so a relative is going to Italy for a week. What should I tell her to keep an eye out for. Obviously no frames or expensive stuff, something fun (maybe random) that I'd never see here but is readily available there. Maybe a vintage Colnago jersey?

Go to Milano and Treviglio. Bianchi, Bianchi, Bianchi!

I eat "Ringo's" chocolate cookies when I'm there each summer.
They're nothing special. Just something that I really enjoy. Especially when we go long while riding the three regions. I also supply the cookies for our ride clients. Perfect in a jersey pocket.
Get them at any local market or "Coop" (supermarket).




www.bicitreregioni.com

*mistake post*

food
wine
booty

meh, I don't trust my mother in law's taste if I were to ask her to bring back some booty

Hahaha.

u can get some good fake gucci belts on the street in milan, and some bags for your lady friend at the castle from the africans

Leather, stationary, wine, invicta backpacks, tomatoes, etc.

you could bring me some of my cousins.

if it were me, I'd try to buy everything, and ship it back to the US, and sell it on ebay for one million dollars.

There isn't much cycling related gear available in Europe that you can't get for less in the States.

Tuscan Marble, Limoncello:

YES

Parmigiano Reggiano...and Nutella.

If you mean bike stuff, obviously Selle Italia, Miche and Campagnolo may be cheaper in Italy than in the US. Not necessarily by all that much, even if you get around customs.
E.g. I was hunting for Selle saddles on Italian ebay, and they're not all that cheap. C'est la vie.

As to things you can't get back home... is there such a thing???

+1 on the Nutella, they have the non hydrogenated kind there, real hazelnut chocolatey goodness. That and check out some of the smaller town LBSs, they can be filled with gems.

get a nice italian BOOTY!!!!!!!!!!!

Domestically available Nutella is not hydrogenated. It's only PARTIALLY hydrogenated, and personally I like it better with a little partial hydrogenation. Hydrogen + Oil = smooth creamy goodness!

Yay for partial hydrogenation!

veganessentials.com has vegan nutella, the chocolate kind and the vanilla kind, and the mix kind. mmmmmmmm

You can get Nutella in the states but I would recommend getting wines from Tuscana (Tuscany) such as a good Chianti. I would say looking into getting a wine that is either Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) or Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). DOC = the wine was made with the usual grapes and usual methods in relation to the region it is fron. DOCG = top designation of wine. These wines go through a taste test by the government tasters to receive this degree.

Government wine tasters! You've got to love the Italian view to public sector spending.

"I'm going to kill my guidance counsler." - Duece Bigalow