingroom tree, and Appear on hers !!!!!

Each year, I order more ornaments from Russia, so that she will have enough for a regular big tree when she is an adult. I LOVE them. So I would have bought many, many more ornaments.

I also bought several Russian dolls, toys, etc. as I give DD a Russian doll, or item (authentic Russian both USSR and post USSR made) each holiday. She is now working on her 5th shelf in her room. She loves them.

Thank goodness for WWW, as I can usually find what I am looking for. I usually do wait until I find a place that carries several items I am looking for, so I can save on shipping.

After being home for over 3 years, I could make a list of things that I would have purchased while there. Maybe one day I will go back, and take my list

[GCS]

In addition to the traditional stuff (nesting dolls, hats) we bought some traditional toys including the cutest little clay whistles I wish we bought more of. They are shaped like animals. We bought a music box that looks like the churches there and quite a few Christmas ornaments.

No traditional clothes- I couldn't really find them in our region.

[momraine]

I wish I had bought more christmas ornaments, so I could give her one every year. I will have to find more on-line.