(Literally) Cool Places in Madrid

It's now the last week of June here in Madrid and the temperatures have soared. Once a fairly toasty 32 degrees the thermometer on the bus stop outside my flat now reads in the early 40s. This isn't lovely, sunhat and ice-lolly holiday weather this is lie down in a darkened room with a fan on at full blast and pray it cools down soon weather. You know things are getting serious when even the city itself can't take the heat and the plants shrivel while the tarmac melts into a shiny black mess. Things have gone beyond sitting in the shade with a cocktail - you need to be in an air conditioned space NOW! Here are a few of the places I've found that, while still providing some interest, will keep you from roasting where you stand:

1. Museums

 

 

One of the nicest ways to spend an afternoon is in one of Madrid's many museums. Depending on what you fancy there's something to suit everyone from ancient artefacts, to modern art, to books, or even waxwork celebrities. Though full-price tickets can often seem a bit steep there are options for students (make sure to take your ID card) and sometimes designated free opening times (check online for info). A couple of my favourites are the Museo Arqueológico Nacional and the Museo Reina Sofía.

2. The Cinema

When the heat is at its highest, round late afternoon, what could be nicer than sipping an iced drink in the cool darkness while watching the next box-office hit? Being a capital city Madrid has plenty of cinemas dotted around the place so they're easy to find. The two that I normally go to are Cine Princesa near Plaza de España and Cine Ideal just along Calle Carretas a little way back from Sol. Wednesday is the best day to go as tickets are significantly cheaper (around 5 euros instead of the usual 9 or 10) and it's something fun to do mid-week. You can check which films are available online; many show English Language films with Spanish subtitles (these are labelled VOS on the posters). Don't worry if the film you're desperate to see hasn't come out abroad yet, it generally will though sometimes a month or so later.

3. Indoor Shopping Centres

I can hardly believe I'm including this on a supposedly "fun things to do" list, I find shopping pretty stressful, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Throughout the year if I've seen anything I like in a shop window I've usually just let it pass...too much hassle. Now, though, as it's now or never I've reluctantly decided to take the plunge and GO SHOPPING! After my first disastrous trip round the centre of Madrid in the full heat of the afternoon I thought there had to be a better way and there is - indoor shopping centres! My favourite is Principe Pio. Here you can find all the main highstreet stores and many more without the baking heat and screaming children. What's more it's right next to the metro mouth for Principe Pio so involves barely a minute of sweaty walking between the air conditioned train and a shopper's paradise. As it's coming to the end of June most shops have got their sales on and I have to say that despite myself I had quite a good time mooching around here the other afternoon.

4. Madrid Snow Zone

If you really can't bear the heat any longer and are yearning to be far away where the breeze blows through the mountains and the pine trees are sparkling with frost then your best bet is to visit Madrid Snow Zone. This indoor ski slope is the closest you're going to get to the chilly north while stuck in Madrid. From about 35 euros you can hire all the necessary gear and spend about an hour and a half whizzing down on real, ice cold, snow. The journey to Xanadú, the out of town shopping centre that houses the slope, may be a bit of a chore in the heat but once your breath is forming misty clouds in front of you, you'll be glad you made the effort.

Those are a few of the places I've found to take refuge in during the hot summer here in Madrid but I just thought I'd end with a few common sense tips on keeping cool in the city:

How To Beat the Heat!

• There's a reason the Spanish take a siesta (they're not just being lazy). The heat gradually builds throughout the day until it becomes unbearable around 4-5 o'clock. Follow their lead and take it easy in the afternoon; planning on doing anything other than relaxing over a late lunch and staying inside until the heat dies down a little is just asking for trouble.
• If you're lucky where you're living has air conditioning. If not BUY A FAN! You won't be able to survive otherwise...
• Be sensible and take the precautions you would in England - wear a hat, slap on the sunscreen and carry water everywhere you go - there's nothing worse than getting a headache and feeling sick due to sunstroke.
• Stock up on all things icey! I'm talking ice cubes, ice lollies, ice packs. Half fill your water bottle the night before and leave it in the freezer; next morning you'll have a ready supply of chilled water. Leave a jug of water in the fridge to use throughout the day.
• Keep your windows CLOSED!! This may sound counter-intuitive; you want fresh air right? Not in summer in Madrid; the air outside is hotter than inside. The only way to keep your apartment cool is to keep the windows closed and the blinds down throughout the day. Then when you get back from uni/work turn on the fan and only open the windows when there's a noticeable drop in the outside temperature.
• When out and about you'll often see people, especially women, carrying wooden hand-held fans. There's some debate about whether these are worth it or not with some claiming the action of fanning yourself generates more heat than it avoids...but maybe have one in your bag just in case.
• Take the metro! Walking long distances through the city like we used to during the autumn and spring is out of the question now.

and lastly...

• Don't forget to eat! I know it sounds stupid but with the weather so hot most of us just can't face eating a big dinner or standing over the hot oven. Though it's summer you still need regular meals but, instead of trying to force down huge, hot dinners, eat little and often throughout the day. The Spanish have been dealing with this heat for centuries and thankfully have come up with some great cooling recipes. Why not give the refreshingly tomatoey andalucían Salmorejo or Gazpacho a try? These cold soups are delicious with crusty bread and a few slices of jamón.