Living by Spanish Time

The Spanish people are renowned for their slower and more relaxed pace of life. They are famous for having a “mañana” attitude, most things can be done tomorrow or another time!

The Spaniards live in a far more leisurely way than many other Europeans. Spain is full of cafes where people can sit, enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the world go by.

For me the Spanish days seem much longer than the British. In part this is because it gets dark later in the day.  However I think the biggest reasons for this are the longer opening hours of the shops and time at which people eat.

People eat much later in the evening here, often not eating until 10 o´clock at night. If you were to head to a Spanish restaurant at 8pm, you would most likely find yourself surrounded by empty tables.  Though some of my friends find their stomachs rumbling earlier than this I enjoy having those extra hours before having to think what I will have for dinner!

Another big difference in the Spanish day is the times people go out.  People in Spain both start and finish their evening far later than other Europeans. Having spent my summer holidays working in Menorca, I remember me and my friends waiting outside a bar at midnight unable to understand why it had yet to open on a Saturday night.

Little did we realize that everything just got started far later! When I was in Barcelona me and my housemates would often not leave the house to go out until 2 in the morning- were I in Britain this would have been the time we were coming home after our night out!

To enjoy Spain to its full I think its best to adopt to the Spanish rhythms of life. If your stomach rumbles before its dinner time, treat yourself to a small snack in the middle of the afternoon, the merienda. Or if you fear you will be lacking in energy simply indulge in a siesta!