My quest began on our second day in Madrid. Believe it or not, I'm actually pretty low maintenance (at least when it comes to my hair and beauty routine). Since my requirements for a hairdryer begin and end with "blows warm and/or cool air," I decided to buy a super cheap hairdryer when we arrived in the city rather than packing one from home. We (obviously I dragged poor Steve along with) ran into a challenge immediately. You see, dear reader, I made the rookie mistake of assuming that Madrid would have American-style drugstores that sell everything from laundry detergent to office supplies to yes, hairdryers. Spoiler: drugstores are not a thing here. I am an idiot.
Instead, Madrid has single purpose stores. Need makeup? Head to the perfumeria. Aspirin? Try the farmácia. It actually makes for a very charming shopping experience, visiting each speciality emporium for exactly what you need. Unfortunately, after wandering in and out of every store known to man in an effort to find a hairdryer, any hairdryer, I didn't feeling nearly as charmed.
Feeling desperate, I caved and paid a visit to El Corte Ingles' main branch in Sol.
Feeling desperate, I caved and paid a visit to El Corte Ingles' main branch in Sol.
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| 3 of the 8,000 El Corte Ingles locations in Sol. |
El Corte Ingles is a massive department store, like some unholy offspring of Walmart and Macys. Its major selling point is that it carries basically everything ever made in the history of time. Its major downside is that it is poorly merchandized. Its second most major downside is that the main branch in Sol is comprised of approximately 234902938402 separate buildings, which makes it well nigh impossible to find what you're looking for. We went to--and I am not exaggerating for effect here--six different El Corte Ingleses (El Cortes Ingles? I have no idea how to pluralize this) within a four block radius before we found the appropriate department. SIX! Did I mention that all six of these stores had four stories or more?
After all that effort, we finally located the correct El Corte Ingles and I bought my much longed-for hairdryer at last.
...only to have it literally explode a day later.
Sigh. Life is hard.
After all that effort, we finally located the correct El Corte Ingles and I bought my much longed-for hairdryer at last.
...only to have it literally explode a day later.
Sigh. Life is hard.
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