Spain is a popular destination for those looking for a slower pace of life and year-round sun.
Alastair Johnson decided to relocate to Spain almost 10 years ago. While he intended to only stay for a one-year sabbatical, he fell in love with the country and has called it home since.
‘The rhythm of life works a bit differently here – and a big thing is siesta’
GETTY IMAGES
However, no place is perfect and there are certainly drawbacks to moving to any country.
While the Spanish siesta perfectly encapsulates the country’s relaxed, slower pace of life and family ethos, Alastair admitted it can cause some problems.
Siesta – meaning ‘the sixth hour’ – is defined as a midday or afternoon nap or rest. It is also a time to spend time with loved ones eating lunch away from work.
Alastair told GB News: “The rhythm of life works a bit differently here – and a big thing is siesta. It very much exists for a lot of people.
“Spanish government schools still break in the middle of the day, but more and more people working in professional jobs in Barcelona or Madrid won’t stop for a siesta, they’ll just work through it.
“But if you go out of town – say, to the hairdresser or a hardware store – these are closed during siesta.” In touristy areas, restaurants and supermarkets do stay open, however.
The Spanish tradition is usually observed between 2pm and 5pm, but how strictly it is adhered to depends on where you are in the country.
While some places may still have some hustle and bustle during these hours, other places are totally “deserted”.
The designated rest period is a great reflection of the laidback lifestyle Spaniards enjoy. However, a daily three-hour intermission can also make things “really complicated”.
Alastair said: “The government has been looking at this for years – every government that comes and goes says, ‘We’re going to try and fix siesta’, because it doesn’t work anymore.”
He explained that while it’s great for those who live in a small town and can pop home, have a meal and then go back to work, those who commute for 45 minutes into Barcelona “can’t get home and back”.
While siesta allows many people in Spain to have a long daily break, this also means extending the day for those who don’t benefit from it.
The expat explained: “A lot of people are working really long hours – they’re still working siesta hours but they’re not getting the siesta.
“Some people are just working for free basically through that period. A friend of mine who works for a large company in Barcelona and commutes in for 45 minutes a day said that it’s become expected that you work through that period.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Spain’s lower cost of living, year-round sun and slower pace of life attract both expats and holidaymakers
GETTY IMAGES
The Spanish tradition also makes schooling more difficult. Alastair said: “Kids go back home for lunch, but that doesn’t work for lots of people because their parents are at work. So it’s getting more complicated as modern life is sort of interfering.”
This often means a lot of teamwork between parents, taking turns to look after a group of children for siesta.
It causes further problems when both parents in a two-parent household work, although children can stay at school during this time if needed. International schools do not observe siesta, however, only local schools.
“At some stage, some government is going to have to bite the bullet,” the expat concluded. “Everything is different because of it – rush hour is different and public transport programmes are different.”
Alastair and his wife Alison set up a business to help people looking to move to Spain from the UK. Moving to Spain offers expert advice, resources, insider knowledge and a handpicked network of service providers.
