On Saturday my husband and I decided to brave the holiday crowds downtown and see the Christmas markets. We went to five and this is the first time I have done this kind of outing in Madrid. My first Christmas here in Spain I went to THE (the one in front of the Cathedral) Christmas market in Barcelona. Last year I kind of glanced at a few while friends and family were visiting, but I did not really go through and have a good look.
My conclusion is only by putting together all five of the markets I saw yesterday in Madrid do you get the equal of just the one in Barcelona. Still it was a fun day. For example: the first thing we saw when we came out of the metro was this:
 |
| Callao |
It was apparently a "Knitting Party" event put on by
We Are Knitters that had just ended. It is very nice to see more and more of these types of events happening in Spain (where the knitting revolution is just now exploding). The very first thing I saw was the yarn. Apparently I have a homing beacon for it and was drawn to it almost immediately.
Then, turning around I snapped a photo of the Callao xmas tree in daylight.
 |
| Callao |
Our first Christmas market was the one in Plaza Santa Domingo. It was so underwhelming we did not even snap photos of it. Basically it sold: leather goods, jewelry, watches, scarves, and those animal head hats that are so popular now. It is definitely more magical to shop there at night when the lights are on.
The second market was in a building across from the Convent de las Descalzas Reales. Various craft stalls were set up around the perimeter a central space.
Next we walked to Plaza Mayor to see it's Christmas market. This is definitely the largest one, and where I would go to get figures for a Belén (Navtivity scene) if I were setting one up. As there are lots of little stalls selling miniatures of various types and sizes. It is also a place to get those New Year's glasses, hats of any size and shape, and various other Christmas decorations.
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| Plaza Mayor |
Oh, and there is a beautiful carousel.
 |
| Plaza Mayor |
 |
| Plaza Mayor |
 |
| Outside an entrance to Plaza Mayor |
 |
| Outside an entrance to Plaza Mayor |
Heading down Calle Atocha from Plaza Mayor you can come to one of the prettiest Christmas Markets in Madrid.
 |
| Iglesia de la Santa Cruz |
The Market in Plaza Jacinto Benavente. A small prettily decorated market with high end gifts. For some reason it reminds me of what a German xmas market would be like. I have never seen a German xmas market, but this is how I would imagine one. You can go through tall arched doorways of "stone" and inside under a tent of xmas lights there are little cottages bedecked with greenery and snowy scenes on top.
 |
| Plaza Jacinto Benavente |
 |
| Plaza Jacinto Benavente |
 |
| Plaza Jacinto Benavente |
 |
| Plaza Jacinto Benavente |
 |
| Plaza Jacinto Benavente |
On our way back to catch the metro we past by the World Famous (with it's claim to being the oldest restaurant in the world) Restaurante de Sobrino de Botín. There is always a little 3 story miniature of the restaurant in the window and this time the miniature was decorated for Christmas. (Sorry, only the photo of the first level come out).
 |
| In the window of Sobrino de Botín |
The setting sun on the decorative roof of the Marcado de San Miguel.
 |
| Marcado de San Miguel |
The Royal palace also glowed the setting sun.
 |
| Palacio Real |
Our last market was the Marcado Dulce (sweet market)in the Plaza de Ópera. We were apparently too tired to get a picture but it was a pretty little market, but, as you may have guessed, centered on sweets and baked goods.
