## Step 6 - Writing

#### Discuss with a partner:

- Have you ever been to a foreign city just to go shopping?
- Where did you go? Whom with?
- Have you ever been shopping in a city outside the Netherlands? Where? Why there?
- Where would you go shopping if you could choose a city in Europe?

Make a mindmap of things that are important to you in a city for shopping.
Write down what you find important (do not mention names of shops themselves, think of what category they are and write the category down).
On the following pages you are going to read texts about three European cities that are renowned for shopping: Barcelona, London and Milan.

#### Task:

Read the texts on the following pages.
Write down which of the three cities (Barcelona, London or Milan) you would like to go shopping to.
Also write down why. Use at least three words from the text of the city you chose to explain your anwer.

#### Barcelona

Enjoy Spanish fashion, visit one of the many Zara or Mango megastores or buy the young trendy Spanish brands as Desigual and Bershka in the city centre.
Barcelona's main shopping area starts from the famous 'Rambla' to 'Plaza de Catalunya'.
Here you can find a huge variety of clothes shops selling international and national designer collections.
Combine the Spanish culture with shopping pleasure walking around the 'Barrí Gotic', one of the oldest districts of Barcelona with some Roman remains. Here you may find many bookstores, handcraft shops, music stores and much more.
In Barcelona, shops are open from 10 am to 8.30 pm, closed on Sundays and on Spanish public holidays.
Some shops are open 24 hours a day.
Barcelona Tomb Bus is a bus service that brings tourists to the main shopping areas of the city.

#### London

Alternative, dynamic and stylish.
London offers a big choice of shopping areas to find the most trendy and up to date clothes and accessories.
London offers everything you can imagine.
The most famous places to go shopping are Oxford street, which has almost 300 shops, and 'Harrods'.
Harrods is one of the most famous department stores in the world.
The store is very big and it will take you a long time to see the whole place.
The spots you must visit are the food hall and the gift shop.
In London shops are open every day from 9 am to 6 pm, and have 'late night shopping' on Thursday.

#### Milan

Shopping lovers choose Milan to buy the best of Italian fashion and design. There are plenty of places to go shopping in the city, you can just walk around and you will find many shops spread across the city centre.
The most famous shopping area in Milan is the 'Golden Triangle'.
You can choose between designers such as Armani, Prada, Gucci, Valentino and many others.
In Milan you can find many outlet stores where you can buy designer clothes for a much lower price. You can get discounts up to 70%!
Usually shops are open from 9.30 am to 12.30 and from 3.30 to 7.30 pm in winter and from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm in summer.
Some shops are open every day. Most shops are closed on Sundays and during the Italian public holidays.