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Madrid in Spain is a favorite destination of the tourists and holidaymakers. Apart from seeing the various landmarks in the city, the tourists love to shop around and pick up various interesting objects that are native to the place. Such a place is El Rastro in Madrid. El Rastro is actually a flea market in the city .It is very popular with the tourists as it has a large array of items on sale and hence is very crowded. This market is open on Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 3pm.
This flea market has new and used items on sale. Shopping here is an unusual experience as one can spend a whole day for the item one desires and in the process come across many interesting things to buy. It is an indeed out of the world experience jostling among the crowd and bargaining amidst the din created by the shopkeepers, each one crying out his price, trying to outdo the other. The market begins early on Sunday mornings with the market slowly picking up business and the streets get crowded. The whole market starts buzzing with activity .The vendors shouting loudly for the products and the tourists bargaining with them. The streets are alive with joy and the atmosphere totally changes. Thousands of shopping freaks start hunting for the best suitable first hand or second hand articles.
The round tour of the El Rastro, Madrid begins with lots of surprises at each step. The shops or stalls are equipped with nearly all the items under the sun that a person may wish to buy. The shops offer used clothing, antique pieces, marvelous old paintings or Replica's of any classic painting, tools and fabrics, flowers, magazines, old artwork, showpieces from Madrid, beer glasses from Germany and more .
Shopping in this flea market is fun due to the hunting one has to do for a particular item which is indeed a difficult task. It is not everyone's cup of tea as the market is a huge place. Rare books and magazines can also be bought in this flea market that may not be available in big departmental stores or malls.
The place is a paradise for vendors as they can sell the items to tourists at the said price. Sometimes some gullible tourists are fooled by the vendors. They can be taken for a ride if they are not careful enough. Thus one has to be alert while making a deal and try to bargain as much as possible. It cannot be done always because some shops sell new and good quality items. These shopkeepers follow the merchandised format and the goods sold in these shops are definitely of good quality and comparatively cheaper than in big shops or shopping malls.
It is a great place for buyers to purchase cheap and can be frequented to buy cheap as well as costly items. Sundays can definitely made special filled with lots of fun by visiting the flea market. After wandering in the market, it is highly probable that you may feel hungry. In such a case you can gorge on the special Tapas that are served in small cafes at the end of El Rastro. The German beer is also available if you wish to quench your thirst after roaming in the sweltering heat.
The flea market is a place to have lots of fun and spend a great day unless your pockets are out of the reach of the pickpocket that are in great abundance in this market. By taking some simple precautions and staying alert one can save a wonderful day from getting ruined. Have fun while shopping in El Rastro, the famous flea market and take home the unique artifacts and one in a lifetime experience along with you from this exotic land.
travel.mapsofworld.com offers online information on El Rastro, Madrid. For more information, visit travel.mapsofworld.com
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