Tag Archives: Antiques

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El Rastro Market and Shopping

El Rastro Market in Madrid, Spain

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The most popular open-air flea market in all of Spain, El Rastro is held throughout the year on Sundays and public holidays, and is the perfect place to go if you are hoping to do some shopping in the city. Whether you are looking for antiques and curiosities, or fashion and accessories, you will find all of this and more at the El Rastro Market.

When to Visit
As mentioned above, El Rastro is open on Sundays and public holidays, but, if you want to be able to beat the crowds, you do need to time your visit quite carefully. The market is open from 9am until 3pm, and it is around noon when the crowds really start to swell, making it best for you to start exploring the market before this time. While the crowds do add to the overall atmosphere so much, they can also make it quite difficult for you to properly navigate the stores. However, there is one exception to this rule, and this is for those who are hoping to bag a good bargain. If this is the case, then you need to arrive near closing time, as this is when many vendors tend to shave around 20% off of their original asking price.

A clothing stall at El Rastro Market in Madrid, Spain

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Trying on Clothing
You will find such an incredible variety of clothing for sale at El Rastro Market, and these vary from traditional Flamenco dresses to vintage designer goods to kitschy tourist t-shirts. With so many different types of clothing brought in from countries all over the world, you can imagine how varied the sizes are between them. However, unlike at many other markets around the world, the vendors at El Rastro are happy for customers to try clothing on, meaning that you can ensure that it really does fit before making your purchase.

Explore the Side Streets
In addition to the actual market stalls, there is plenty of other shopping to be done around El Rastro. The side streets may be small, but they are often filled with so many different types of unique stores, as well as more vendors sprawled out across the pavements. Calle de los Pintores, which means Street of the Painters, is one that art lovers should not miss, as there is so much artwork for sale here, while Nuevas Galerias and La Galeria Piquer have some truly one-of-a-kind individual stores.

Crowd at El Rastro Market in Madrid, Spain

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A Bite to Eat
El Rastro is located in Madrid’s La Latina district, which is known for its Spanish restaurants and bars. There are many tapas restaurants to be found here, making this a great opportunity to try a few authentic tapas dishes. Alternatively, if you are not in the mood for Spanish cuisine, you will find everything from Indian restaurants, such as Bombay Blue, to Arab tea houses here.

El Rastro Market is always an exciting place to head to for a spot of shopping, as you never know what you will end up finding. From rare vintage designer clothing to souvenirs that you can take back home with you, this is a market that appeals to both tourists as well as locals.

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Small Town Travel Picks

While many may find themselves automatically attracted to the big cities of America, the small towns that are sprinkled across the USA also have plenty to offer. With distinct individual characters, historic buildings, world-class bars and restaurants, and unique attractions, a visit to some of these small towns will enable you to discover some of the true treasures that the USA boasts.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico
For those who are interested in art, a visit to Santa Fe, with its thriving art scene and one-of-a-kind creative institutions, such as the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, is absolutely a must. Santa Fe is also rich with history, and is home to the oldest church in the country, the San Miguel Chapel, and many of the town’s local businesses have also set up shop in some of the historical buildings that line the streets.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine, Florida
There is no doubt about the fact that St. Augustine is immensely charming, and boasts unique beaches along with vibrant shopping areas. The Old City Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning and is the perfect way to start your weekend here, while a tour and tasting at the St. Augustine Distillery, which produces vodka, whiskey, rum and gin, is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.

Traverse City

Traverse City, Michigan
Situated in one of the Midwest’s top wine-producing regions, thanks to the rich soil and lakefront climate, Traverse City is surrounded by numerous wineries and tasting rooms. The town is also famous for its cherry production, and with its annual National Cherry Festival every July, is considered to be the tart cherry capital of the world. The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park is also worth paying a visit, as are the towering dunes that line the lake.

Cape May

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Cape May, New Jersey
Situated at the tip of the Jersey Shore, one of the highlights of Cape May is the way in which it is filled with stunning examples of Victorian architecture, and boasts a number of antique and home décor stores that sell Victorian items. While Cape May and its beaches are obviously popular in the summer months, this small town also finds itself rather busy around Christmas, mostly due to the way in which they go all out decorating Washington Street Mall.

Custer National Park

Custer, South Dakota
A visit to Custer will make you feel as though you have stepped into the Old West, with everything from the Four Mile Old West Town to the Custer State Park Annual Buffalo Roundup to the Crazy Horse Memorial contributing to this. For those who want to check out some of the town’s natural beauty, this can be seen at the Jewel Cave National Park, which boasts one of the longest caves in the world, as well as at the Wind Cave National Park.

Visiting some of America’s small towns is a way to explore the heart and soul of the country. Those who ignore the flashing lights of the city to head to one of these smaller destinations will be rewarded with such a unique sense of discovery, wonder and national pride.

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Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

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Located in Old Town Key West, the Ernest Hemingway House is where Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote for more than ten years. It is here that the Nobel Prize winner spent his most prolific years, and is definitely a must-visit for those who want to see the rooms and gardens that inspired some of his most memorable pieces of work.

