The siesta is making a comeback, recycled for the modern world as "Iberian yoga". Far from the afternoon snooze that consumes valuable working time, Spain's siesta is being rebranded as essential for spiritual wellbeing and a balanced life.
Long hailed as the country's greatest contribution to civilisation, the siesta - "Spain's secret weapon", according to this weekend's ABC newspaper - is being relaunched in Seville.
Hoteliers in the southern hotspot are trying to lure visitors back from the beach by offering rooms between 3pm and 7pm at 30 per cent of the normal rate, to slumber through the hottest hours. The idea is that you emerge refreshed to enjoy the late afternoon, sunset and after dark, which Spaniards savour as the best time of the day.
As part of the campaign, which has adopted the slogan: "After eating I sleep", you can even book your afternoon snooze from the very restaurant where you enjoy your leisurely, wine-soaked lunch.
That way you don't hit the road in an alcoholic haze - a disproportionate number of Spanish motoring accidents take place after lunch - or stumble back to the office half asleep.
Experts believe the optimal siesta is around 20 minutes long. Shorter and you don't disconnect sufficiently, longer and you emerge groggy and bad-tempered. Even companies recognise their workforce performs better after the break. Many, including the nationwide courier service MRW, have set aside soothing siesta zones with reclining chairs for their employees to snatch 40 winks.
The best siesta is recognised to be "in pyjamas" and with a companion, but that remains for most a weekend luxury.
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