At a busy shopping centre in Madrid, 62-year-old Ecuadorian Pedro Soria Lopez, an unemployed security guard, snored his way to become National Siesta Champion.
The competition, the first of its kind, lasted 9 days and was organised by the National Association of Friends of the Siesta as part of a campaign to revive and promote this quintessentially Spanish tradition.
There were 360 contestants and each was given 20 minutes to lie down while a doctor monitored them with a pulse-measuring device to determine how long they spent snoozing.
Judges awarded points for originality of sleeping position, loudness of snoring as well as for the most eye-catching apparel. Some contestants wore pyjamas, eye-masks and some even clutched cuddly toys.
Pedro Soria Lopez scooped the first prize of €1,000 after napping on a blue sofa for 17 minutes. His snoring, which registered 70 decibels, earned him extra points.
According to the National Association of Friends of the Siesta, studies show it’s a healthy practice that recharges your batteries.