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Though the Camino de Santiago Trail is traditionally walked for spiritual reasons, Denis Houde says that today people have all kinds of motives in mind. "Some people do it for just plain tourism. For some people, it's a bucket-list thing. Some people want to lose weight. Some see it as a challenge..."
Residents of Madrid call themselves “gatos,” Spanish for “cats,” perhaps because they nap in the afternoon and prowl the streets at night. Dinner is never served before 9 p.m. and is often enjoyed at midnight. Conversation, drinking, and dancing continue into the wee hours. If you’re early to bed, you will miss the vibrant spirit of this sophisticated city.