Vegetable stand at El Mercado de San Miguel
Vegetable stand at El Mercado de San Miguel

Travel

A Lighter Day

Chamartin Market & Principe Pío

event June 6, 2009
location_onMadrid, Spain

Travel

A Lighter Day

Chamartin Market & Principe Pío

event June 6, 2009
location_onMadrid, Spain

Today, we woke up earlier, about 8AM, so that we could take a trip to Toledo. We took a train from La Puerta del Sol to la estación de Atocha Renfe. Atocha is a hub for railways that are leaving Madrid, versus the other stations that connect the many Metro Lines that travel within Madrid and its many sub-communities. Upon getting off the metro train, we attempted to find our way to the place where we could buy tickets to Toledo. Unfortunately, we didn’t find the right place, and missed the train by 10 minutes. The bad news, the next train wouldn’t be leaving until 12:20PM, the good news, at least we didn’t buy the tickets for the train we just missed; instead, they just stop selling tickets for trains that are bound to leave within a specific time frame. No worries though, we’ll just visit Toledo tomorrow.

Jardín tropical

As we entered the station, I was surprised to see this tropical garden inside of the station.

A tropical garden inside of the station
A tropical garden inside of the station

Jardín tropical

As we entered the station, I was surprised to see this tropical garden inside of the station.

Cowabunga!

I laughed at seeing a turtle sun bathing atop the shell of a bigger turtle who was swimming across the pond.

A turtle riding the back of another turtle within the tropical garden
A turtle riding the back of another turtle within the tropical garden

Cowabunga!

I laughed at seeing a turtle sun bathing atop the shell of a bigger turtle who was swimming across the pond.

Estación de Atocha-Cercanías

A few from outside the station as we walked to our destination, Chamartín.

Outside the Atocha-Cercanías station and Atocha Renfe
Outside the Atocha-Cercanías station and Atocha Renfe

Estación de Atocha-Cercanías

A few from outside the station as we walked to our destination, Chamartín.

Mercado de Chamartín

Having no other choice, we left Atocha to go to a local market, el Mercado de Chamartín. The market was opened in 1962 and has a wonderful selection of fresh fruits, meats, fish, cheese, etc. We went through all the stalls, and noted that there were many shops that sold the same products, but that each had their own supplier and their “regular customers” that knew them by name. What was great, was that, one of the meat vendors was providing people samples. These samples were mini-hamburgers; the meat simply seasoned with salt and pepper. Honestly, it was some of the best hamburger beef I’ve eaten in a long time; very simply prepared but the quality of the beef itself gave the mini-burgers and explosion of great flavor.

El Mercado de Chamartín

This market has been providing groceries and other goods since 1962.

A large sign welcoming you to The Chamartín Market
A large sign welcoming you to The Chamartín Market

El Mercado de Chamartín

This market has been providing groceries and other goods since 1962.

Local Vegetables

Not in the photo’s frame, but to my left, I overheard the vendor having fun with a customer. I bet they’ve known each other for years…possibly decades.

A vegetable vendor's stand featuring local cabbage, potatoes, onions, ginger, and more
A vegetable vendor's stand featuring local cabbage, potatoes, onions, ginger, and more

Local Vegetables

Not in the photo’s frame, but to my left, I overheard the vendor having fun with a customer. I bet they’ve known each other for years…possibly decades.

Ernesto Prieto

The line for seafood at Ernesto Prieto Pescados y Mariscos was no joke. Lots of people buying shrimp and and clams.

There was a line of people waiting to have their seafood order taken
There was a line of people waiting to have their seafood order taken

Ernesto Prieto

The line for seafood at Ernesto Prieto Pescados y Mariscos was no joke. Lots of people buying shrimp and and clams.

Big knife for a big fish

It was pretty cool watching the guy behind the counter cut slices of fish for customers. I bet some people came to el Mercado de Chamartín without the intention to buy tuna…but didn’t have the willpower once they arrived to this part of the 30 meter counter.

A guys behind the counter cuts a large piece of fish for customers
A guys behind the counter cuts a large piece of fish for customers

Big knife for a big fish

It was pretty cool watching the guy behind the counter cut slices of fish for customers. I bet some people came to el Mercado de Chamartín without the intention to buy tuna…but didn’t have the willpower once they arrived to this part of the 30 meter counter.

