|
Shopping - Shopping in Spain
Shopping in Spain the majority of Spanish stores are small family run
affairs although many more hypermarkets have begun to spring
up for shopping inSpain.
The
hypermarkets in Spain
tend
to lie in the rapidly expanding Spanish suburbs, while the older city neighborhoods
hold fast to traditional shopping patterns.
The Spanish often don't seem to believe in queuing and people often push
and shove their way to the front. Shop assistants will not always serve customers
in order; so if it is your turn - speak up! Some foreigners complain that
Spanish
service people can be surly, but we have found the great majority of them
to be friendly and pleasant.
Shopping hours:
These can vary considerably between region, city, town and type of shop.
Small shops open from between 0830 and 0930 (or earlier for food shops) until
between 1300 and 1400 and from around 1700 until between 1930 and 2100, Monday
to Friday, then from 0930 until 1400 on Saturdays. In some areas shops are
closed on Monday mornings. In south Spain, the siesta lasts from 1330 or
1400 until
1700. Department stores, hypermarkets and many supermarkets are open without
a break for a siesta from around 0930 or 1000, until between 2000 and 2200
from Monday to Saturday.
Markets:
You have indoor markets, called mercados, permanent street markets and traveling
open-air street markets that move from area to area. Often prices can be
20% lower than in shops and remember to take along your bargaining skills!
Markets usually operate from 0900 until 1400 and sell a variety of goods
such as: food, flowers, clothes, shoes, crockery, cookware, linen, ceramics,
cassettes/CDs,
arts and crafts, household wares, carpets, jewelry, etc. Watch out for well
name brands though, as they are usually fakes.
|
|