Madrid is a Little Bit Warmer than Warm

Before we moved here I read a lot about Madrid. I wanted to know about the climate, what we should be looking for in apartments, what there was to do and well everything else you want to know about the anyplace you are going to live. In my research I kept seeing one thing over and over again. When looking for an apartment "make sure it has air conditioning, because of the hot Madrid summers." I would always skim over this and not think too much of it. I have been in Corpus Christi, Texas in the summer. Surely it can't be any worse than that, right? Well let me tell you it may not be Corpus Christi but is sure is close, and it is only the middle of May! I am telling you they weren't joking when then said it was warm here. 

I hail from from two very arid cities, Denver and Salt Lake City. Those cities can get rather warm, but they are still dry. Humid heat is a whole different animal. You are moist all of the time. Constant pit stains, elbow and back sweat. Forget about sitting on a leather couch in your home because you will just heat up and stick to it. Lovely right?
That is another thing I did not mention. You pay for all of your energy and water bills here, separately from your rent. From what I understand that includes businesses, and energy is not cheap in Europe. So while Texas can get really quite hot and humid, you have the luxury of just going inside. If you don't want to pay to cool your home just go to any of the nearest stores and you will experience the industrial strength air conditioning, and at times you might even feel cold. Not here. The average temperature is 80 degrees or above...everywhere. We are still holding out though. We have not turned on our air quite yet. If this is only May heat then we have to acclimate. We have, though, started taking cold showers, and living in our underwear at home. 

So lesson learned, when anyone says Madrid or anywhere else in Europe is hot, just believe them. I don't care how far north you may think Europe is, it still gets quite toasty here too.