Spain Time

Well, after writing how I am going to make an effort on posting about my travels on a regular basis, I have found myself being stunted and slow to actually getting around to doing it! Who would’ve thought that travelling could be so time-consuming! Not posting as regularly as I had planned could be due to two things:

Travelling (or planning the next adventure) in my spare time; or
Perhaps I’m simply getting accustomed to Spain Time.

Spain Time does not work the same as the normal laws of time. It also encompasses different concepts; such as opening hours, ridiculously late eating hours (I’m talking anywhere between 10pm and midnight for some!) and advertised times vs actual times.

For example, during my first visit to Málaga, I went to a Flamenco dinner show. The show was advertised to start at 9:30. In reality, the show did not start until 10:10, when a woman, who looked like she had just been dragged out of a tacky night club came to the floor, in her still glittered up hot pink dress, and danced one dance before walking off the stage. More time passed, and another performer came out to the floor (by this time, it was closer to 10:20) and performed one dance and left. By this stage, I think all the patrons were a little perplexed as to what this show was. However, by 10:30 a guitarist, singer and both dancers returned to the floor (in more ‘flamencoesque’ attire) to put on a show. A male dancer also joined in (and stole the show) and by 11pm the performances were in full swing (only an hour or so after the advertised time).

This wasn’t the first time I had encountered Spain Time. A free concert in Córdoba was advertised to start at 8pm, with additional advice to arrive early to secure a spot. We got there just before 8, and the actual concert started at 10. The first band played until 11:30, before announcing a quick intermission. We left by midnight, still not having seen the second band arrive.

Whilst Spain Time can be a bit frustrating for the occasional high-strung control freak that I am, I have started to become accustomed to it, and even embrace it at times. Sure, the restaurant’s kitchen won’t open until after 9pm, sure all the important places you need to get to shut before you can get there (and often don’t reopen), sure simple paperwork and procedures take months to finalise and sure things start later than advertised. But I say embrace it and use the time to reminisce about your past adventures, or dream about the next trip (or maybe even write a blog!)