Gifts to bring back from Portugal or Barcellona

I may not be much help, because we tend to send postcards to the grandchildren from each city, with notes about what we've seen and think they would be interested in, and to avoid filling the suitcase with physical items.

But for those few things we do buy, we usually go to the market! One of our travel rituals, on the first day when we stock the apartment, is to look for a local preserve or jam that we don't see at home (skyberries in Stockholm, for instance). Once we've found one we really like, that's our gift to the select few, and a spare for us. A really good, really local olive oil is another possibility.

Sometimes it's just a good brand from a supermarket (in Portugal, tomato jam is popular and delicious), and sometimes--Barcelona is a good example--a big market, like La Bouqueria will have what you want, and be an interesting visit as well.

By the way...things like this are legal to bring in (sealed), but need to go in your checked bags, because otherwise you'll run into the 3-1-1 limits.

That's a great idea, PHeymont!  Go to the market.  I'll definitely do that.  Some interesting spice of jam or something might just do the trick.  Tomato Jam -- definitely have to give that a try.  Sounds curiously good.

I understand about the liquids limitations. 

Anyone else have any ideas?

I know that hand painted ceramic tiles are popular there in Portugal and Spain.  But they can get heavy.  Maybe wrap them in your clothes, but they'd be nice gifts I think.  Put them up on a wall, use them for hot pots or a hot drinks. 

You might also consider not-handpainted tiles. The tiles you can see by the thousands on many buildings are available from building-supply or hardware vendors (drogaria) in many, many styles. Add some stick-on rubber bumpers to the back and you've got a practical--and cheap--Portuguese souvenir!

I am no shopper so I try to make this gift-buying task easy.  When I arrive at the large entry airport, I like to stretch my legs, get a cup of takeaway coffee, and cruise the airport gift shops. 

Almost always, I can find little magnets of the country flag, local tiles, miniature photos, the sports team, or handiwork mounted on refrigerator magnets.  I pick up a few of those and am good to go for my visit.    One more thing off of my list.

Refrigerator magnets are easy to carry, no problem with airport security, unique to the place, happily accepted and always used.

You might guess from my picture here that I'm proud of Scots ancestry...and the three times I visited there, I always found some cloth item for my friends...nothing big, but with the tartan. I'll bet there are small clothes and the like with typical color or print from almost anywhere...and it squishes small!