Westin adverises on these pages and offers a ravel hint every day. Today it is to remember that there are still siestas in Spain.

It seems while there are Spanish that enjoy siestas there are less in the big cities due to commuting and changes in the culture

What is the status of the siesta?

Depends on what you call a siesta. To me, a siesta is more of a 5-15 catnap when someone falls asleep a few minutes in front of the TV or with the newspaper fallen across one's chest after lunch before one goes back to the grueling, split, ineffective Spanish schedule.

Others, ( I can think of a civil servant friend) take their siestas VERY seriously with PJ's and all.Probably a full hour or so.

I think this idea of siesta has been misinterpreted by half the world.

The last time we were in Madrid a couple years ago, the department stores and others were still closing mid afternoon.

It's seems to be generally the same across Spain, siestas really don't exist unless you can catch a short 20 minute nap after lunch. And yes, most of the smaller stores still close for lunch from 1:30 to 4:30. Only El Corte Inglés, and other large chain-stores, remains open.

When I think siesta, Mexico comes to mind, not Spain.

The shops do not close for "siesta". They close to go home and feed their family lunch, clean up and rest a bit before the long afternoon session. Some smaller shops stayed open once El Corte Inglés opened, but only those very nearby can actually reap any benefits from being open all day. They need at least one more employee ( big money) and for few sales, many decided to can the idea.

I was visiting Madrid several years ago and spent a lot of time with a friend (in his mid thirties) and his family. Mostly I just popped in and out of the apt to visit, etc. but after a big lunch one weekend day, I was surprised at how seriously everyone took the siesta concept! I think the mother just kind of dozed in front of the TV, but the guys literally put on pjs and took a real snooze. I was given a spare bedroom and left to nap (which I did).

With the late nights I was keeping, I ended up adopting the siesta myself; I never would have kept up with my local friends otherwise!

Annabelle, I smiled at your Spanish friends giving you their spare bedroom so you could nap. The first time that happened to me in Italy I wondered "are they trying to get rid of me", lol. Well I guess in a way they were as my friends wanted to take a nap also. But oh my, it was wonderful! We had had a lovely leisurely lunch and wine of course and the nap I had is something I will always remember. The friends I have in Italy that are oh say 45 years of age or younger don't ever seem to take a nap but the older generation still does. Very civilized imo!

Having said that even though I am retired I still feel guilty when I take an afternoon nap for some reason. And I get teased by people and yet they are in bed by 9:00PM where in usually the earliest I ever go to bed is 11:00PM.

ah.. weekends are different! Saturday or Sunday overeating,( we are talking Thanksgiving type aftermath here sometimes between paella, sangria or huge heavy barbeque)

... snuggling under the quilt in winter, escaping the heat under a fan in the summer.. that's another story.

Yes, exactly - it was a big meal, lincasanova, cocido (is that it?) and wine, of course!

LoveItaly, I mentioned my friend's age because I was kind of surprised to see the 'younger generation' really get into pjs and hit the sack. I did feel as if I was a part of the family, though!

The young kids are usually storing up energy for their all - nighters.. the older ones are trying to catch up from the heavy long work week!

Auduchamp, once while visiting Ovieto in Austurias, I found an internet cafe after lunch. I was typing furiously when I noticed that I was the only customer left. The manager politely let me know that they were closing for siesta. I hurried out leaving a tip.

Yes, we saw more siestas in the smaller cities and towns. And in the cities the kids like to start the night about 11 PM. I have never figured out when the kids in Spain sleep.

Gracias por este infomacion--I will be spending three weeks in Malaga studying and now I am ever so grateful I chose to stay with a family rather than in the dorm at the university. The lifestyle, coupled with FIFA fever--I will welcome the siesta!

My parents always take a siesta after lunch, a very healthy habit. Our long stop at midday (we take one hour and a half or two hours for lunch) demands a time for a small nap. But of course, not everybody can do it.

In weekends, though, it´s a VERY popular habit, rooted in our way of living.

It seems like the region Mike hails from is try an experiment to do way with it and get back to normality of the rest of Europe
http://www.horariosenespana.es/index.php?module=inicio
http://www.elmundo.es/mundodinero/20...274171692.html
It seems these working hours are a fairly recent invention.