During a Vacation, there's always the backup plan to buy gifts at the Airport, before returning home. It gets to that point when I run out of time or imagination during Trip. If the Departure Airport happens to be Heathrow, Schiphol, Singapore, or Vancouver, I have been very fortunate and pleased. On the other hand, Barcelona El Prat was disappointing and I'm still kicking myself for not picking up a few previously identified items while I was wandering through the Barri Gòtic and other City neighbourhoods. Gayle and I were on the passenger side of the Inter-Europe Terminal 1 and maybe International has better stuff. But aside from some smart fashion choices, the usual "Duty Free" shops, and a cool FC Barcelona store, the commercial area wasn't all that interesting or cheap.
Thinking Barcelona (Aldeasa) vaguely reminded me of a Fisherman's Wharf (San Francisco) gift shop. Gayle and I ended up buying a few nice last minute gifts here, but we had to first wade through a lot of schlock. Plus some of what I was looking for (like a 2012 Sagrada Familia Calender) just wasn't available. But since I didn't plan well enough when I had the chance, I'll just sit here with my glass of Reserve Torres Brandy (of which I purchased a whole bottle near the Departure Gate) and intend to do better next time. read more