MADRID, SPAIN. As I was walking through Plaza Dos de Mayo a few weekends ago, I came across Calle Velarde. On this street there is a collage of colorful graffiti painted on the buildings, a tattoo shop at the end of the street right next to the plaza, and several vintage clothing shops.
Located just off the metro Tribunal stop, Calle Velarde is every artistic person’s dream. The first shop I came across was Pulcas, owned by a very kind older woman. This shop sells primarily women’s clothing and has a unique style, with clothes that look as if they are from the 1920s. When I entered I saw racks of lavish fur coats, followed by a variety of skirts, dresses and shoes. The prints on the clothing were bold and colorful. I walked deeper into the store, and at the very end were old books and artworks. Pulcas is a magnificent place where you see the evolution of Spanish style within the clothing.
Plaza Dos de Mayo
La Mona Checa is a circus-themed vintage shop. The shop owner is a young beautiful Spanish lady who is very attentive and helpful. The shop has a very large circus tent pinned to the walls, adding to the unique vintage style of the shop. In the shop there is a large green record player playing ’50s, which provides a nice compliment to the old style clothing. In addition to the flamboyant decorations, there is a spacious vintage-style dressing room in the back that has a very large mirror, perfect for looking at the clothes.
Dress at pulcas
Vintage clothes shop
In addition to the tattoo shops, vibrantly painted streets, and the various vintage clothing shops, there is also a nice open-air market in Plaza Dos de Mayo. In this plaza there are several people selling jewelry, records, books and an assortment of other items. The plaza was busy with people and filled with the laughter of children because there is also a playground in the square. Several places to eat like pizza places and restaurants can also be found in the area. Calle Velarde and Plaza Dos de Mayo are definitely places worth visiting in Madrid.
Plaza Dos de Mayo on a busy day
Playground in Plaza Dos de Mayo