Cheap Thrills

One of my favourite activities is browsing charity and junk shops - it?s so relaxing after being desk-bound all day. And bargain-buying is really a sort of addiction.

In an otherwise colourless, recession-driven life, these: for one euro the scarf, and three ruros the pendant, are, quite frankly, a thrilling fix. I snapped them up at one of my favourite junk/antique shops, L?encant de Gr?cia, at Ast?ries 44. This cosy welcoming place is run by the Fundaci? ACIS (La Asociaci?n para la Capacitaci?n y la Integraci?n Socio-laboral de las personas discapacitadas). All the stuff in here is in pretty good condition - no bits of coloured glass missing from the necklace - and incredibly cheap. And lots and lots of it. You could definitely equip a flat on a shoestring here with everything from pots and pans to plates to champagne and brandy glasses to wooden spoons to coffee machines. (The real antiques are locked away in glass cabinets). You could probably sort a pile of Christmas presents too. Oh dear - I forgot to note down the opening hours for you. Phone is 93 416 0984 and it?s at the Torrent de l?Olla end of Ast?ries. Happy browsing. Valerie is the co-author, with Theresa O'Shea, of In The Garlic: Your Informative, Fun Guide to Spain.