As a collection, it’s amazing to see the different textures and colors. Some beaches don’t have sand; Capri, Italy has a ‘beach’ covered with smooth round pebbles. My rule for collection is super easy. I sit on my towel, reach over with a sandwich bag and whatever ends up in the grab is going home. I’ve had bits of glass, bugs, pine needles, etc. included….but hey, that’s what the beach is really like and I love it that way.
I keep my sand collection in labeled jars. It’s funny how many people think I have spices in my living room and when they get up close how excited they are to see that these are locations from all over the world! Amazon has a great selection of jars in bulk in different sizes. I recommend keeping the jars under 4 oz in size.
If you don’t have shelving that lends itself for sand display, I find that nail polish wall racks are a good option for a sand collection.
There is one time I did not take sand. On the Big Island of Hawaii, the black sand beaches are very popular and there are signs warning tourists NOT TO TAKE SAND. There is a ‘curse’ from Pele’, a Hawaiian Goddess. Tourist who have taken the sand will experience horrible misfortune upon their return to the mainland. I’m not superstitious. I’m not. I promise. However, when you see actual official State printed signs that say, “Don’t do it, yo”, then I have to give pause before swiping my granules. I’ve also seen that episode on the Brady Bunch where Peter and Bobby go to the ancient burial caves to return a cursed tiki. If it could happen to the Bradys, it could happen to me.
Thankfully, there are locals who are native Hawaiians and they own land on black sand beaches. They conveniently have a little shop right at the black sand beach and sell ‘non-cursed’ sand. I bought my non-cursed sand for $10 for a tiny vial. I have to be the dumbest newb ever, but I did not bring home the curse of Pele’. So, there’s that. Don’t take sand when it says don’t do it.
