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Where in the U.S., most people are awake before mid-afternoon, in Spain, if you have had a successful Saturday night out, you probably didn't get home until well after sunup... But, if ever you find yourself awake before 3pm on a Sunday morning in Madrid, you must go to the Rastro.
An outdoor market that spans several different streets in the oldest neighborhood of Madrid, La Latina, at the Rastro you can find anything from funky jewelry and comical T-shirts in poor English to house wares and, well, the things nobody wanted in their houses (i.e. junk). Though its fifteenth century origins were as a marketplace for products of the local slaughterhouses and tanneries, as well as second hand clothing, in modern times it is no longer permitted to sell food, livestock, or any other type of live animal at the Rastro. However, used clothing still abounds...
With the vendors calling left and right, offering you a better deal than their neighbor, it’s hard not to get drawn into the experience of it all. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s fun just to move along with the crowd and peruse the items for sale at the many different booths that line the main street of the Rastro. And who knows, maybe you will come across something you like. Or something a friend back home would enjoy, since it is an excellent place to get typical Spanish souvenirs, such as wooden fans, castanets or painted pottery. And if you don’t like the price, the vendors are often more than willing to bargain with you.
When you do visit the Rastro, be sure to keep a close watch on your personal items, as for every unsuspecting tourist at the market, there are two pick pocketers waiting for their chance to swipe a purse or wallet. Also, for the most enjoyable experience, avoid going in the middle of the sweltering Madrid summer, or at least, during peak sunshine hours (after 11AM).
For more information (in Spanish) on the Rastro and its history, please visit: http://www.elrastro.org/
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