Two to Four

Where'd Everyone Go?

It was suggested we call ahead to let the folk at the apartment know when we would be arriving, so once we had our train tickets, we did so. We were informed that it would be better if we caught an earlier train or a much later one, because our arrival, at what we felt was a convenient 2:00 pm, seemed to fall when the reception desk would be closed for a two hour "break". As it happened, we arrived before break time and did get checked in.

I thought this afternoon "siesta" was a Spanish thing. We discovered it in Spain and learned to live with it there, but did not expect it here. Apparently it is a Mediterranean thing.

The whole place shuts down for two hours in the afternoon. Well, not actually everything, but a significant part of the population shuts the doors, pulls down the shutters and turns out the lights at 2:00 pm. At 4:00 pm suddenly everything comes alive again.

We have not quite gotten the hang of this yet, and we always seem to be out looking for something, or wanting something done, when everyone disappears. I have suggested to Regis that we need to start living on "Italian time" while we are here, but she always seem to need something at that time.

I am not sure what everyone does between 2:00 and 4:00. They do not work, that is for sure, perhaps they go home and have a big mid day meal and take a nap or other things you do behind closed doors.

I do not know how this works with people who commute, where do they go for two hours? I'm just going to have to continue to explore this concept. Don't call me for two hours, I'm taking a break.