Spain Time
The hours in Barcelona are a lot different then most of the world. It is useful to know the Spanish way. Shops and other businesses may open around 10, but it may vary depending on the job. The majority of offices in Barcelona close from 2:00-4:00pm, and then stays open to around 8pm. 
During the hours of 2 and 4, many people will go and have a nice long lunch at restaurant nearby. Many banks will stay closed during these hours, and may not open again until the following morning. Unlike other countries, Spaniards will not skip their lunch to get work done. If something breaks in an apartment, it may take a little bit longer to get fixed. Do not be surprised if they are late, as this is very in common. As the Spanish are on their own time schedule. Do not get frustrated by this, because this is how things are. It is a slower paced lifestyle, and the only thing that seems fast are the mopeds on the street. Compared to Americans, Spaniards “work to live,” rather than “live to work.” Most things on Sundays are closed as well. So do not expect something to get done on a Sunday, unless it is an absolute emergency. The month of August is a popular time for people in Barcelona to take vacations, and they may even take the whole month off. Some businesses maybe be closed during this month. There are also many national holidays, when people do not work. The majority of shops, restaurants and other businesses are closed. If the holiday falls on Thursday, they are most likely to take that Friday off. This is called Puente (bridge), which creates a long 4 or 5 day weekend. The Spanish time table takes sometime to get adjusted too, but just enjoy your time, and do not let the slow paced life style get to you.
