Dec 29, 2005
Death of the Siesta
Spain is losing it’s siesta. This makes me sad, no matter how “economically advisable” it was decreed to be. What has always drawn me to Spanish culture was the hefty emphasis they place on leisure. These people know how to live, setting aside a few hours of every work day to eat and relax, and hanging out in the cafes and bars until late every evening. On my first trip to Spain I thought I had finally discovered an entire nation with late-nighter habits like myself. We could learn from them. However, I can see how the work day minus siesta gives workers much more flexibility with how they spend their free time. Perhaps they should have went the opposite route and just added a law that returning to work from siesta was optional. Now that would have represented a people standing up for their right to leisure…
It is tragic.
I woke up today feeling terrible, sinus related lack of sleep, a feeling of oncoming intestinal problems, at a time when I simply can not start getting the flu. I went to work but reported my condition and bailed. Came home, threw open the window to fresh cold air (I think it’s weird heat air circulation combined with apnia that’s getting me) and awoke 5 hours later to a condition which could be described as ‘normal human’. Viva la siesta!