El Horario

I haven't written much yet about the Spanish schedule. I hear it's not the same in all parts of Spain but in Alcoy it's like this. The stores open at 9. I guess some businesses start earlier, like factories. They eat what seems to be a second breakfast around 11, then by 2 pm everyone quits work and goes home for dinner. They eat a big meal together as a family and then everyone takes a nap. They sleep until maybe 5, then they eat a snack before going back to work. The stores are almost all closed from 2-5, and you can't really do anything during siesta, so you might as well take one too! The stores close again at 9 pm and everyone goes home for supper. This meal is served in courses and can last as long as 3 hours! Around 12:30 in the morning, the neighborhood outside my window gets really noisy as people go out for walks and to visit on the street. Recently I drove past a park at 12:20 am and the playground was full of children playing and the benches and chairs were full of adults just hanging out visiting! I can't get my body to adjust to staying up that late, but I do appreciate siesta time!