Bargain hunters
Rushing between Spain and France, Ireland and Hong Kong is a gruelling odyssey for shopaholics, but someone has to do it.
As the white sands of the Costa Brava snake across the blue horizon behind us, our helicopter edges over the jagged peaks of Montserrat mountain, the spiritual and cultural heart of Catalonia. Squinting through the rays of the Barcelona sun, I make out the sand brown structure that is the 12th century Verge de Montserrat Monastery, nestled between craggy, towering dolomite-like peaks.
As the propellers beat past this ancient holy site, the other side of the mountain reveals flat shrubby greenery of vineyards and countryside. The Circuit de Catalunya, which hosts Formula One and MotoGP races, comes into view as does our destination, the reddish-brown rooftops of La Roca Village.
The heliport is next to the Chic Outlet Shopping village and it's a grand way to arrive. I was apprehensive about the ride, but Salvador, a former airline pilot, assures me: "You may be nervous before your flight, but you will be smiling by the time you land." "With relief on reaching terra firma," I quip. He is correct, my first helicopter journey is a great adrenalin rush, only equalled by the prices of designer clothing in the village.
Excited by the huge reductions on shoes, bags, clothing and household accessories, my shopping companions are raring to go. Spread before us are more than 100 designer outlet stores with familiar luxury brands - Burberry, Loewe. Tommy Hilfiger, Coach. La Roca Village also houses Spanish designers, such as Adolfo Domingez, Bimba & Lola and El Ganso. Local designer outlets differentiate each of the nine Chic Outlet Shopping villages across Europe.
Heading for Vans, in search of casual cool for my teenage son, my HK$100 finds of a hoodie and T-shirt are appreciated later, as is the backpack from the FC Botiga Barcelona Official Store - which is not discounted. I go on, nevertheless, to score bargains at the L'Occitane en Provence and the Chocolate Factory - the chocolates make great gifts. "You must take some jamon (ham) back home," enthuses one of the foodies in our group who hustles us off to the Gourmet Market outlet, where a good selection of local food is available at discount prices.
Comparing buys with my fellow travellers over a lunch of tapas and grilled salmon at Andreu restaurant later, I realise my restraint to the lure of bargains is not common as brand-bearing bags clutter our dining space with designer shoes, clothes and handbags flying enthusiastically across the table for approval.
Two days earlier, we had spent a good four hours in the hot Paris sun at La Vallee Village, about half-an-hour's drive outside the French capital. We were not as upbeat. Granted we'd just visited the Pannier wine cellars and savoured several more Champagne vintages than we'd meant to. After a deli lunch at Natalie's Cafe, we were set to shop. But it was one of those summer afternoons where it seemed the whole of Paris had had the same idea.