christmas gift ideas for folks at home

Saffron for the foodies.

That's a good idea. Thanks. Any particular city?

I bought some in the food department of Corte Ingles but I can't remember in which city. Corte Ingles stores are in most cities in Spain anyway, so it doesn't matter.

Yes, I expect to visit one somewhere. thanks.

You said food, so I stick to food but know there are other options too.

Some ideas when in Barcelona:

• saffron or better still, smoked paprika (Pimentón de la Vera), fyi, it's not hot. One of my preferred stores is one specialized in species and flours: Casa Perris in Plaça Comercial, 2 in front of El Born Centre de Cultura i Memoria in the neighbourhood of La Ribera in the Old City.
• olive oil, the high-end reserves that is, I would go to Oro Líquido, in Carrer de la Palla, 8 also in the Old City, a sort of jewellery for olive oil
• torró (nougats), a typical Mediterranean dessert from these shores, good ones from Vicens, which has several stores across the city, choose the one that better suits you.
• carquinyolis, a Catalan sort of biscotti, dry almond biscuits (US: cookies), twice baked. You can find them in a number of places, but my preferred are made in the bakeries (ie.the one called Barcelonareykjavik is one of my favourites). If you purchase in a supermarket (ie. the gourmet section at El Corte Inglés), make sure they're from Sant Quintí de Mediona -reputed to be the best source for carquinyolis in the whole of Catalonia.
• a variety of local dry fruits and nuts at Casa Gispert, an old shop from the 19th century worth visiting, located in Carrer Sombrerers, 23, not far from Casa Perris above mentioned.
• panellets, a delicious marzipan-based sweets to be found in many patisseries around Nov 1st, the Day of All Saints. These are some of the best. Yet I am not sure you can buy them off-season so to speak, maybe you could drop by one of the mentioned and ask them if they can make some for you and pick them up next day. You might find some industrial manufacturers offering some in big supermarkets, but I would advise against that... nothing beats the artisan panellets.

If you have checked the links I've posted above, you would have noticed I'm a great believer in small specialised stores and artisans' shops, but, of course, you can also purchase the above in big supermarkets -quality though won't be up to par

Enjoy!

Spain is known for leather goods, so things like purses and tote bags are options. Totes are also available in materials other than leather--at least I saw them in the summertime. I saw lots of cute change purses that might be suitable for your granddaughter. There will be many opportunitirs to pick up cheap jewelry items for her as well, if you know what size she would need in a bracelet, etc.

Do not be tempted by the ham, because it will almost certainly be confiscated when you return to the US. Google for the government publication that lays out import restrictions on food products. I feel like it's less risky to buy stuff in commercial and packaging rather than loose in a plastic bag at a market, but that may be excessive caution.

Most if not all the modernista sights in Barcelona have attractive gift shops. One thing that's readily available is trivets with the pattern found on the sidewalk tiles in the Eixample. Probably rather heavy, though.

There are nice locally-produced soaps.

Good suggestions from Enric!!

Trivets. Yes, got some from Istanbul...thankfully, Barcelona is my last stop so not far to carry. But I do worry abought how much I might accumulate before then,
Enric, thank you for those details. The sweets will be nice Christmas day treats. Spices, always good.
I do only buy commercial pack, and if BCN is anything like Schipol, I could wait until then. Schipol has a great duty free foods shop so I can safely bring home cheeses and treats. I'll have to check the BCN airport directory,
All great ideas.
Do they make damscene earrings or jewellry?

Jewelry is also an important sector here in Catalonia valued at 330 million euros (in 2015 more info) albeit is far from pre-crisis turnovers (725 million euros in 2007), all considering this is a territory the size of Maryland with the population of Massachusetts. Some examples of local brands here.

By the way, for info in case you do research online: joieria (jewellery) and bisuteria (imitation jewellery, or also costume jewellery) are two different things, the first one is the expensive stuff with precious metals and stones, the second is the more affordable stuff. Note that this shouldn't stop you from looking since there are magnificent pieces in bisuteria that have little to envy to the more expensive stuff, especially when it comes to design.

Joid'Art or Angels Canut or Joieria Bagués-MasRiera (the oldest in town, serving the city since 1766) are others to look at.

I would only buy jewellry if it was representative to a unique (to Canada) technique. The damascene metal work I know is an historical skill. Modern designers are not the direction I would like to go - but thank you Enric for the details. Others may enjoy it.

The dragon of Park Guell appears in Barcelona gift shops in many forms perfect for a 3 year old.

I saw some damascene jewelry in one or more cities in Spain last year. I think there was some in Toledo. I do not know for sure that it is still being made there.

