AW THE WEE BITS, MADRID

The tale of five sandwich-biscuit-eating, sun-loving, sangria-drinking, fashion aficionados all the way from Glasgow to Madrid

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The limbo

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EL GANSO FLAGSHIP

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PARA SALCHICHA TONTA!

Day three and we know we've to make a good impression- it's our first day as fashion students in Spain. 

Nerves are running high as we are primp and preen ourselves at a ridiculous hour in the morning (the first and last time we wake up early), slipping in to to our outfits which we'd picked out the night before. "WHY IS BEING A FASHION STUDENT SO HAAARD?!" 

We arrive at the university and are met by Paloma, Teresa and Pillar- our course leaders. Effortless chic and naturally beautiful, we immediately feel inadequate in our strategically planned outfits (WAAA, not fair).

Fuelled by coffee and mini pastries, we are introduced to the course before being taken upstairs to make a start on "Vintage Fashion and Upcylcing" lead by Julie McColl, who has joined us from Glasgow Caledonian University. 

In our break for lunch, four Spanish girls on our course have the misfortune if being stuck with us.. We communicate via perfect english on their part and abysmal spanish on ours but we know we are going to be great friends. We have a good feeling about this.

We laugh as we make our way to the stunning El Ganso flagship store after a spot of shopping in the sun. 

The Evening Comes

Three of the five head out to the lively to be met with a night of cocktails and limboing at Sol Y Sombra. It's our new favourite haunt, as a result of the salsa dancing, cheap drink and the fabulous bar tender who goes by the name of Bambi. HOORAY FOR BAMBI!!!!!!

Laura, who had stayed behind was awoke by the muffled sounds of male american voices. How very strange. Tired but amused we chatted into the night before the boys departed to continue their adventures on to Paris. 

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FIRST FLAT DINNER 

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THE CUDDLY CON ARTIST

So day two arrives and we are feeling kinda groovy. It's a day for dreaming and exploring. 

We leave behind our apartment anticipating a measly fifteen minute stroll in search of the prestigious Centro Universitario de Villanueva.

An hour and a quarter later we arrive outside the university, five euro down after Laura decides it would be a good idea to take a picture with a grown man dressed as Tigger holding a drawstring bag (NO CHULO, don't do it). 

Perspiring slightly but feeling accomplished, we take the park route back. We hide our faces from Tigger-the cuddly con artist- who has removed his mask to lunch under a tree. 

With Tigger's picnic triggering our hunger we find a cosy outdoor cafe to cater our needs. Sandwiches and chips seems like a good idea until they arrive.. An egg-o-phobic Zara looks on with distaste as she spies the giant fried-egg-topped club. There's no going back now. 

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HAVE YOU TAMPERED WITH THIS?!

With a mere ‘Hola’ and ‘patatas fritas’ in our vocabulary, the first four of us (Laura, Victoria, Zara and Lauren) set off clutching our beloved ’Rough Guide to Madrid’. Tears were shed as we swapped our lives in Glasgow on a gloomy Monday morning for three weeks of sun, salsa and Spanish fashion in the capital city, Madrid.

Meanwhile, in Amsterdam the fifth member of the group, Ellie, dined contently on sushi and sipped on Champagne- a slightly more relaxed way to leave behind life in Aberdeen.

Turbulence aside both flights arrived safely at Barajas airport, suitcases and all, much to our delight.

After a brief a moment of apartment-related panic we began to set up camp in our surprisingly luxurious abode for the next three weeks. Our wardrobes brimming with clothes waiting to be worn, we were eager but anxious for the arrival of the next day to explore the beautiful city.