During the months of summer, especially in late July and August, Madrid is known for being like an oven. Temperatures can rise above 100 degrees fahrenheit. This is made worse by the fact that the city, especially the center, is small and crowded. The small streets are always buzzing with people, creating a hot and intense environment.
To fight the intense heat of their homes during summer, Madrileños spend their afternoons under the shadows of trees or on covered café terraces. The city has over 40 public parks, which makes it easy to find a comfortable spot in which to rest. During summer, sunset is not until 9:30 p.m., so to combat the heat of the day, people rest during la Siesta ("nap-time") and tend to become activie again later in the afternoon. That is why Madrileños eat dinner, go to the theaters or go out with friends so late in the day. As I have said before, Madrid is the city that never sleeps!
