Wait before choosing
The feeling of wanting to bring something home can arrive before you know what you actually want to remember. Give that feeling some time. An object chosen near the end of a visit may have a clearer connection than one bought immediately. There is also no requirement to buy anything at all.
Understand what you are looking at
If a piece interests you, ask respectful questions about how it was made and where it comes from. Keep claims about provenance separate from assumptions based on appearance. Consider whether the item can be transported legally and safely before purchasing. A thoughtful object should not create an avoidable problem on the way home.
Let memory take another form
A written sentence, a sketch, or a photograph made respectfully can hold a place in a different way. Describe a conversation or a detail you would otherwise forget. A journey becomes part of your life through the attention you give it, not through the number of things you carry back. Sometimes the most useful souvenir is a new way of noticing.
V / A little more to notice.
