I like to share my funny story, when I visiting Madrid for the first time two weeks ago of this year.
I always buy a souvenir for my mother from the places I travel to. But since my mother had visited Madrid five years ago she has her own souvenirs. So I was stump what to buy her and it was only a few days before I was going to fly home.
So I asked for help from my two new friends in Madrid, Stephen Drake-Jones, Chairman The Wellington Society and his delightful wife Connie. His Madrid tours are very entertaining and the information can be found on his website,
www.wellsoc.org. Over drinks I asked them what they think I should get for my mother. Connie said a shawl and to buy it at the same store she bought her wedding shawl. Mr. Chairman did his part by drawing me a map with directions from Puerta del Sol to the store. So the next day off I went, using my hand drawn map found the store and walked in. The first thing I notice the store’s dazzling fabrics hanging off the walls and said to myself wow.
Did I mention my Spanish is not so great; you only need both hands to count the words I can say or understand in Spanish. Do I mention I am a male and being in a female clothing store is very alien place for me, unless its Victoria Secret.
Anyway, I explained to the female salesperson that greeted me as I enter the store, I was looking to buy a shawl for my mother and the price I was willing to spend. After a few more exchanges, I realized she did not speak English or understand what I said. So I said the magic word "English" hoping the she could find someone to help me. She said “Un momento por favor” and called someone else. Soon another female clerk greeted me, spoke to me in English and she can help me. I smile since moments before I was in doubt I was going walk out with a shawl.
My English speaking salesperson goes behind the counter and she pulls out this beautiful, white embroiler cloth. I look at it, amazed of the quality and knew my mother would be happy to get this. Hell, I would think any women would be happy to get this, ready to buy it and happy that my problem was now solved!
Connie when she recommended the store said I should ask the clerk if she could put it on to see how it looks. So I very politely asked the clerk to show me how it looks on her, since she was about my mother's height. She spreads it open completely open on the counter and its larger than I expect it to be. I am thinking this is it too large for my mother to wear. Now I confused, being a male asking for women clothing and maybe I missing something because I do not wear shawls. So I asked again if she could put it on because I do not know how a woman could wear this.
Then she looks at me confused and tells me politely that what I am looking at is a tablecloth. Now I am embarrassed. Really embarrassed, and start explaining again I want to buy a shawl, wrap, scarf saying any word that comes to my head to explain what I want. I was so embarrassed if I thought women could wear an umbrella around their shoulders I would have said umbrella to. She smiles at me, explains to her embarrassed customer that she now understands what I want and to please follow her.
As we walk downstairs to where the shawls are, a scary thought enters my head. If I did not asked her to tried it on, I would have walked out of the store with a table cloth for my mother to wear.
Well I think it funny!
The store is: Borcasa on Margues Vbo. de Pontejos Tel 91 532 61 53
They also gift-wrapped my gift; no extra charge and the shawls are downstairs. Tablecloths are upstairs and naturally I enter upstairs.
Bill
I need to buy a shawl for my Mother and a tablecloth for my mother in law and will be in Madrid in 7 days! 
Please let us know a range of price you paid, unless your mother frequents these boards and that would be embarassing to tell the price. Thank you in advance.
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