Sun., June 14: El Rastro

The day after Toledo Alice, Amanda, and I awoke rather early again in order to visit El Rastro, a giant flee market in the La Latina neighborhood where the prices are extremely cheap.  Another student (Jahne) who is also from Hunter College (Alice's school) joined us...she was in Amanda's class at Nebrija. 
We made it to the market just as it was beginning to open at about 9:30. We began by wandering through looking at what different vendors were offering and found the size to be quite impressive.  Various items were purchased--fans, a couple of purses, a bunch of scarves, shoes.  By 12:30 it was beginning to get very crowded. 
Interestingly Jahne decided to get her bellybutton pierced with us while we were perusing the different tents.  After recovering from what I think was a general sense of consternation and ensuring several times that she seriously wanted to do so in Spain we went along with her to a little tattoo and piercing place run by a couple of Ukrainians.  It was a very interesting experience...she did well for the most part but became very pale and there was a brief moment when I personally was concerned that she would pass out, but thankfully no it was all good.
After that we made our way out of the Rastro and then home again for lunch with Patricia's sister Lola who had come to stay with us while Patricia was away at Euro Disney with her daughter and granddaughter for the weekend. 
Lola was very nice.  Unfortunately there was gazpacho but I made it through and the chicken with salad was delicious. 

Here are some pictures which are meant to indicate how crowded El Rastro became.