This is not only an exciting venture but also practical as Spain offers today the best prices in many articles. Spain has a long tradition in making leather goods (shoes, luggage, bags, coats, dresses, gloves, etc.). Clothing (original fashion-designed or ready-made). Embroidery and lace. Jewellery (classical or modern-design, as well as artisan gold and silver works). Ivory objects. Blown glass. Pottery. Antiques *some of the antique galleries in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville are among the best in Europe). Furniture. Interior-decorating items (the famous Lladro porcelains, irongrille designs, silver and other metal objects such as candelabra, trays, bowls, etc.). Toys. Musical Instruments (Spanish guitars are known to be the best in the world). Tourist buying in Spain may also be entitled to certain special discounts. Contact the TOURIST OFFICE OF SPAIN in Toronto (102 Bloor Street West, Suite 1400, tel.(416) 961-3131) for further details.

Madrid and Barcelona are, of course, the major cities for shopping. In Madrid, the main commercial areas are: the Goya, General Mola and Serrano Disctric for exclusive fashions. Narvaez, Conde de Penalver for good ready-made items and the old downstowns are of Puerta del Sol, Alcala, Gran Via, Preciados and Arenal for almost everything. Among the department stores, the Corte Ingles chain is one of the best. A must is the flea-market 'El Rastro', which takes place every Sunday morning, where you can find anything from a hat pin to an art masterpiece. In Barcelona, the Paseo de Gracia and Diagonal area for elegant shopping. The Ramblas and Plaza de Cataluna for almost anything. And the area around the church of Sta. Maria de los Reyes for antique galleries.

Other excellent areas for shopping are tourist centres, such as Torremolinos and Marbella in the Costa del Sol, Benidorm in the Costa Blanca, Playa de Aro in the Costa Brava, Reus in the Costa Dorada, Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza of the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands (mainly Tenerife and Gran Canaria) specially, since they are duty-free ports. Here, be prepared to bargain!