We were in Spain two summers ago, and spent some time in Madrid before going on to the Costa Del Sol. Yes, it is HOT in Madrid in the summer! But on the plus side, the time schedule is such that people sleep in late, take a siesta during the day, and then stay up all night, enjoying the cooler hours.

What I would wear to survive the heat:

1) Clamdiggers or walk shorts, with a loose flowy top or a top you don't mind sweating in (knits). You won't want to layer camis underneath. Too hot.

2) Comfortable walking shoes (lots of cobblestones). Sandals seem to make sense for the heat, but not if they have little support or cushioning. I would recommend shoes that are made of natural materials as synthetics will make you sweat horribly and you'll wind up with blisters.

3) Dresses and skirts!! Much cooler than shorts. In cotton or linen - no synthetics.

4) If you have to be out during the daytime hours, don't forget good sunscreen. You may even want a hat to protect yourself from the sun.

5) Don't use a backpack because of pick-pockets.

6) Cotton underwear. More breathable than synthetic.

7) Bra - look for a bra that is breathable. Chantelle makes a breathable bra that is designed to keep you cool in hot weather, and I can vouch for it. It wicks sweat outward and away from your body. Only downside is that the sweat can stain the bra over time, even if you constantly wash it. But if you hate sweaty bras, this one is great.

8) At night you *might* need - at very most - a very light weight cardigan or scarf to throw over your shoulders, but it doesn't really cool down that much in the city, unless you are on the coast line.

There's some great shopping in Madrid..... the food is good... and the frequent festivals are a lot of fun. It's definetly a party scene if you are in to that (we had our teens with us so we got a bit of a taste but we weren't out until all hours). Don't plan to get any sleep until late because it can get loud with all the crowds partying it up into the night.

Mostly you just want to stay out of the worst of the sun, which should be easy, since most businesses are closed during those hours.

Thanks Shiny!

Good sunscreen is top priority for me as I burn badly in warm weather. I don't really have much suitable clothing for Spanish summers but I'd guess that clothes prices are much cheaper there than in Ireland.

The jobs that I have applied for are teaching English to adults and working in summer camps teaching English to children so when I hear back from schools and camps, I can decide the tone and style of my wardrobe.

My main priority is to not look like a typical Irish tourist- which for women around my age is short skirts/ shorts, tank tops or halter tops and bad sunburn.

Dawn, I don't know if the climate in Spain is anything like the southern US but my summers are very warm (we hit the 80s in May and reach 100 by late July and August and stay in the 80's through September). This past summer, I lived in walk shorts and clam diggers and light weight tops. I had a couple of short sleeve cardigans that I wore with a cotton camisole and was fairly comfortable. I also enjoyed some of the mesh tops, like sweet pea for example, and they were very breathable during the heat. I wish I had more dresses and will be purchasing some for the upcoming summer.

I found natural fabrics to be the best for sweltering heat for me. Anything nylon or polyester was just too darn hot.

Sounds like a lot of fun and a great opportunity.