Tapas

A restaurant inside the market offers a variety of tapas. I bet if I lived nearby, I’d stop in for a tapa or two as a break from shopping.

A restaurant inside the market offers a variety of tapas
A restaurant inside the market offers a variety of tapas

Tapas

A restaurant inside the market offers a variety of tapas. I bet if I lived nearby, I’d stop in for a tapa or two as a break from shopping.

Carnicería Raza Nostra

I’d seen a few trucks around the city featuring the logo of Raza Nostra, and I finally found a location. They proclaim that they are the best meat market in all of Spain. I can’t verify that, but I can’t blame them for pushing forth that idea.

A vendor called Raza Nostra selling all kinds fo meats
A vendor called Raza Nostra selling all kinds fo meats

Carnicería Raza Nostra

I’d seen a few trucks around the city featuring the logo of Raza Nostra, and I finally found a location. They proclaim that they are the best meat market in all of Spain. I can’t verify that, but I can’t blame them for pushing forth that idea.

Free Samples

Carnicería Raza Nostra was giving out free samples of their hamburger patties. They made these litte mini sliders. They were cute and yummy!

A free mini sample of their hamburgers
A free mini sample of their hamburgers

Free Samples

Carnicería Raza Nostra was giving out free samples of their hamburger patties. They made these litte mini sliders. They were cute and yummy!

Rodilla & Princip Pío

Leaving the market, we headed back to La Puerta del Sol and found a restaurant called Rodilla. Rodilla is a restaurant that specializes in small sandwiches. You can get cold or hot sandwiches all of which have the crust cut off, so I knew a few friends that would love a restaurant that automatically cuts off the crust as if they were selling to five year olds We both ordered a combo that gives you the choice of two cold sandwich halves and 1 whole hot sandwich. My father chose Foie Gras and Serrano Ham as his cold sandwiches and Crepes as his hot sandwich. For me, I choose Tomatoes/Cheese and Anchoa (Anchovies) for my cold sandwiches and a hot Spanish ham & cheese sandwich.

After lunch, as we were walking around at La Puerta del Sol, my dad pointed to some guys who were selling merchandise out on the street. Due to the fact that this is illegal, they use a sheet with strings on each corner. When the police officers are approaching the area where they are transacting, they quickly pull the strings which make the sheet become a bag that holds the merchandise, and then they run away. A few minutes later and at a different location at La Puerta del Sol, they extend their sheet and continue to display their merchandise until the next police officer approaches. I guess they really practice mobile business strategies!!! What was funny is that I was looking at a watch, when you hear one of them say something to another; they all look to their left. All of a sudden, all of them pull the strings together; tuck the bags under their arms, like a running back in football, and literally start running away. A few seconds later, you see a few cops nearby. Luckily for one vendor he was very fleet footed, because he nearly was caught, but evaded capture by doing a few jukes.

Later in the day, we headed to Principe Pío to stroll through a mall. This mall was once a train station, but later converted to a mall featuring about 80 stores and about 15 restaurants spanning three floors. It was a great mall, but too bad we were told we couldn’t take photos of the mall; I guess due to security reasons. They were a little slow; we took one photo before being told we couldn’t take any more – that’ll show ‘em.

Rodilla

This is a restaurant famous for sandwiches. They have a decent number of varieties.

Sandwiches from a restaurant chain called Rodilla
Sandwiches from a restaurant chain called Rodilla

Rodilla

This is a restaurant famous for sandwiches. They have a decent number of varieties.

La Puerta de San Vicente

This apparently is a reconstruction of the original gate. It has been rebuilt three times throughout the city’s history.

Source

La Puerta de San Vicente in the late afternoon
La Puerta de San Vicente in the late afternoon

La Puerta de San Vicente

This apparently is a reconstruction of the original gate. It has been rebuilt three times throughout the city’s history.

Source

Centro comercial Príncipe Pío

It’s a nice shopping mall located in a historic building. It’s easy to get to as it still performs its role as a station for both the metro and buses.

A shopping mall within Príncipe Pío area of Malasaña
A shopping mall within Príncipe Pío area of Malasaña

Centro comercial Príncipe Pío

It’s a nice shopping mall located in a historic building. It’s easy to get to as it still performs its role as a station for both the metro and buses.

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