Just like Spanish people can sometimes learn from us in England, there are a few lessons that people can learn from Spain. Here are just a few!
Take an Afternoon Siesta
The first thing that Spanish builders do when working on a job, is check the best position for their hammock, ready for the afternoon nap! It helps when it’s sunny, but we can all benefit from learning to slow down and relax when tired.
Like Italy, Spanish shops tend to shut for a few hours at lunch for a proper meal and nap, then open later in the evening. A far healthier lifestyle than our ‘nine-to-five’ routine.
Intelligence without naps, is a bird without wings. Spanish artist Salvador DalĂ
Preventing Over-tourism
Unlike England’s Lake District (and the cities of Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon), Barcelona has taken action on over-tourism, which has surged since the coastal city hosted the Olympics.
Fed up of ‘35,000 tourists descending all-at-once from cruise ships’, locals are now happy to charge a tax to deter them! This is taking back their city from litter-dropping tourists, who take excursions run by cruise companies (so not bringing local money into the city).
Take Action for Animals
You may be surprised to learn that Spaniards have a strong animal welfare movement (many cities have banned bullfights, which usually only exist due to tourists from the UK and North America). Sussex priest Fr Terry Martin is asking Vatican City to denounce bullfighting, strongly linked to the Catholic faith.
Spain even has its own animal welfare party, which has passed animal welfare laws like it now being illegal to leave dogs alone, for a considerable amount of time.
Spanish cities are also joining the worldwide movement to ban tourist horse carriages, due to accidents and thirsty/tired horses. Spain is also at the forefront of the movement to ban greyhound racing.
