Can't go wrong with all the LLADROS your little arms can carry. This is where they're made!! Carrie

Saffron - try not to buy it at the airport, horribly inflated prices there.<BR><BR>Marzipan - called mazapan in Spanish.<BR><BR>Turron - Nut paste candy, soft like a grainy fudge.<BR><BR>Old-fashioned eau de colognes, very light for splashing all over, often in nice retro packaging.<BR><BR>Scented soap - especially the black glycerine type, very kind to the skin.<BR><BR>I would have loved to bring back some of the cheeses, but as posters above have pointed out on the subject of hams, there are restrictions that could get you in trouble.<BR><BR>Have fun!

thank you all. i'll make sure to write a note of all the wonderful things to buy from Spain.

The green-glazed pottery in Ubeda, which appears to be available nowhere else in Andalucia, was one of our prized items that we returned with.<BR> <BR>Bring a gym-bag folded up in your luggage, to use for hauling all your extra packing home. And have a blast!

Jamon is risky because there's a good chance it will be seized upon re-entry to US by Cutoms.... Washington Post had great article in last week or so on this topic and all the great jamon in Spain. Author tried to bring some back, but it was seized upon his return in Customs. So beware.....

Lladro Collectibles, Fine Leather, Gorgeous Capes, Exotic Spices, Delicious Hams, Wonderful Sherry & Sangria, Lace Linens, Magnificent Swords, Decorative Ceramic Tiles, Heavenly Pearls, Passionate Music, Excellent Cheeses, Aromatic Soaps, Memorable Paintings, Vibrant Dinnerware, Tasty Candies!

Related question - Is barcelona good place for shopping desginer purses and jackets? Milan is just too good for cool and hip clothing? ANy one has thoughts on Barcelona?

The following are things I have bought in Spain that I haven't found better anywhere else:<BR><BR>Beautiful, gorgeous damasquinado jewerly in TOLEDO.<BR><BR>Ceramic, tiles (SEVILLE)<BR><BR>Leather Purses/belts, linens (GRANADA)<BR><BR>Shoes, skirts (MADRID)<BR><BR>Sherry (Jerez - Andalucia)<BR><BR>If you can get a CD from Pava Real, a Spanish group. Their music will bring you back to Spain in a heartbeat! Have a great time!

Babs,<BR>When in Barcelona look for the creations of the Catalan clothing designer, Antonio Miro. He has a large store on Consell de Cent 349.<BR>Another "hot" Catalonian designers are Armand Basi and Pons Quintana. <BR>Also for gorgeous (albeit exp.) buttery leather handbags and other leather items, the house of Loewe , the "Gucci" of Spain, which now belongs to LVMH. Loewe also has high fashion and wonderful scents, like "Gala" and beautiful, timeless Hermes type scarves. The Loewe store is on Passeig de Gracia 35.

tina,<BR>Forgot to mention-I love those CD recs. of bagpipers Hevia and Carlos Nunez (if you like the Chieftains, you'll like these two as well), and in the same vein, a great CD by the Basque Country's Kepa Junkera, simply called "Bilbao". Several top Irish musicians collaborated on this one along with Dulce Pontes (Portugal). Listen to her hauntingly beautiful "Maitia nun zira?"-side 1, track 4 by Dulce Pontes. Great CD and all in Basque.<BR>And that pop flamenco of Raya Real will put you in that Andalusian mood.

Definitely bring a couple of bottles of fine Spanish Olive Oil. Did you know that 80% of Italian Olive Oil is really imported into Italy from Spain? And, Italy exports Sunflower Oil. Spain produces the finest Olive Oil in the world. Italy and Greece follow.

Tina--<BR>Sounds like you have some great choices! One word of caution about Mallorca pearls--they are not really pearls at all, but beads that are manmade from natural materials that give a pretty look. They are special because of the secret process used to create a beautiful "pearl-like" bead.<BR> <BR>There are 2 kinds of real pearls: 1. A NATURAL pearl is an accident of nature, and results from an irritant that gets inside an oyster or mussel, and then is coated with many layers of the milky white nacre that gives a pearl its' "glow". A CULTURED pearl is the result of the process above, but is started by man in oysters or mussels that are farmed. <BR><BR>Real pearls are then further classified as sea water pearls or fresh water pearls. Sea water pearls are farmed or occur in oysters in sea water, while freshwater pearls grow in mussels in lakes and rivers.<BR><BR>Mallorca pearls are pretty, and come closer to the look of real pearls than other types of costume jewelry; just be educated on what you buy.

I see leather goods on the list, but what about shoes? Are they a good value?

My sister and I came back home with 4 pairs of leather shoes & sandals, 2 leather jackets, 1 black cape, 6 Lladros, 1 sword, 6 dresses, 2 skirts, 2 blouses, ceramic, sherry, fancy soaps, couple CD'S & 2 scarves. And we need to go back to stock up on some more goodies we were not able to bring this time around. Everything in Spain is much more reasonable than Italy.

Why oh why do people buy those lladros?

People come to this forum to ask questions, get and give advice, and to enjoy sharing a love of travel (and shopping). Don't be so critical of people's choices, whether it's where to eat or what to buy--go away if you can't have fun with the rest of us!!!!!

Olive oil!!!

What is the typical shelf life for unopened olive oil? I don't want to bring home 6 bottles and end up throwing it out.

Unopened bottles of olive oil can last for years. But, I very much doubt you could hide this delicious oil from your family and friends.

The lovely Lladro fine porcelain figurines are delightful. A wonderful upscale gift for someone special.