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A week ago I went to Barcelona for a business trip. It was unusually cold for Barcelona, but nevertheless beautiful as always. For the first time we rented an apartment as we thought we would be much more comfortable as everyone would have a room, but at the same time could have a place to sit and plan the meetings together without having to go in a separate room like in a hotel and it was a great experience. We were lucky enough to find well located apartment with wireless internet and phone. Definitely thinking of renting apartment for family holiday as well now! Besides, tapas were incredible as well as the nightlife. It is nice to go to a bar and have some tapas with cerveza or clara after spending the day in the meeting room. Had a chance also for a quick sales shopping! Barcelona never disappoints!
Much better than Ben Thanh Market. It's far less touristy and the prices are even cheaper. Good quality and not so much haggling needed.
Cho Lon (Chinatown) Market.
Google map: tinyurl.com/yb557na
Haggling is traditional, expected and enjoyed in Turkey. It ranks as high on my list of holiday activities as sightseeing. If you go into the market and shops to look for souvenirs in Bodrum, you are going to have to play the game!
The most important thing is to decide how much you are prepared to pay for your (fake) watch or (fake) football shirt or (fake) designer perfume. Then let the shopkeeper quote first. Your offer should be much less than you are prepared to pay - as much as 25-50% of the asking price. This will probably be refused and then it's the shopkeeper's turn to bring the price down slightly - then you go in with another offer, slightly more than you first offered and so on - until you come to an agreement.
It could take quite a while and might involve a cup of apple tea ... you might need to walk away without buying anything but be gracious and part on friendly terms - the shopkeeper could begin to run after you and drag you back in and offer you a final price - if it's near enough what you expected to pay, don't let a lira or two get in the way of concluding the deal. Just remember what you were prepared to pay in the first place and more or less stick to it!
We bought a set of bowls for our villa from the market - having agreed a price for one, we then haggled for a set of four - the vendor was absolutely delighted to be doing business again with people with whom he'd already struck a deal a few seconds earlier! We all enjoyed the bartering and we were all happy with the outcome ...
A lovely delicatessen, with beautifully painted ceilings and handmade fixtures. Their on site chef makes a selection of daily dishes to eat in the cafe or take away. They also do a great range of gluten free cakes and source lots of local products as well as the best from France.
Arch House, Boyces Avenue, Clifton Village, Bristol, BS8 4AA
www.archhousedeli.com
0117 974 1166
Google map: tinyurl.com/yd792hl
Three good supermarkets, with Kipa being the largest but not necessarily the best. All three are open all day every day and Kipa is open 24 hours which is useful if you have an out-of-hours flight and you want to buy enough food to stock the fridge in your self-catering accommodation.
Kipa is on the main Bodrum highway, the others have several branches along main roads in most towns.
Newly launched Cape Quarter has an abundance of home décor, art and artefacts, fashion, beauty, health, restaurants, bars and lifestyle related stores are all delivered in traditional Cape architecture.
www.capequarter.co.za
72 Waterkant Street, Green Point, 8005
Cape Town, South Africa
Tel: 021 421 1111
Google map: tinyurl.com/yepmk3h
Las Ramblas is the pedestrianised main street of Figueres. It's a pleasant place to stop and rest and chat to the locals. At the southern end of Las Ramblas is a statue of the second most famous son of Figueres - Narcís Montargis who invented the submarine
Just follow the road from Figueres train station and you will reach Las Ramblas in ten minutes or so.
Google map: tinyurl.com/yelzwm6
The Praça de Libertat is the heart of activity in Besalú especially on Tuesdays when it is market day.
The market sells excellent quality goods at low prices. Around the praça are numerous shops and cafés.
There are the obligatory souvenir shop/newsagents on the corner of the square selling T shirts with Besalú written on them and other items with Besalú all over them.
The square is only a 10 min walk from the Teisa bus stop on the main road through Besalú - it is well signposted.
Google map: tinyurl.com/ye66gdq
Beyond Q is an extraordinary second-hand book shop, cafe, and live music venue hidden in the Curtin Shops, Woden, Canberra.
It's inconspicously located downstairs from the central square, and has a vast collection of constantly changing books, antiques, ephemera, and old typewriters. The cafe and service is very friendly and the books are well-priced. They regularly feature exceptional items, making them well worth repeat visits!
Beyond Q (formerly Lawton's Antiquarian) is hidden downstairs from the public square in the Curtin Shops. Follow the sign outside the stairs. Open every day from 8am to 6pm, and sometimes even later.
www.beyondq.com.au/
44 Curtin Place, ACT 2605
Google map: tinyurl.com/yd9njrm
Good value food court on top of a quite exclusive department store.
34 Le Duan Street, District 1 , Ho Chi Minh City diamondplaza.vn/
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9vwkps
In the evening the market closes but the action moves outdoors.
Huge foodstalls set up all around the market with stalls selling all manner of things in the adjacent streets.
