The Economist reached the point of calling me to ask if I knew someone who would be interested into a subscription.
I love the magazine but their marketing is really invasive and annoying.
Last time I cancelled they were a nightmare calling me every other day.
To be honest where I come from a shop closing at 8pm is early.
True, the smallest ones are open between 8am and 7pm, but they're loosing market share in favor of mini-markets, which are usually open from 7am to 9-10pm.
And if that's not enough there are liquor stores and petrol stations, both of which are usually open 24/7.
Siesta is just a fun word to say, and all the gringos know what it means, and it sounds like a lovely way to spend a day, so that's probably why the myth is perpetuated over and over. It's just a fun conversational nugget, coupled with a bit of cultural ignorance!
It's a shame that so many Brits visit Spain yet remain culturally ignorant to some things there. I think in connection to believing that Spaniards have siestas every day for hours we also casually imply that Spaniards are lazy in every regard by repeating the "mañana" quip.
