Spanish and Catalan people are relaxed in their personal and business life.

 

Usually shops are open at 10 am until 2 pm then they have a “siesta” until 5 pm and after that they work until 8 pm. After 9 pm it is not easy to find a place open except pubs and bars. My neighborhood is dead after 2 pm until 5.30 nobody on the streets.

If you need a repairman in your apartment you need to wait a couple of days to arrange it then they come, take some photos of the problem and plan their days and leave your place the next day they come again they start to work all day long and they finish their repairment, again taking photos is essential. And you know this is for, just repairing drainage in a balcony, which I could do myself in an hour if I had appropriate tools.

If you want to buy a car, 

I just ordered a new car from a very well known German brand and they told me that I have to wait 26 weeks for delivery!!!!   F..king 26 weeks basically the year will be 2012 and I have a brand new 2011 car. Even in the workplace, if you need any documents or tax help, you need to wait for days.

I believe this type of life is good and nice as I believe it is without stress and full of fun, but at the same time, this type of lifestyle kills the competition in national way and decreases the financial stability, lowering wages and increasing unemployment as a consequence.

Neighboring countries like France and Italy has a similar lifestyle but has more capital in their banks and lots of heavy industries in those countries, which helps them to compete with devaluation and also strong unions who can negotiate with the ruling governments on social benefits and unemployment.

Immigrants from South America are dominant in Spain as they share the same language. These people are migrating from poor and politically unstable countries like Ecuador and Cuba and willing to work hard for less money.  Until 2000’s these people helped Spain to keep up with the relaxed environment but after the constant crisis for the last 10 years, Spain has its own economical turbulence and being lost their war against capitalism created a real unemployment and decrease on wages.

To be continued...