Just Around the Corner
That’s right, the holidays are right around the corner. I’m still wearing my sandals, but as the leaves fall from the trees I am reminded that soon I’ll need to put on a pair of socks and a scarf. Coming from a large family, I take holiday shopping seriously collecting the perfect gift for each loved one over time. Lucky for me, Barcelona is bursting at the seams with boutiques, malls, artisan shops, and street vendors all who want to sell me mom and dad’s Christmas present. From now until Santa comes a’callin, I’ll list one great spot to shop a week for the perfect gift in Barcelona.
Market Value
Call me cheap, but I love shopping for gifts at my local Mercado or open-air market. While the Mercado is filled with less than perfect gift ideas like the fresh fish and garden veggies, there are some non-spoil gourmet goodies tucked in there as well. Spain is famous for its delicious food and wines and I’ve found that a basket of these edible/drinkable treats makes a creative gift. Try Santa Catarina market across the street from the Cathedral for a good shopping selection.
Some stocking stuffers ideas are cans or glass jars of Bonita tuna from northern Spain, tins of stuffed green olives, jars of specialty large grain salts and spices, tins of marinated anchovies, bottles of virgin olive oil and delicate boxes of cookies. Depending on the brand, these tasty gifts can be budget-friendly or have high-end price tags. Usually located right beside the market is a small shop selling cookware. Here you can pick up a paella pan for dad, a Spanish coffee perk for mom and corkscrews for Billy and Suzy. Prices at these little cookware spots are low as local people make up their customer base.