09 Apr 2016 11:33 AM:

One of the most important attractions of Spain to northern Europeans like me is that most people, especially in the south, work traditional siesta hours. Although occassionally irritating for the most part we find it highly advantageous and attractive. Not only is it often far too hot for any effective work during those hours but it has now been fully proven that an after lunch period of rest or sleep not only improves one's health but also increases actual work performance. Comparing with northern European work hours can be misleading as most businesses and especially shops actually remain open until around 9 in the evening anyway and many for the full 24 hours.

Bilco

Thread: Spain to Stop Siestas

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01 Nov 2015 12:41 PM:

A major cause of the property price slump in Spain is that the market was highly influenced and largely dependent on the demand from buyers in other EU countries such as Germany, Holland and UK either wanting holiday homes in the sun or wanting to sell their existing homes at high prices in their home countries and move/retire to sunnier climes. The fall in the value of the Euro plus the still slow economies across most of Europe has meant that it is no longer such an economic advantage for people to consider this. The value of the Euro and the consequent depessed state of the European economy is effectively controlled by Germany and the low Euro suits them as it enables them to export more easily into areas outside of the EU.  Hence I don't see them making any real effort to change this situation soon and the demand for homes in Spain is unlikely to improve as long as this situation continues.

Thread: Sell in Spain

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