You might be wondering, what is a siesta? A siesta is a short nap that some people take in the middle of the day, usually after lunch. It gives people a chance to relax and rest their bodies so they have more energy for the rest of the day. During a siesta, not everyone takes a nap:some simply rest at home, read or spend time with their family. In Spain, siestas are a special tradition, and some people still practice taking a siesta today.
I first heard about the siesta when I was taking a Spanish class a year ago. My Spanish professor told us that during this time of day, many stores close, and people go home to rest. I thought it was a very interesting tradition, and I wished we had something similar in the United States. I never imagined that one day I would be in Spain and I would actually particpate in this tradition myself.
Many people take a siesta after lunch, and in Spain lunch is usually at 2 pm, which is pretty late. During siesta time, many shops close, streets become quierter and families relax at home. At this time it can be hard to find a store that is open, especiallly in a smaller city. In Salamanca, not all stores close during this time. However, when I visited Zamora during siesta time, almost all stores were closed.
