What Is/Is Not Socially Acceptable In Madrid?

What Is Socially Acceptable in Madrid?

1. Wearing sunglasses indoors, especially on the metro. The Spanish are all about creating that mysterious, too cool for school look... I just do it when I'm looking rough. 

2. Staring, especially on the Metro. Cast your eyes on someone on the Metro, look at them up and down, check out what they are wearing, stare into their eyes, and don't worry if they spot you… keep looking and don't get scared. 

3. Being late. In Madrid you should never be on time for anything. Being on time is just not cool here. 

4. Kissing twice on the cheek when you greet someone. This is the cause of many awkward moments when someone only goes for one kiss, and you are left hovering in their personal space with your lips pursed ready for another one. 

5. Being slow. Everyone in Madrid, whether young or old, walks at the pace of a tortoise. In England everyone always seems to be in a rush, but in Spain, the pace of life is extremely slow. I have places to be, people to see, and I just want to kick them up the hiney and tell them to move out of the way!

What is NOT Socially Acceptable in Madrid?

1. Non-Spanish Clothing. Women, don't wear anything else but jeans and parka coats, no matter what time of year it is. Even in the blistering heat, it's just not socially acceptable to get your pins/cleavage out. If you dare try, I promise you will spend your whole day trying to cover up your skin as you receive disapproving looks off old women, and unwanted attention from men. Unless you like that greasy, slimey, tracksuit wearing fella who is desperately trying to chat you up. 

2. Being polite. Spanish people are not polite, and they don't do queues. Every man is out for themselves. Since moving here I've realised that English people are incredibly polite, and I love that. The English are forever saying sorry, queueing patiently and giving up their seat on public transport. The Spanish on the other hand, are quite the opposite. 

3. Going out early. You shouldn't be going to a club in Madrid until at least 3am. PRO - The Metro will be open when you leave the club. CON - You will have been drinking from 11pm until 7am, and by this time, you probably won't even know what a Metro is...

Replay Sunset Parties

Last Sunday we hopped on a bus to the outskirts of Madrid where Replay Sunset Parties was holding an event. The venue was unreal! 25 degree heat, sun shining, drinks were flowing and everyone was loving life! 

Jamie Jones, The Martinez Brothers and Afrobeat were just a few of the names that played. Jamie obviously didn't disappoint. His high energy and cheeky smile throughout the whole set kept us all happy as Larry as we danced all day until the sun went down. 

The next event is at the end of June which is a huge shame as I go home at the beginning of June. There may be plans to come back to Madrid over summer though... fingers crossed. 

Beach Party!

Taken at Laydown in Valencia by Caroline Marzano

Valencia!

Taken by Caroline Marzano

What an unbelievable bank holiday I have had! The journey started off a bit shakey, turning 

up at the bus station at 7.01am, when our bus was meant to leave at 7. We somehow managed to get down to Valencia without any issues, with lots of hungry tums, and over excited young ladies.  As we bounded off the bus into the sunshine, we soon realised that Caroline had left her £300 glasses on her seat. TRAGIC. We had many other setbacks after that, including Megan's card nearly being swallowed, eating an awful burger by the beach, waiting outside a restaurant for 1 and a half hours until it opened, later to be told that they were fully booked for the evening. Despite a few minor glitches, I have had a very eventful, hilarious, relaxing time. 

My next few posts will be photos from Valencia and reviews on a few restaurants which we visited.  

Barcelona Snaps

I've been up to my eyeballs lately. My TO-DO list is getting increasingly larger but I am slowly making my way through it. I promise I will write some more posts in the next couple of days, but for now, here is a selection of my favourite photos taken in Barcelona. 

Taken by Sarah Rebecca Wilkie

Dónde Está El Sol?!

Taken by Giselle Helene Elizabeth Boxer and Charlie Nikolai Gallienne-Schmidt

Madrid is such a beautiful city, but even more so when the sun is shining, and we haven't had much of that recently. So when I return to Spain on Wednesday, I will be praying for better weather. Here are a few photos taken by myself and Charlie in September and October when the weather was glorious!

Things I LOVE About Madrid

• I basically live 5 minutes walk away from Madrid’s equivalent to Oxford Street, Gran Via. I have never lived in a capital city before, I’m more of a country bumpkin, however, I absolutely love how easy I can get around, and how there is always something going on, just outside my front door. 

• Dogs. I have never in my life seen so many cute dogs in one place. I have always liked dogs, but in Madrid I LOVE DOGS. From the gay couples who wander around with miniature dogs dressed in bright, blingy outfits, to the fat french bulldogs owned by the hip, punky, youngsters. 

• The bright clear sunny skies in Winter. It’s currently February, and for most of the month it has been a lovely 14 degrees in Madrid. The other day, I nearly whipped out my short shorts and ray bans..typical English behaviour.

• Street entertainers/metro acts: The majority of the Spanish public don’t have a heart. OK, I guess thats a bit harsh. I’ll try again… the majority of the Spanish public don’t enjoy the little things in life. Wherever you go in central Madrid, there will always be a street performer, and quite often, the Madrileños don’t batter an eyelid. They never fail to make me smile though. My mornings are always brightened up by someone on the metro bursting into song.

My Top 3 performers are as follows: 
1) Crazy Spanish lady who pushes round a boom box on her granny trolley singing Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance.
2) The chap who sits on Fuencarral attempting to sing Bob Marley. “dun worry bout a ting cus erry little ting is gon be aaaaaright.” 
3) The three miniature Mexican hombres who serenaded me on the metro when I was tired and fed up.