It's NOT everyday one eats in a palenque but this is one such time. Mercado de la Paz in the posh Salamanca District of Madrid is like any other mercado but for shoppers garbed in more expensive suits and wraps.
It doesn't look much from the street but one walks in past La Niña Cafeteria where you can choose a spot to people-watch while sipping your café cortado and eating your sandwich vegetal.
And then there's the other major distraction. Nothing but a jamon stall. Inside the mercado, one finds more distractions. Frutas, more jamon, quezos, pescado, nuts, etc.
I also spotted the biggest eggs I've seen, next to ostrich eggs. Those goose eggs are huge!
Here in Madrid, I have been charmed by the lovely mercados y palenques. Don't ask me the difference between the two. I honestly don't know. But whatever and however it's called, I do enjoy shopping, eating and people-watching in these "social hubs".