If you were in an earthquake that would destroy everything in your home and you could only save one travel souvenir, what would it be? Odd question.
Unless you are me.
Our home is decorated with the mementos of our marriage, our love of travel, and living four years in Europe.
Everything is infused with a memory. That might be a scent, a fabulous discovery, an unforgettable meal, or the simple pleasure of traveling.
So back to the question at hand, my favorite? Well, that is simply impossible. Like choosing a favorite child, pet, or food.
But if I had to, it would be my dog in a snail shell sculpture. This souvenir brings me so much joy and sits in front of me in my home office every day. It’s my favorite item (if I HAD to choose) for many reasons.
One, it’s handmade. I am a sucker for pottery. I love to see the fingerprints in the clay and the imagination of the artist. The imperfections are what make pottery beautiful and interesting.
Pottery is my go-to favorite item to shop for when I’m traveling. Pro-tip: travel with bubble wrap!
Traveling Europe with a Dog
When we found this pup sculpture, it was one of the first trips we took with our dog, Pilsner. Often, to save time, we would fly, and we knew that was difficult for our elderly dog. We also had a wonderful dog sitter in Holland who let him sleep in her bed, just like home. She cooed at him in Dutch, even though he was mostly deaf.
Since we were taking a road trip to France to the Alsace region, we packed up the little grey pooch and brought him along. Europeans are welcoming to dogs in the hotels or dining, so he was an easy travel companion.
He passed away, and this souvenir reminds me of our great adventure to the French countryside together.
Another reason why I love this piece so much is it felt like we discovered a place no one else had been!
As we drove away from Fontainebleau and headed to our next stop, wine tasting in Beaune, we turned the corner to a beautiful cobblestone street and arched entry to a tiny French village, Noyers-Sur-Serein. We quickly parked on a side street next to the river and scooped up the dog in his cat carrier—this needs a little explanation.
Pilsner weighed only 12 lbs., elderly, and not as well-behaved as some of the local dogs. So, this heavy grey felt bag with leather handles, allowed his head to pop out the front but he was securely zipped in and snug. You could carry him under your arm like a purse and support his body weight. He loved it!
I digress. Two Americans and a little dog in a cat purse make our way to the city gate.
French Souvenir Found Us
It was market day. Blue and red-striped produce stalls lined the entrance to the village. Strolling through this postage stamp-sized town to the back medieval wall, we found a small art studio. Two dark stories of crafts made of ceramics and clay.
In the darkest back corner, in a room I nearly missed, we discovered this light blue dog sculpture in a snail shell on a rough, textured pedestal. Stamped with the artist’s name, Chorafas.
Just two days earlier, I had eaten escargot for the first time in Meaux. Garlicky, buttery, delicious. And as I stood holding this piece, my hubs and I instantly agreed. There was no other choice.
It found us.
Although we somehow thought we discovered this hidden gem of a city, we later learned that this charming town is considered one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Burgundy and a must-see. Incredibly, Noyers-Sur-Serein (sometimes just referred to as Noyers) has 78 buildings listed as historical monuments. Bordered by vineyards and nestled in a bend of the Serein River, the town hall dates to the 12th century.
We were awe-struck by the crooked half-timbered houses, buildings washed in creamy hues, and narrow cobbled streets that felt like a step back in time.
Before heading out of town with our treasure in hand, we stopped for a fresh baguette and stinky French cheese to eat by the side of the river.
This little dog sculpture reminds me of Pilsner’s velvety soft ears, the stink of that intoxicating cheese, the discovery of little French town on a road trip, and never wanting a trip to end.
A perfect day encapsulated in a blue snail-dog sculpture.