Shopping Around the World - Barcelona
Home to the world-famous 5 Km shopping line, Barcelona shopping offers variety, convenience, and exceptional customer service. The 5 Km line offers an outstanding collection of designers, including Giorgio Armani, Bally, Cartier, Versace, Calvin Klein, Burberry, and many other famous names. Shops featuring Spanish designers also abound, offering all manner of clothing and accessories. The 5 Km line is especially enjoyable to browse because much of it stretches along pedestrian pathways free of city traffic.
One of the largest department stores in the city is El Corte Ingles, offering pretty much everything in a single, huge location. Here you can purchase wine, gourmet foods, clothing, electronics, furniture, toys, housewares, sports equipment, books, music, cosmetics, perfumes, fresh flowers, baby items, computers, appliances, and various services.
La Boqueria (the covered or open-air markets) offer a colorful and interesting experience all their own. Some of the more popular are the Mercado de Sant Josep and the Mercado off Las Ramblas where you can visit a wide variety of booths offering everything from live animals to food. Locals warn that most of the market sellers are not open to bartering for lower prices, however, as one might expect in an informal market in other places.
You should be aware that many locations (particularly smaller shops) will close for a couple of hours mid-day. Another point to remember: if you are not a European resident, you can purchase goods tax-free in Barcelona.
One of the largest department stores in the city is El Corte Ingles, offering pretty much everything in a single, huge location. Here you can purchase wine, gourmet foods, clothing, electronics, furniture, toys, housewares, sports equipment, books, music, cosmetics, perfumes, fresh flowers, baby items, computers, appliances, and various services.La Boqueria (the covered or open-air markets) offer a colorful and interesting experience all their own. Some of the more popular are the Mercado de Sant Josep and the Mercado off Las Ramblas where you can visit a wide variety of booths offering everything from live animals to food. Locals warn that most of the market sellers are not open to bartering for lower prices, however, as one might expect in an informal market in other places.You should be aware that many locations (particularly smaller shops) will close for a couple of hours mid-day. Another point to remember: if you are not a European resident, you can purchase goods tax-free in Barcelona.
And of course, jewelry is the most natural thing we usually think of when we think of crystals, and there is no shortage of that either. Some of our favorites were the understated and elegant crystal stretch anklet, the blue and green beaded starfish necklace, the super-cute ladybug enamel toe ring, the stunningly colorful Aurora Borealis crystal earrings, and the crystal flower toe ring.
A number of professions are especially suited to jazzed-up glitzy wear, and they have created many options. The stylist crystal pin is very nice, the shear genius t-shirt is very clever, and we loved the detail of the "I Do Makeovers" enamel pin. A retro pink Cadillac design and a "Think Pink" design are well suited for Mary Kay reps. Designs represent such professions as hairstylists, nail technicians, masseuses, spa employees, make-up artists, and tanning technicians. And if you don't find what you want, they specialize in custom designs.
The dance and cheer line of t-shirts is also especially appropriate for crystals. We loved every one of those designs, from the starbursted cheerleader designs reminiscent of a fireworks explosion to the energetic dance designs. One of the designs features a gymnast as well.
