Every time I travel to a bigger city,there are some things that I research in advance. Since I’m the kind of traveller that is passionate about architecture, art, design and culture, and I like to take my time to enjoy, you are probably starting to get the picture of how it all looks like. Except from visiting smaller art and photographic galleries, I sometimes know in advance about the shops or even the specific things I want to search for. If you are a so-called design conscious traveller, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Just one of my many resources is a series of books called Shops & more. I’ve already written about Hotels & more in one of my earlier posts. Books, or better yet guides, are published by Taschen and include only four destinations; London, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona. The cities are, same as in the other series, divided in a few areas of which each starts with a hand-illustrated map with shops marked on it. Those shops are then presented with great photos and in the end listed with some information like working hours, X-factor (like a special feature) and a sentence more about the ambient since most is covered in photos.
Shops & more don’t only include fashion shops but everything including interior design, hats, hand-made cosmetics, tea & coffee, chocolate, gourmet food, bookstores, cookware, hand-made umbrellas, jewelry… there can even be an address for the local market.
There are a few things I always know; like what bookstore I’m going to in London, which designer studio I’m looking up for a bag, where am I going to buy “mini monuments” in Paris etc. And for the places I don’t have guides, I make my own. But when it comes to shopping, most of the things I leave to case because something will always surprise you…
Usually, I’m very critical when it comes to guides in general, even with these “picture books” because I don’t believe all of them are great. But with Shops & more I’m really satisfied as far as the variety of places it includes. They know how to use photos to present and explain everything you need to know. So I would definitely recommend to look them as up and maybe use them as one of your shopping resources.
Stella – European Travelling Advisor
I am new to your site, Stella. Very well done, beautiful, and good info.
Thank you.
Much success and many blessings,
CG
this looks really neat.
thanks for sharing!
Hi CG,
thank you very much, I appreciate it. Come back any time…
You too.
Stella – European Travelling Advisor