Siesta and Boring Sundays

Remember back in the 80's when nothing was open on Sunday?  How boring was that right?  Well welcome back to that time.  I do not know if this is all of Europe or only Spain but Sundays are the most boring of all the days.  There is nothing to do.  Nothing is open.  I mean cafe/bars are open but if you want anything other then beer or coffee you are out of luck.  Make sure you have your grocery shopping done on Saturday because if not you will not have anything to eat on Sunday nor will you have anything for breakfast or for work lunch on Monday.

This is an adjustment that I am still not used to.  I remember when we first got here and I had gotten a terrible cold on a Saturday night and since nothing is open Sunday I had no tissue and I had to use most of our toilet paper to blow my nose until I could get to the store Monday morning.  I was not prepared for that.  I have heard rumour that there are some pharmacies open on Sunday but I have yet to see one.  So now on Saturdays I am always stocking up on food and toiletries!

Streets on a Sunday

I have been told that people do not want to work Sunday because they want the time with their families.  I think family time is important and I can appreciate not having to work on a Sunday being someone who comes from retail and food service it is great to have the weekend off.  My issue is that not only are stores closed Sundays but also between 130 pm and 5 pm Monday to Saturday as well.  This I am told is because everyone deserves a 3.5 hour lunch break every day. 

This is crazy.  Seriously they need to get with the times.  I am all for people having a lunch break and it is nice that everyone has it at the same time but come on this is prime doing stuff time!  I cannot shop during the afternoon ever. So if I do not get my errands done in the morning I can’t do anything until the evening.  Apparently it is just the way it has always been so I guess this is the way it should always be?   Progress people!  Especially being in a country which has a shit economy it seems like the one of the obvious solutions is to not have all your businesses closed for a 7^th of the week and all afternoon the rest of the week.  This would not only create a more thriving economy but many of the 30% unemployed folks in Spain could have a job because the stores are open longer and need more staff. 

I know you probably think that who am I to tell them what to do with their country but I have given this a lot of thought.  The more hours the businesses are open the more people can have a job, the more people working means more money being made, which means more money to spend.  Also tourism is boosted as well as tourist sales.  Sure in the bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona it is more common for things to stay open but leave those big cities and you are left with dead streets from 130-5.  That is a huge time frame for people to not be able to shop, do banking etc.  Also most of the banks are closed for the day by 2 pm Monday to Friday.

Saturday Afternoon downtown Palencia on a gorgeous summer day...

I was told I just need to relax and that people here just want to be stress free and enjoy lunch time and Sunday family time.  That’s all well and good for them but what about the rest of us?  Why can’t we enjoy lunch from 130-3?  I mean that’s more than enough time to eat a meal.  And if you work in a company like Ross you do not get this lunch time that everyone else seems to get.  He only takes a half hour for lunch and works 8 hours a day. 

Where are the people on a Sunny Summer Afternoon? Not outside...

It’s funny because I remember before moving here my dad was telling me a story about this European guy who was visiting my dads company for business of some sorts.  My dad had taken him to grab a quick lunch because they only get a half hour and they had to be back running the machines.  So they went and got burgers from Wendys or something and the guy just couldn't understand why they were not going to a restaurant and sitting down to eat three courses and have some wine.  My dad was telling him that is not how it works in Canada and the guy was horrified.  I laughed but now I get why he felt that way.  Still I do not think having everything closed works to their advantage.