I experienced one particularly lonely Christmas in Geneva when even the hotel restaurant was closed. I was given coupons and dispatched to a restaurant neat the railway station to have my meal. It seemed to be the only establishment open. I then wandered around an almost silent city for a couple of hours. In its own way, the place was very beautiful, with the Alps and lake making for a lovely setting. I finally wandered into a little restaurant-cum-bar which was a stopping place for truckers driving between Switzerland and France.

I wound up spending a fairly enjoyable evening there before wandering off again to dinner at the railway station.

Holidays vary from country to country depending on local festivals or celebrations of national importance. Some countries have long stretches of holidays, such as over Christmas and the New Year in the West, or in August in a country such as France, where there is no question of disturbing a Frenchman on his vacation as one will not be able to locate him in the first place.

On a weekly basis, too, holidays and working hours vary considerably, with the work week stretching over five, five and a half or six days. Generally, most countries around the world work Monday through Fridays and the most common time span is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The lunch hour begins at some point between 12 noon and 1.30 p.m., lasting until 2 p.m. or 2.30 p.m.

In the Middle East, where the heat can be oppressive most government offices open from 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. until about 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. and stay closed the rest of the day. Commercial establishments may allow staff an afternoon break about 1 p.m., with business resuming from around 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. or 8 p.m.