The House
The house was built in 1851 and became home to Ernest Hemingway, as well as his wife and two sons in 1931. The house was not in good condition when Hemingway moved in and needed a large amount of work, which Hemingway was fully involved in. Much of the original furniture that Hemingway used still remains in the home, including the red leather Cardinal’s chair that was reportedly used during the Broadway production of The Fifth Column, Hemingway’s only full-length play. You will also find Hemingway’s iron-frame bed here, as well as his trusty typewriter in his writing studio.

The Cats
While Hemingway’s furniture and belongings do draw the crowds, many people come to the Ernest Hemingway House to see the fifty or so cats that reside there. Hemingway was known for his love of six-toed cats, after first being gifted one by a ship captain. The cats that live at the Hemingway House are mostly descendants of Hemingway’s original cats, and have called this place their home for generations.

The Grounds
In addition to visiting Hemingway’s grand house, visitors can also explore the beautifully landscaped gardens that the writer incorporated into his property. The lush gardens are filled with indigenous flowers native to Key West, such as jasmine, water lily, gardenia and hibiscus. The grounds also include a large in-ground swimming pool, which was a huge luxury to have in the 1930s, and was the only pool within a 100-mile radius. Since Key West only had fresh water piped in the 1940s, a pump was installed into the salt water table below the ground, and this took two to three days to fill the pool with salt water, after which it would only stay fresh for a couple of days before needing to be drained and re-filled once again.

Guided Tours
For those who are serious Hemingway fans, a guided tour is the best way to explore the museum and the grounds, as you will be able to learn fascinating facts about the writer, his family, and their life in Key West. While a thirty-minute tour is included in the admission price, many people do still choose to explore the property on their own, as this gives the chance to properly take in the beauty of the architecture and grounds, and, of course, plenty of time to play with the cats!

The Ernest Hemingway House and Museum is still the single largest residential property on the island of Key West and remains to be one of Key West’s most popular attractions. 70% of Hemingway’s work was completed in Key West, and, even if you have never read anything that Hemingway has written, there is no denying that the house and grounds have a magical and mystical quality about them, making them well worth a visit.

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18b – The Las Vegas Arts District

Signboard for 18b Arts District in Las Vegas.

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The 18b Arts District in Downtown Las Vegas, otherwise known as the Las Vegas Arts District, consists of an eclectic mix of independent art galleries, one-of-a-kind stores and unique eateries. Its name comes from the original Arts District that was created in 1988 when 18 blocks were set aside to encourage and boost the arts. Today, the 18b Arts District has sprawled out well beyond these original 18 blocks and is definitely a must-visit when in Vegas.

18b Art Galleries
The 18b Arts District is home to a number of exciting independent art galleries. 303 North Studio is owned by artist James Henninger and showcases upcoming and established artists from the Las Vegas and Los Angeles areas. The Brett Wesley Gallery features contemporary paintings, photography and sculpture, while Clay Arts Vegas focuses on ceramics, with fantastic exhibitions as well as classes. Gainsburg Studio is a stone carving studio that is always worth a visit, while Sandman Studios is run by an artist that specializes in glass etchings.

18b Shops
The shops in the 18b Arts District are beautifully diverse, and a stroll through the area will have you coming across a number of one-of-a-kind stores. For vintage clothing and accessories, head to Amberjoy’s Vintage Closet, as well as Electric Lemonade, a fun vintage and new lifestyle boutique. Armstrong’s Emporium is always a hot spot for antiques, while Corner Store Furniture Co. usually has some unique vintage furniture finds. JJC Clocks, Antiques and Collectables pride themselves on being the largest antique clock shop in the Tri-state area, and also boast quite an impressive rare clock collection. For those looking for gifts, Gaia Flowers specializes in sustainably grown flowers and locally made gifts, as well as stationary and other quirky items.

18b Restaurants
Las Vegas is known for its thriving food scene, and the restaurants found in 18b are the perfect reflection of this. Bar Bistro @ The Arts Factory is always a happening spot, because not only do they serve up some of the tastiest Latin fusion dishes in town, but they also have 16 art galleries, live music performances, body painting, and live artist painting sessions. Pop Up Pizza is another popular restaurant, mostly due to the quality of their food thanks to fresh ingredients, homemade tomato sauce, and the perfect crust. Casa Don Juan is a vibrant Mexican joint, while Bier Garten prides themselves on their “Beercraft and Foodery”, serving up a delectable selection of artisan sausages and craft beers. Just like many other thriving arts communities around the world, 18b caters well to vegans and vegetarians, with the Bronze Café and the Pura Vida Bakey and Bystro in particular, the latter of which serves up unforgettable Caribbean fusion dishes.

18b is also where First Friday is hosted each month, an arts festival that is considered to be the premier arts event in all of Las Vegas, attracting a diverse crowd, one-of-a-kind art, street performances, and guaranteed fun. The 18b Arts District is always an exciting area of Vegas to spend some time in, whether you have particular shops or restaurants in mind or are just browsing through the fantastic mix of offerings, so do check it out the next time you are in the city if you haven’t already done so.