Anyone Collect Sand/Earth...

Does anyone collect sand/dirt from the ports they visit and ifso, what do you have and from where?

I've only been on one cruise, but I have:

Bermuda- Snorkel Park sand...not the most exotic stuff, but it's a start. I'll get more exotic beaches next summer...hopefully.

St. Martin- Happy Beach...really cool looking stuff...losts of darker tans, black and gray colored particles and a few rocks

Puerto Rico- Dirt...mud right now...from the El Yunque Rainforest and a few rocks.

In St. Thomas, I didn't get close enough to the beach on our power snorkeling trip to get any sand. I will next time. Afterwards, I went searching for a quick beach before I had to get back onboard and didn't get close enough, but I was propositioned by a Charlotte Amalie hooker...yuck, but pretty funny. "Yeah, I get it. I'm cute. I'm hot. Which is it?"

Your turn!!! :)

Does anyone collect sand/dirt from the ports they visit and ifso' date=' what do you have and from where?

 

 

I've only been on one cruise, but I have:

 

Bermuda- Snorkel Park sand...not the most exotic stuff, but it's a start. I'll get more exotic beaches next summer...hopefully.

 

St. Martin- Happy Beach...really cool looking stuff...losts of darker tans, black and gray colored particles and a few rocks

 

Puerto Rico- Dirt...mud right now...from the El Yunque Rainforest and a few rocks.

 

In St. Thomas, I didn't get close enough to the beach on our power snorkeling trip to get any sand. I will next time. Afterwards, I went searching for a quick beach before I had to get back onboard and didn't get close enough, but I was propositioned by a Charlotte Amalie hooker...yuck, but pretty funny. "Yeah, I get it. I'm cute. I'm hot. Which is it?"

 

Your turn!!! :)[/quote']

 

i don't collect sand, but i do collect seashells, rocks or coral pieces that have washed ashore. returned from hawaii with red and black lava rocks in addtion to some coral pieces i found on the beach.

We also pick up shells from beaches we go to. We have a large jar at home where we put them. When I look at our collection I recall all of the blessing that God has given us through the privlidge we have to travel. I am also reminded of the beauty of the works of His creation as I think of the beautiful beaches, shores, and other works of His hands.

Amazingly stated TGP and totally agreed with!!!

I collect sand. :rolleyes:

I take a few ziploc's on every trip I make to a beach. When I get there I buy a shot glass with the beach's name on it, fill it with sand and toss it in the ziploc for safe transport home!

I have quite the little collection going behind the bar at my house. :)

I have sand from St Martin, Orient Beach

Roatan ,Honduras

Costa Maya

Puerto Rico. From the walk that goes around the outside of the old fort.

Labadee and Passion Island,Cozumel

I got some little bottles with corks from a craft site and I also collect shells from places we go. They are all very different.:)

I have in the past, got sand from St Marteen and from Cancun

I collect sand. :rolleyes:

I take a few ziploc's on every trip I make to a beach. When I get there I buy a shot glass with the beach's name on it, fill it with sand and toss it in the ziploc for safe transport home!

I have quite the little collection going behind the bar at my house. :)

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I love this idea! We brought home sand and shells from our honeymoon in Fiji. It was the most beautiful sand and shells (white coral). We bought some nice glass bowls to display it in our living room.

since I also collect shot glasses, I really like the idea of putting the sand in 1 from that beach. I hope you don't mind if I borrow this idea. :)

I started doing this a few years ago. I also take along some ziplock bags, write the name of the beach with a sharpie on the bag, and put it in little bottles with corks.

It makes a great display and quite the conversation piece.

I don't, and have nothing against it, however----

Just check, as I have noticed in a few parks that it is against local regulations.

john

You guys should be posting up pics of your dispalys at home.. This has got me curious about collecting sand. I just don't know how to display it

Any ideas and pics would be great

:)

A friend bought all of us ladies bracelets last year for our cruise. It is plastic tubing wiht metal charms. You can open the tubing and put a little sand from each beach. Bought a shadowbox to display it in. We have new ones for this year!:D

Hi everybody,

Be careful, when we were in South America and finished the cruise, we had to declare what we were bringing . Sure enough on the list, there it was, SOIL. We were going to bring some soil for a friend, he requested it from Montevideo, Uruguay.

We were surprised and wondered why it was on the list. We dumped the

soil and bought him a little painting from Montevideo instead.

Hi everybody,

Be careful, when e were in South America and finishing the cruise, we had to declare what we were bringing . Sure enough on the list, there it was, SOIL. We were going to bring some soil for a friend, he requested it from Montevideo, Uruguay.

We were surprised and wondered why it was on the list. We dumped the

soil and bought him a little painting from Montevideo instead.

i kinda agree, it's illegal to do sand collecting

We are enjoying expanding our beach sand collection, but soil is right out.

You can read all about it at the U.S. Customs and Borders Protections website.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing/agri_prod_inus.xml

"Soil, Sand, Minerals, and Shells

Soil-borne organisms threaten both plants and animals. If you visited a farm or ranch in a foreign country, agricultural specialists may have to examine and disinfect your shoes or clothing. Vehicles must also be cleaned of any soil. No soil or earth of any kind is allowed into the United States without a permit issued in advance by USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine Permit Unit. Pure sand, such as a small container of decorative beach sand, is usually allowed. Always check with the permit unit in advance for details."

Afterwards' date=' I went searching for a quick beach before I had to get back onboard and didn't get close enough, but I was propositioned by a Charlotte Amalie hooker...

[/quote']

 

Where did you say that beach was? Just so happens I collect hookers... small world, eh?

Ok, I'm guilty while at the Roman Forum and Palantine Hill I picked up a small piece of marble (possibly gravel) I also ended up with a piece of history in my eye when my husband rubbed his hand over a rock and I was downwind from him...

I now have small stones from Rome & Naples, Italy

Ephesus, Milas & Didyma, Turkey

Santorini, Greece

St. Thomas, USVI

St. Maarten, USVI

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Not to mention the places we have visited in the United States.

Before you get very angry with me, I only pick up stones that are the size of a peanut.

I've been collecting sand for years. I purchase little glass bottles with cork tops at a craft store to display.The different colors and textures of the sand are interesting and make great conversation pieces.

I am hoping to add to my collection green sand from the big island of Hawaii someday, it is the only color I don't have.

My wife collects sea shells from ports we visit.

Keith

I read on another board and online somewhere that is concidered bad luck to take black sand and/or lava rocks from Hawaii. A big cultural no-no!

I love the idea of the sand in the shot glass. It would be cute to get one of those mini bar size bottles to store the sand in.

I read on another board and online somewhere that is concidered bad luck to take black sand and/or lava rocks from Hawaii. A big cultural no-no!

I imagine that the purpose of the 'bad luck', is to 'LEAVE MOTHER NATURE ALONE', for all of us to enjoy.

john

Not a lot of people care, but taking sand/soil back from exotic places can be extremely dangerous to the environment. No matter how small the sample is. Most would consider this silly, but I've taken environmental science classes and it is indeed dangerous to the indigenous land that you're bringing your souvenirs home to.

Be wary if your itinerary includes passing through Australian Quarantine.

"Food, plants, animals and biological goods

Declare all food, plant and animal goods, equipment used with animals, biological materials, soils and sand to Quarantine on arrival. If you don't, you could be given an on-the-spot fine or face prosecution.". Other countries as posted above have similar restrictions.

I have brought sand home in my water shoes! I did grab a small handful of pink sand from Bermuda. I saw a lot of junky souvenirs with sand in them, and thought I could make something better myself. The sand is still wrapped in plastic in my craft cabinet a year later!