Well, who has not heard about the famous Spanish siesta! Hours of rest right in the middle of a working day – isn’t that a dream? For tourists, this may seem like something exotic and incomprehensible, but for residents of Spain, this is a time of legitimate rest from work. The reason for this is the sultry heat, which makes it difficult to work productively. In some southern regions, the thermometer rises to 50 degrees Celsius! Working in such weather is not only difficult, but also dangerous.
Usually the siesta starts at three o’clock in the afternoon when the sun reaches its peak. But many establishments and companies vary this time, leaving for a siesta half an hour, or even an hour earlier. During this time, no calls are made, no clients are accepted, and no e-mails are sent. Shops are closed, but restaurants, on the contrary, gladly welcome hungry guests who have come to dine calmly and slowly. After lunch, some even take a nap.
The siesta ends at around five in the evening, when the activity of the sun begins to subside. People again go out into the streets, get to work, and the life of the country continues in its measured and steady rhythm.