El Rastro

Today I visited El Rastro, the huge Sunday-only fleamarket in the La Latina area of Madrid. There are too many vendors to count, and hundreds, if not thousands, of shoppers. You can find everything from skirts to pashminas, thousands of pieces of jewelry, leather jackets and wallets, handmade items, lamp shades, cds and movies, electronics and art. It's really quite the experience. The market sprawls on, street after street, and it's quite easy to get lost in all of the madness. Before you go, set a budget, and when you get there, hold onto your purse and make sure your pockets are zipped shut. Pickpockets love the area.

(Here's a pic of one of the painted walls in the market area.)