I am stealing this question from the France Forum. I am going to Barcelona in January and want to know what not to miss.

A sweater from H&M, but that's probably not the kind of answer you were looking for

Otherwise I'd say food, and as much cava as you can take And they've got great shoes too !

topping and bookmarking

I purchased a bottle of wine and had it finished three hours later on the beach. Seeing that you are going in January, you may want to switch to coffee.

Still, a walk through El Corte Ingles, or whatever the name of that department store is, is something to remember. You can always have lunch on the top floor and they should have a few after Christmas sales.

We always like to purchase artwork from a local street artist (in Barcelona we found one we liked behind the Gothic Cathedral) We purchased a wonderful painting of the Sagrada Familia for about 15E....it's a great reminder of our trip.

Several years ago I bought a pair of shoes and matching purse from a store called Muxart. They were sooo unique looking and I still wear them today. They were not inexpensive, but bottom line, I would go for shoes or other leather goods.

Angela_m, yes, I love Muxart as well!

Cheribob, their main store in Barcelona is on Rambla de Catalunya 47, and if you're there in January there will be winter sales ! You can check the collection online on www.muxart.com

2 paris of the cutest espadrilles. From that famous espadrilles place, you know, that really famous place that I can't remember. We were hoping for custom-made espadrilles (which they're known for) but they said it would take months.

El Corte Ingles is absolutely great. Last time, we walked through there and enjoyed looking around. I bought fresh flowers for a bouquet but the main thing was the pale green glass in their housewares department. Such a selction! I bought several small pieces to use at home for olive oil, snacks, etc. I wish I had bought more. They package it beautifully using buble wrap if you request it.

Have fun!

fishee,
Could that espadrilles place be "La Manual Alpargatería" in the Barri Gotic on Avinyó 7?

Nice espadrilles (alpargatas) at
Cristina Castañer too, on Mestre Nicolau, 23
www.castaner.com

The most wonderful red purse with black accents at a shop called Paramita. After the other people in our group saw it three others went and bought the same purse. Oh well, so much for my unique purse. But I still love it and use it. I also bought a lovely silver bracelet from a jewelry store. I wear all the time, it brings back very special memories.

thanks, Maribel.

La Manual Alpargatería -- a place of magical wedge heel wonder, packed with women clutching onto their "numbers" waiting to try on shoes with gleeful grins of anticiption. I will have to check out this Cristina Castañer place next time too. I get so many compliments and questions when I wear them, it's always nice to say, "oh, I picked these up in Barcelona..."

Sorry, my other best purchase in Barcelona was the tripe stew for breakfast at Pinotxo at the Boqueria.

fishee,
LO! Anything at Pinotxo for breakfast is a great purchase, even if you can't show it to friends!

My favorite purchase was a neat ring I bought at the gift shop in one of the Gaudi buildings. It has a mosaic pattern and every time I wear it it reminds me of the benches at the Parc Guell. Easy to pack too.

Thanks, everyone. Please keep the posts coming!!

Bookmarking...I'm getting so excited about shopping in Barcelona! Maybe we should have reserved a less expensive flat, in order to have more shopping money.

But before I get excited about shoes, tell me, do they sell anything resembling a wide shoe there? I have very wide feet and don't want to face heart ache if they won't have any shoes to fit me.

On the corner of Aribau and Mallorca (in the Eixample), there is a glove store where you can walk in, design your gloves (outer stitching, lined, colored piping, long, short, open fingers. . . whatever) and choose the color of leather you want them to be made of. The woman takes your hand measurements, and can have them in less than a week. I bought some the other day and it was a true pleasure buying something that is exactly what I wanted. I am gettting my mom some for her birthday.

Missypie,

I don't know if you will like their style, but the worldwide famous Camper shoes (www.camper.com) are usually very wide! I have wide feed myself and they always fit perfectly !

Laclaire, I wished I had known about this glove shop before... oh well, maybe next time !

missypie- I second stardust on the Camper thing, and their boutique store just off of the Plaça del MACBA is awesome.

stardust- I had not yet discovered it when you were here! You'll just have to come back. . .