The New York Times >Letter From Europe: Spaniards Dare to Question the Way the Day Is Ordered

Found out recently that I should be eligible for Spanish citizenship. Vaguely considering moving there.

When I was considering moving to Barcelona a few years ago, the Catalans, always seeking to distinguish themselves from the Castilians as more cosmopolitan, more European, were already making noise about altering the work day.

The New York Times > International > Europe > Letter From Europe: Spaniards Dare to Question the Way the Day Is Ordered: "For much of Spain's recent history, the siesta made the long days bearable. A routine workday that begins at 9 a.m. and finishes at 8 p.m. can seem somewhat rational if it is broken up by a good nap in the afternoon.
Today, long commutes make a trip home for a nap impractical, at least in the major cities. But if the siesta is becoming a thing of the past, it has left a legacy of idle afternoons that is still very much a part of Spanish life. In a way, the siesta has not so much disappeared as it has morphed into an epic lunch, often a two- or three-hour extravaganza that can last until 5.
Now some Spaniards are beginning to ask if a divided workday, with morning and evening sessions straddling an afternoon of scarce productivity, is compatible with the modern world and Spain's growing integration into Europe."