French Siesta

When am I going to get it through my thick head...S I E S T A
For the love of god, I've lived here a year now and still can't get it through my head that stores are closed from 12:30-3 and Sundays.

So many times I've gotten all ready, headed out of the house thinking "ok, I gotta go here and get this, then here and get that... shouldn't take too long" only to realize, again, once I get there that I've arrived during that siesta closing hours.

When not living in a country that practices these siestas it's easy to think...geeze, what a wonderful way of life...but in reality you can't get anything done. I couldn't imagine actually working in a siesta country. Go to work in the morning, break for lunch - can't run errands because everything is closed - go back to work, get off at 6 - can't run errands because things close early. That only leaves Saturdays to get things done - which is a nightmare because that's the only time everyone else has to get things done. Stay away from stores in France on Saturdays - especially at holiday shopping season.

Ironically, when I traveled back to the states recently I found I was cautious of doing anything because I would get there during the siesta time - then had to remind myself that the US doesn't do siestas. Though I did find myself asking myself (yes, I said that) "is that store open Sundays?"