Since I started this collection, I haven’t stopped, and now I try to buy some memory that I can wear from everywhere I travel. Sometimes it has been one piece of jewelry representing an entire country. Other times, I have collected something in each city that I was visiting during a particular trip. I must say that it actually has become quite fun to shop around for my perfect piece of “junk” jewelry.

When I look at my collection now, sometimes I wonder just what I was thinking when I bought something, as there were times when I must have picked the gaudiest item around. Like the big dark pink bracelet I bought in Venice, Italy – although, it does have its own appeal. Or the gold-wire-looped ring I bought in some other European city. On the other hand (no pun intended), I have also purchased other pieces that are actually really quite nice.

The most exquisite piece I bought was in Paris. Prior to my trip, my sister had shopped at a store, called Metal Pointu’s, that sells unique jewelry made out of metal. I purchased a bracelet that is truly a conversation piece. Ironically, my sister had purchased the matching ring years earlier, and when I returned home, she gave me her ring, so now I have a complete set! (Thanks, sis.)

I try to buy my jewelry mostly at local outdoor markets, flea markets, festivals or fairs, in order to get something locally made, individually made, and handcrafted by a local artist. One of my favorite pieces was purchased in Copenhagen at an outdoor Art Market. This bracelet was hand-made using stones and reed from the Amazon, and I love it! Truly a sample of art.

Here are some other “junk” jewelry stories: When I was living in Australia, I actually made my own matching pink bracelet and necklace set. I bought pieces made out of amber in the Baltic Sea. (Please read a previous blog about this.) I purchased a ring made out of wood, specifically Siberian Birch, which I bought at a local festival in my own neighborhood. The purple-beaded, bent-metal bracelet came from an outdoor market in Brussels, which is another piece that I consider a sample of art. Finally, the necklace with the red stones was given to me by a special stranger, while I was in Cappadocia, Turkey. (Again, please read a previous blog about this.)

All in all, whether I purchased some jewelry that was truly “junk,” whether it is something really nice to wear, whether I consider the piece to be a sample of art, or whether the piece is for sentimental value, I must say that collecting “junk” jewelry while I travel is a fun way to not only shop, but also a great way to experience the local flavor of a city, a country, a store or market, and a local artist.

Collecting “junk” jewelry is a great way to have a small souvenir that doesn’t even need to fit into a backpack, and brings back many memories each time I wear something.

Sweet Travels!

Main Jewelry Store, 1947

Branch Jewelry Store, 1947

Berlin, Germany was where my father and my grandparents lived from 1946 to 1948, when my father was 7 to 9 years old. My grandfather owned two jewelry stores, a main store and a branch store. Above the branch store was a one-bedroom apartment where my family lived. During my trip, I visited both of these locations. Today, neither of the stores sells jewelry as my family no longer owns them. In fact, the main store now sells clothing accessories, and the branch store now sells Italian ceramics for bathrooms. Also, the buildings where the stores are located have been refurbished, but I was able to still see the four windows of the bedroom and living room of the apartment located above the branch store where my family lived. Even though the stores and buildings are different than they used to be, it was still an awesome feeling for me to be able to visit these places.

Italian Ceramics Store and Four Windows

Apartment Building

I found it interesting to know that the neighborhoods that I was visiting were places where my father attended school and played. My father told me that depending on the weather, he would either walk, or he would take the subway by himself one stop to the school. Also near these neighborhoods is the Tiergarten (zoo) and park, where my father would play as a young boy. Sometimes he would take the subway to the zoo by himself to meet his father there. I even walked through the park during my visit just to see a place of good memories for my father.

Clothing Accessory Store

Building Above Clothing Accessory Store

It was a fascinating experience for me knowing that in the places that I was visiting, 58 years later, were where my grandparents had once walked on the streets, where they had once made their livelihood for a few years, and where my family had slept, eaten, talked, and laughed. These were places where my grandparents raised my father. It was quite an indescribable feeling to think that my father was there at a time not only before I was born, but at a time when he was just a young child himself.

After returning from my European journey, I shared with my father all of the amazing thoughts and feelings I had during my visit, and he continued to share with me more of his memories of his life at that time. It was definitely surreal to experience a connection with my roots.

Sweet Travels!

The more recent photos of the stores and of the buildings were actually taken by my sister, who also experienced this connection with her roots.

What is Amber? Sounds strange, but amber is petrified resin and sap from deciduous trees, such as conifers and pines, that grew in Northern Europe over 30 to 90 million years ago.

Amber Ship

Odd Fact about Amber: Sounds even stranger, but preserved fossilized organisms, such as plants, small animals, insects, spiders, frogs, and crustaceans can be found embedded in amber. Due to the color of amber (see below), sometimes the amber in which these fossils are found are called “golden tombs.” Interestingly, even these “golden tombs” are used in the making of amber jewelry and crafts. Thus, one might choose to purchase a necklace with a fly entrapped in the amber.

Necklace with “Golden Tombs” (photo from wikipedia)

Some History about Amber: Just as there was a Silk Road in Asia, there was an Amber Road in Europe connecting not only the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic Sea, but also connecting Europe to Asia.

A Belief about Amber: The Ancient Greeks believed that amber could protect them against diseases and evil spirits. A belief that many still hold.

Colors of Amber: There are over 250 color varieties of amber, which range from shades of yellows (the most common) and browns, to whites, reds, oranges, and more rarely to greens and blues. The rarest shade is purple. (Almost like a rainbow of colors.) Amber can be transparent or opaque. Sometimes there are combinations of two or more colors within a particular piece of amber. In addition, each individual piece varies in size, form, and luster, and therefore no two pieces are alike. (I suppose amber is thus like fingerprints.)

Amber Color Gradations

Where I saw Amber: In Vilnius, Lithuania, I visited The Mizgiris’ Amber Museum, which is a gallery and jewelry store as well. Also in Vilnius, amber was sold at the Vilnius City Days Festival. Other Baltic cities where I came across amber, both in stores and in local markets, were Tallinn, Estonia; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Riga, Latvia.

What I saw in the Amber Museum: I experienced the history of the gemstone via plaques, and via a display of samples of amber. These samples dated from several thousand to several million years old, were in its natural stone form, and were even from dozens of countries of the world, not just the Baltic countries. There were also shelves of amber showing gradations of the various colors, and samples of the “golden tombs.”

Amber Samples

Amber Items I saw For Sale: Mostly jewelry, but also crafts in the form of miniature animal figurines, candle holders, chess boards and pieces, and very elaborate and intricate sculptures, such as ships. I noticed that many of these items, especially the jewelry, were quite expensive.

What I Bought: At the Vilnius City Days Festival, I bought myself a bracelet and a ring, as well as a few bracelets as gifts for friends and family.

Amber Chess Set

Final Impressions of Amber: From all the Baltic Amber that I saw, perhaps amber may also be a girl’s best friend, and perhaps all that glitters is not just gold.

Sweet Travels!

Credits to wikipedia and to the Mizgiris’ Amber Museum. If one is interested in finding out more about amber, please visit the website for this museum, as well as other museums in the Baltic region.