the siesta

La siesta is a daily occurrence in El Palo. Every afternoon starting around 1:30, shops and restaurants close, schools let out, and most workers go home for the afternoon meal, la comida. Pretty much everything shuts down between 2:00 and 5:00pm and reopens for a bit in the evening. For this American who’s used to being able to go to any store at any time, the time for lunch and a nap can feel like an inconvenience. Yet, I appreciate the rhythm and community that it helps create.

This time for la siesta isn’t actually as much about taking a nap as it is having lunch, which is the biggest meal of the day for most Spaniards. Three free hours in the afternoon provide time to make a home-cooked meal and eat with family. Carmen and Fernando, our upstairs neighbors, take full advantage. Every Wednesday, they make puchero, a Spanish rice and chickpea soup who's broth comes from succulent chicken, beef, and bacon that you dip your bread in after eating the soup (see recipe section for la receta del puchero). Then their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a handful of more distant relatives all squeeze into their apartment to enjoy it together.

We’ve joined for puchero several times now, and it’s a nice time to connect with the family. It makes me think of the times that we’ve tried to schedule something similar in Denver - it's hard to do. It would be impossible during the middle of the day in the middle of the week.

I don’t want to romanticize the siesta; I’m sure not every family has the means or ability to do the same as our neighbors. Moreover, in today’s modern world the midday break and time to nap is losing popularity. But ultimately, I appreciate that Spanish culture values a daily opportunity to slow down and share a meal.