Catriona Rowntree shares tips for picking the perfect souvenir
After travelling the world as the host of Getaway for almost 30 years, Catriona Rowntree has collected a stash of souvenirs to remind her of her travels.
Like many travellers and tourists, Catriona has spent much time in a souvenir shop trying to decide on the best trinket to remind her of unique corners of the world.
According to the well-travelled TV host, there is one go-to souvenir that is far superior to others: magnets.
Catriona has a dedicated wall in her kitchen for the magnets that she's collected from all over the world, each of which she associates with a special memory.
She told 9Travel that they are the ideal souvenir for anyone to pick up on their travels.
"If you're going to collect something, stick to something that's easy to just grab and go."
"You can get one at any airport, just before you leave to come home," she says.
For her, the tradition started when a visitor in her home remarked that for a travel reporter, Catriona didn't have many trinkets around the house which showed off all the places she'd visited.
And so she started her collection, even buying a magnetic sheet to affix inside her pantry, where she keeps her souvenirs for all to see.
"I, of course, could stand here and tell you a story for every single magnet there," she remarks, looking at the wall with fondness.
"I absolutely adore taking a look at this wall and seeing all the crazy places I've gone to. Of course, the crazier the magnet the better," she laughs, pointing out a magnet of a sailor's head which doubles as a bottle opener.
Catriona added that some travellers similarly love to collect snow globes or postcards from every destination they visit around the world, but for her, you can't get better than a fridge magnet that can be displayed proudly.
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