Great atmosphere but be careful of potential pickpockets!
Cho Ben Thanh
Google map: tinyurl.com/ycufwae
Woolworths (nothing to do with the firm that went under in the UK) is a fantastic source of food if you are self catering in SA. Some products are identical to M&S foods you'd get at home (at rather more competitive prices). Look on the website for store locations before you go - we visited the Cape Town stores but there are others. There are some interesting variations on a theme to take account of local cuisine as well as the usual favourites (the latter very useful if travelling with kids.)
Fun shopping. Cool things for women and children. Nice prices in nice local neighboorhood with lots of small shops, coffee shops and restaurants.
Vikingagatan 18, Vasastan, Underground: S:t Eriksplan
www.yosoyfeliz.se
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9sxcn9
Night market with over 200 units open between 4pm and midnight every day.
Plenty of goods worth purchasing in a relatively hassle free environment.
Off Sivatha Boulevard, one of main roads in Siem Reap.
www.angkornightmarket.com/
Tok Vanna is a Cambodian in his 40s supporting a wife and two children by selling books from a stall on the street in Siem Reap.
He lost both his hands as a result of a landmine after which he became a beggar in Phnom Penh.
However through the help of an aid worker he got back on his feet.
We got some interesting books on Pol Pot from him for $5- $6 each which will help towards his medical expenses and his children's education.
Pokambor Avenue which runs parallel to the river. Near Old Market Bridge outside Shadow of Angkor guesthouse.
Google map: tinyurl.com/yg9ewkw
ki-media.blogspot.com/2009/01/starting-new-chapter.html
If you enjoy local craft then this market has about 120 different stalls that only sell locally made craft.
What I like about it is that it is not just traditional African craft and curio's but all sorts of handmade items.
They also have a wellness section where you can get a massage, have your cards read or get a beauty therapy that is really cheap!
My favourite were the artists who were amazing.
Craft Market & Wellness Center
V&A Waterfront
Dock Road
+27 21 408 7840
craftinfo@waterfront.co.za
Google map: tinyurl.com/ydtmepk
Huge farmer's and trader's market. Mostly fresh produce, with a corner for crafts. Street level is fruits and vegetables. Side building is for seafood, and a couple of floors below-ground house fresh and deli meats, and cheese.
Fantastic for assembling a cheap and delicious picnic, even better if you're buying food to cook in your self cate apartment. If you're not the DIY type, choose one of the many wine and local "tapas" bars on the perimeter to people-watch.
Open from 6am - 2pm each day, and until 3pm on Saturdays.
The Dolac Market is situated 50 metres off the main town square (Jelacic Square).
bit.ly/5mDNXz
Google map: tinyurl.com/ygwvhk7
This suburb, situated east of the Pretoria city centre, includes one of the largest student populations in South Africa, due to the presence of the University of Pretoria. The main strip Burnett Street, is a combination of bars, dance clubs and eateries of all sorts. I found the reggae themed Cool Runnings bar to be a highlight. Hatfield Plaza is the local shopping mall and a good place to stock up if you are touring/backpacking. The area feels safe to walk around in since it's always busy (especially on a weekend). The large student population means it can become a little rowdy, but it was one of the best samples I had of the South African nightlife. Looking ahead to World Cup 2010 Hatfield is only a mile from Loftus Stadium where some matches are to be played and should be great for post-match merry-making.
Google map: tinyurl.com/ydx6m2g
Sells pies, cakes, homemade soups, sandwiches etc. Always busy, always smells appetising.
82 Rochdale Rd, Royton, Oldham, Lancashire, OL2 6QF
0161 624 9884
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9jyv8f
I have been to Sri Lanka on two occasions and just love the shopping there!
The high-end boutiques like Barefoot and Paradise Road offer traditional Sri Lankan and contemporary western products. You can find anything here from flamboyant coloured tablecloths to multi couloured sarongs.
'Odel' and 'House of Fashion' are department store-like shopping spaces which hold a range of designer wear (mostly seconds) and other quality products. Look carefully and you might find some hidden treasures among the rows of clothes or homewares.
'A-World' is a huge department store close to the Bandaranayake International Airport and is known to be the biggest shopping space in Sri Lanka. The clothes are slightly more expensive than places like Odel or House of Fashion because they offer original designer-wear.
All these places are well known among the locals, so all you have to do is ask your taxi driver to take you there. However it is best not to go with the regular taxi service as the drivers do not speak English and are not very safe to travel in. The same goes with trishaw's (tuk tuks), you will be lucky to find a tuk tuk driver who speaks english and doesnt rip you off!
Try a tour company like 'Abans tours' (www.abanstours.lk) which has a tour desk in Colombo at the Galadari Hotel as well as the Bandaranayake International Airport. Their rates are slightly more expensive than others, but all their drivers are friendly and speak good Engish. But most importantly they offer a safe and comfortable service.
Colombo
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