Living abroad you often learn how to do something by observing others. This observation skill can get you far especially when battling Spaniards to buy craft goods. I never thought the process of buying some craft goods would be so complicated and time-consuming. On Pontejos Street in the center of Madrid you can find anything you need for artsy projects.
My first stop was to buy fabric and I went to the large multi-floor building that sells fabric of all sorts. You can find fabric for curtains, silky clothing, flamenco dresses (vibrant polka dots), etc. I found the fabric that I wanted but didn’t see anyone else picking up the four foot long bolts so I went and waiting by a man who was cutting. When he was finished he ignored me and walked away. I went to another man and the same thing happened. Finally I asked a third man if we had to take a number from one of those old red deli ticket type machines (I had seen this system somewhere else before) and the man replied “la vez” (your turn) with a gruff voice and pointed behind me. I asked again and he said and did the same thing. Finally I asked another man and he said that I had to go to the center cutting table and fight it out with all the other people, many who are older women who have a reputation for being pushy. There were like 15 of us all trying to figure out how the system worked. “Are you the last one?” “I think I’m after her and she’s after her so then you’re after her.” I even felt better talking to two older ladies who were complaining about the lack of organization and rudeness of the attendants. I told them that I thought it was because I was a foreigner. “No, hija mía, nos tratan a todas igual de mal” (No, my dear, they treat us all equally bad). But, once it was my turn the guy dryly cut my fabric and I was on my way.
One mission completed, now I was across the street at the more chaotic crafting megastore. It is organized by type of craft and each craft has a counter with several attendants. First I wanted ribbon and there were quite a few people there so I waited and saw people looking at numbers in their hands and a digital number board on the wall. So, I looked around and found the red deli-style number machine and got one. And, just like in comedies where one has to wait forever I looked at my number , 87, and they were on 54.
Instead of waiting I decided to get feathers at the store next door. This shop is long and narrow with high elevated ceilings with counters on each side. Looking around I saw that here you take a number if you want jewelry components on the one side but if you want other things on the left side you need to just wait and jump in there to get served. Being American I’m not so comfortable shoving myself in between people to get closer to the counter, but now that I’ve lived in Spain for years I know that this is the way it is done. So I assumed the position and held my hand high and yelled “yo,” me, when one of the attendants asked who was next. I was attended but then taken to another counter where what I wanted was stored and had to then again wait for this specific counter’s attendant.
While waiting I browsed the products that are display on the walls and in books on the counters. I also ended up talking to another girl who was making a headpiece and she gave me some advice about what feathers work well. A couple of older ladies and I joked about how it is always so busy and how they should install a bar to get people in a better mood while waiting. When I finally got my feathers, it was closing time made obvious by the workers who were yelling out “nos vamos ya” literally “we´re out of here” as they turned out the lights. Like I said, watching other people can help to get what you want, but when in Spain do as the Spaniards do in chaotic shops like Pontejos, take a number, fight for your turn or simply shove yourself in there.
My first stop was to buy fabric and I went to the large multi-floor building that sells fabric of all sorts. You can find fabric for curtains, silky clothing, flamenco dresses (vibrant polka dots), etc. I found the fabric that I wanted but didn’t see anyone else picking up the four foot long bolts so I went and waiting by a man who was cutting. When he was finished he ignored me and walked away. I went to another man and the same thing happened. Finally I asked a third man if we had to take a number from one of those old red deli ticket type machines (I had seen this system somewhere else before) and the man replied “la vez” (your turn) with a gruff voice and pointed behind me. I asked again and he said and did the same thing. Finally I asked another man and he said that I had to go to the center cutting table and fight it out with all the other people, many who are older women who have a reputation for being pushy. There were like 15 of us all trying to figure out how the system worked. “Are you the last one?” “I think I’m after her and she’s after her so then you’re after her.” I even felt better talking to two older ladies who were complaining about the lack of organization and rudeness of the attendants. I told them that I thought it was because I was a foreigner. “No, hija mía, nos tratan a todas igual de mal” (No, my dear, they treat us all equally bad). But, once it was my turn the guy dryly cut my fabric and I was on my way.
One mission completed, now I was across the street at the more chaotic crafting megastore. It is organized by type of craft and each craft has a counter with several attendants. First I wanted ribbon and there were quite a few people there so I waited and saw people looking at numbers in their hands and a digital number board on the wall. So, I looked around and found the red deli-style number machine and got one. And, just like in comedies where one has to wait forever I looked at my number , 87, and they were on 54.
Instead of waiting I decided to get feathers at the store next door. This shop is long and narrow with high elevated ceilings with counters on each side. Looking around I saw that here you take a number if you want jewelry components on the one side but if you want other things on the left side you need to just wait and jump in there to get served. Being American I’m not so comfortable shoving myself in between people to get closer to the counter, but now that I’ve lived in Spain for years I know that this is the way it is done. So I assumed the position and held my hand high and yelled “yo,” me, when one of the attendants asked who was next. I was attended but then taken to another counter where what I wanted was stored and had to then again wait for this specific counter’s attendant.
While waiting I browsed the products that are display on the walls and in books on the counters. I also ended up talking to another girl who was making a headpiece and she gave me some advice about what feathers work well. A couple of older ladies and I joked about how it is always so busy and how they should install a bar to get people in a better mood while waiting. When I finally got my feathers, it was closing time made obvious by the workers who were yelling out “nos vamos ya” literally “we´re out of here” as they turned out the lights. Like I said, watching other people can help to get what you want, but when in Spain do as the Spaniards do in chaotic shops like Pontejos, take a number, fight for your turn or simply shove yourself in there.