Hello again,
I'm in the process of deciding what clothes I need to bring for the next year, and what I shouldn't.
I fully remember how nauseatingly hot the summers were, but I've never lived in Madrid during the fall or winter. How cold does it usually get? Are just my winter coat and mittens enough? (I assume I can leave my earmuffs and icy-street gripping boots at home. Goodbye snow, I'll miss you.)
Also, do people ever wear sneakers in Spain? If not, can someone please suggest some comfortable yet fashionable shoes available in Spain? Here in the US we have such shoes (Aerosoles, for example)but I don't want to weigh down my bags if I can find equally nice shoes in Spain. Thank you.

Hey...Im not sure how much help I can be, since clothing is in the end a very personal choice, but I remeber that I definetly wore my big long wool winter coat, hat, scarf, and gloves on many occasions in Madrid in the winter..esp. Dec and Jan. Now, it was certainly not cold like it is presently here in boston (-30F with the wind chill, 2f without!), but I am pretty chronically cold and preferred to be bundled up, even if I could've gotten away with less. I would say bring a hat and scarf, just in case...they dont take up a lot of room, and some nights it gets pretty chilly! or you could always buy them there too, after you see if you want them or not....As for shoes, I noticed that a lot of people were wearing those bowling-stlye sneakers, esp. in red. I personally love high heels (hey, what can I say, Im short) and so I have never tried these bowling shoes, but they are supposedly v. coomfy and look pretty cute too. Also, little mary-jane style shoes were also pretty popular and are usually pretty comfy. Hope this helps! Also, did you see that most airlines have reduced the amount of checkable baggage you can bring on international flights? It is no longer 2 70lbs pieces, but instead only 2 50lbs pieces...not sure if that is even an issue for you, but as the 140 lbs limit was always tough for me to stay with in, i have no idea how im goign to do it now that its only 100! guess ill just have to buy lots thereHappy packing!

Thanks Michelita,
Isn't this cold snap weird? I can't remember the last time it was 15 degrees here! Brrrr.
Thanks for the advice. Hmm, I didn't know we are now allowed just 100 pounds. Well, I better be really picky about what I choose to bring.

Hey Brenda, good question.

Actually, so far this winter in the city of Madrid has not been far off cold wise from a NYC winter, we have just now gotten out of a huge cold spell that saw temps. of -5�C

Unusual for Madrid but ya never know, the globe is wacky of late.

quote:

(I assume I can leave my earmuffs and icy-street gripping boots at home. Goodbye snow, I'll miss you.)

While we rarely get snow in the city itself, it can get bitterly cold so I would say bring a heavy winter coat, gloves, earmuffs and all that jazz. You don't have to miss the snow, the Sierra de Madrid (just outside the city) gets DUMPED on in winter so you can go to the fluffy white stuff if ya long for it

quote:

...but I don't want to weigh down my bags if I can find equally nice shoes in Spain.

Leave all your shoes at home (wear slippers on the plane ), anyone will tell you that Spanish shoes (especially leather) are much better and cheaper than anything you will find in NY.

As for sneakers here, they are worn...

... at the gym.
... while jogging or playing other sports.
... on lazy Sundays by teenagers and kiddies.

Saludos,
jer...

Okay I apologize in advance because I know this is a Madrid site, but here goes. Is the weather in Seville drastically different than it is in Madrid one of the reasons I chose the south of spain is because I was hoping to avoid the cold weather.

Well, It can get chilly after sundown, but certainly not bitterly cold like it does in the north of the Peninsula. I think just normal - regular winter clothing wil be sufficient, nothing too heavy, a light scarf, gloves perhaps if you're gonna be out till past midnight, but thats all really. It's strange, because you're not sure how to dress for the day, because you can get a really warm sunny day during the day, and then a fairly chilly late evening sometimes, which often means going back to the Hotel to change clothes, which you would probably do instinctively anyway.

:cheers:

Saludos Nigel.