subject: Tips from the Costa Blanca [print this page] Tips from the Costa Blanca Tips from the Costa Blanca
Newly arrived in Spain, whether for a holiday or as a permanent move, adjusting to local timekeeping can be frustrating and confusing:
* The siesta concept is still very much alive and well in Mediterranean Spain, whether in the form of a post lunch snooze, or just a protracted, leisurely business lunch. To add to this confusion, opening hours do vary from business to business and will also change between the summer and winter seasons.
* Do bear in mind the above before telephoning a friend between say, 2.30 and 4.30pm. It is the local etiquette to avoid disturbing folk during the siesta period!
* Do be aware that most shops close at lunchtime on Saturday and only shops selling bread, supermarkets and service stations etc. open on a Sunday.
* Banks generally open for business at 8.30 am. But close at lunchtime, generally around 2.30pm.
* Post Offices vary but in Moraira it opens 8.30 am. 2.30 pm. weekdays and 9.30 am. 1.00 pm. Saturday.
* Also of course, remember to take into account Fiesta holidays; the national and religious ones are quite easy to keep track of, but the minor local ones can catch out the unwary as there seems to be no reliable advance notice for the non Spanish. Also be aware that if the fiesta falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, the locals will often bridge' and enjoy an elongated break by including the adjacent weekend civilised, but sometimes inconvenient!
This one is courtesy of Linda Garwood:
Laundry Matters:
We are all basically here for the Spanish sunshine, but it can take its toll on the laundry.
Here are the lessons we have learnt:
* Don't dry your laundry outside on a hot summer's day; colours will quickly fade and towels etc. will bake to the texture of sand paper! It's better to put your laundry on the line overnight and retrieve it the next morning before the full strength of the sun.
* If you do need to dry your coloureds' during the daytime sun, hang them inside out.
* Try not to be caught with your laundry out during a rain shower. The local rain often contains a liberal dose of Sahara sand' which will ruin the wash, causing you to repeat the process.
* Avoid plastic cloths pegs as they become very brittle and have a short life expectancy when exposed to strong sunshine. Look out for the traditional wooden type.
I hope you find the above informative. Should you require any further guidance or assistance, please contact me at: SELECT Villas of Moraira, Tel. 96 6490 861, email info@select-villas.es or visit our website www.selectvillasofmoraira.co.uk .