Park Guell dragon sounds cute. Fun idea.
I did a little look for damascene. Some trip reports discuss back alley damascene workshops in Toledo. Would have to ve in silver, however, and now that I look, still may be too swirly and fussy for my girls. However, there is still a traditional sword maker in Toledo that holds some interest for good kitchen knives or a dagger for one who collects. Seem to reliably ship via Fed Ex. Wonder if I can check it in luggage.......

I bought fans from street vendors outside the royal palace in Madrid -- as I remember, they were x for €10, and I bought a bunch for the ladies in my office ... and myself. Lightweight, easily packable, practical.

Maria,

Here's what I bought for my loved ones as souvenirs, and may give you some ideas:

• In Córdoba: A couple of beautiful Filigree (silver) bracelets
  similar to this one. Purchased at a tiny artisan shops at Zoco
  de Artesanes on Calle Judíos.

• In Granada: Some cool T-shirts with Moorish designs at a big shop
  in Plaza Nueva.

• In Sevilla: A couple of delicate lace mantillas. In
  Triana: Some ceramics from Cerámica Santa Ana.

• In Toledo: a beautiful Damascene pill box similar to this one for my daughter who collects tiny boxes. I also found these
  letter openers shaped as medieval swords similar to this one at
  this shop. This shop specializes in knives & swords. I also bought some Saffron (packets) at the Municipal Market.

Have a wonderful trip!

Thanks Laura B and Priscilla. Fans are a definite on the list. I even use them here in our muggy summers. Priscilla, your ideas are great. Thanks for even referencing the shops. I think I like the filigree over the damascene now that I look at it. I have a mantilla from Spain my mom brought me back 40+ years ago. Small, however and never used for anything. Still no idea what to do with it. I love the large floral shawls, however.
Priscilla, did you bring back the letter openers in luggage? No issues?

Maria,
After I purchased the sword letter openers I realized that I may run into trouble when going through security at the Toledo train station (placing my luggage on the x-ray machine) prior to boarding the train to Madrid, but no one said anything.

We checked our luggage on the flight home, so no issues there.

I would not recommend taking them in your carry-on though; because they will be confiscated by airport security.

I second Enric's vote for the torron from Vincens. I'm eating a piece right now from my last trip to Barcelona/Sitges/Valencia. I got back two weeks ago. While there I bought four bars (7.50 E each), they store well in luggage and freeze well, too. My favorites, in case you were wondering, coconut, Brandy chocolate, orange chocolate. I was going to give them as gifts, but I can't bear to part with them. They're in the freezer for sometime this winter when I'm missing my summertime Mediterranean vacation. Also, wallets are nice - or anything made from Spanish leather. I always pick up a bunch of fans. They're cheap and when someone asks me, "did you bring me back anything?" I can whip out a fan and say, "of course I remembered you!"

Priscilla, thanks. Definitely planned to put in checked bag.
Thanks for the torron support. Dear Skn loves nuggat and the cream type Turkish Delight. Your comments about i tending for it to be a gift reminds me of my first trip to Belgium 30 years ago. You coild get fresh chocolate seconds in a white paper bag for about $2 a pound....these intended gifts never made it home.I will have a number of fans. I expect a few to be lost to the grand daughter.

... there are indeed dozens of torrons these days, but in case you wonder, the classic ones made since the 1600s are: Xixona (pronounced "shi-sho-nah"), a soft torró made of a pure of almonds with the addition of oil that makes the matrix more chewy and sticky and the good ones have more than 65% almonds; also Alacant, a hard compact block of whole almonds in a brittle mass of eggs, honey and sugar; and Iema cremada (pronounced "ee-eh-mah-kra-mah-dah", meaning 'burnt yolk') which to me is the best one (http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20161214-the-spanish-sweet-perfected-by-nuns). And if you must, chocolate... also considered another "traditional" variety albeit included in more modern times -but pure chocolate! not chocolate with bits of this and that.

All the other varieties are more recent inventions in this ever more saturated modern market which requires constant novelties to survive. Not that some of them aren't delicious... just not traditional. And again please, avoid industrial torrons found on the supermarket shelves, or you'll be completely missing the point about what torró is... you want an artisanal-quality instead. Some of the best patisseries in the city are also famous for their torrons, such as Baixas, Foix or Escribà among other. But as I said earlier, I'm not sure you'll find torrons in those patisseries out of season -which is around Christmas. Torrons are very caloric, so not a good choice for summer :)

Mmmm, is mid November cool enough for calories or close enough for Christmas?😋
I can't eat chocolate now and the kids are all about artesenal, so I will note the shops. Thanks Enric.