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When reader and fellow blogger Sue mentioned she collected souvenir Starbucks mugs as she traveled, I’d never heard of the mugs and had no idea how popular they are.  While Sue collects mugs strictly for the memories, I learned that others collect Starbucks mugs like beanie babies, trading them on the secondary market and bidding for rare mugs on ebay.  According to Wikipedia, certain Starbucks mug city releases create a “frenzy of buying as collectors swarm to buy” the mugs.  A 2007 mug from Japan (retail, $8.95) even went for $1300 on ebay!  Sue– check your mugs– you may have a gold mine in your cupboards!

Guest Post:  Traveling the world over Morning Coffee– My Starbucks City Mug Collection 

by Sue Slaght

“Honey would you like to go to Athens or Lisbon this morning?” I call up the stairs on Saturday morning.
“Hmmm I think Athens. I feel like going to the Parthenon today” replies my smiling husband, ambling down the stairs.

Sadly, we are not in Europe this morning, ready to leap onto a high speed train, but rather having breakfast in Western Canada. Avid travelers and proponents of carry on baggage only, collecting Starbucks mugs from locations visited is our one souvenir collector addiction.

You may ask yourself if there might be something less breakable and slightly smaller than on oversized glass cup to lug back from exotic spots.   Yes …point well taken. However over the weekend cups of hot java, our fabulous journeys are relived over shared stories.

“Remember when you almost got hit in the head by the guy throwing the squid at the Athens fish market?” laughs Hubby.  “Or when we were given the hairy eyeball at the Lisbon Port Institute dressed in our t-shirts and shorts? “ I quip back.

On bitterly cold mornings– and there seem to be a fair number of those in Calgary– the Miami and Hawaii cups are hot ticket items.  “It’s minus 20 this morning,” Hubby announces from the kitchen. “Florida or Maui …what will it be?”

I give him a serious look “Do I have to eat the roasted pig at the luau? If you say yes I am off to South Beach for sure!” The comical banter continues over our special keepsakes.

“Do you want to go to watch the fountains at the Bellagio?” I muse while sipping out of my Vegas mug.
“Sorry I’m too busy working over here in Houston this morning,” pouts Hubby.

Sometimes the mugs remind us of very special people in our lives. “I’m going to see my sister this morning,” smiles Hubby. “Have a great visit and dress warm for that ocean air,” I instruct in a motherly tone. “I’m off to California to hang with my brother. Can’t wait to see him!”

Memories in a mug, that’s our souvenir… and caffeine fix. What do you like to bring back to remind you of a special trip or person?

Follow Sue’s travels (and her amazing photography!) on her fabulous blog at Travel Tales of Life.

Sue lives in Calgary, Alberta and has been married to her best friend Dave for over thirty years and is ‘Mom’ to adult children. Her decades as a nurse have shown that in a moment life can change completely.  Passionate about travel, storytelling, social justice, volunteerism and not letting the phrase “What would people think?” or her own fear get in the way of trying something new Sue believes the possibilities in life are endless. 

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