DH and I will be leaving in about a month for our cruise in Costa Rica. We have friends down there, a retired couple who chucked everything a few years ago and relocated to Costa Rica after they fell in love with it during a vacation. We'll be staying with them for a few days pre- and post-cruise, and they have developed a fabulous itinerary for showing us around.

I've asked her to send me a list of items she can't purchase down there, that I can bring for them. She did so, but she is insisting that we allow them to pay for it all! I completely understand how she feels -- I would probably say the same thing, and I will respect her wishes.

However, I would really like to give them something to show our incredible appreciation for all that they're doing for us. I was wondering of all of you well-traveled folks have any ideas of things that we can purchase here they might not be able to get down there. I thought of bringing a bunch of very American food items, but I know that they are both dedicated low-carbers (one of the itmes she's asked me to pick up is a particular brand of low-carb ketchup), and I'm not that familiar with low-carb diets.

So I turn to my wonderful friends here on LCT -- any suggestions? Thanks!