Noisy Spain goes quiet for a minute

Spain is well known as being one of the noisiest countries of the world, so it will be interesting to see just how successful the International No Noise Day proves to be on Wednesday.

To celebrate the date the Spanish Acoustic Society (SEA), together with the Ministries for Housing and the Environment has called a minute’s silence at noon. It will be held at the Tres Olivos College in Madrid, where there are specialist facilities for those with hearing difficulties.

The slogan for the day is ‘Let’s take care of the acoustic environment’, and the hope is that for a minute at least we can appreciate the sound of silence which can surround us.

Source: typicallyspanish

 

Source: Fede Casanova en Unsplash

I live in a neighbourhood that is often afflicted by noise - Malasaña. I live a stone's throw from Plaza Dos de Mayo and you can just about hear the noise of people chatting at the outdoor cafés but it doesn't really bother me.

What I really can't stand are the musicians who play their instruments in the square. Whenever there is good weather, they are there i.e. March through to October, from lunchtime until late in the evening.

There is one in particular who plays a trumpet extremely loudly and sings. I am sick and tired of hearing the same two or three tunes in his repertoire. I can hear "Hello Dolly" up to six times a day - it drives me mad!

My neighbour really irritates me. He has many visitors from 7.30 a.m. onwards, every day and at times during the night. I hate it when they ring his doorbell because it sounds as if they are at my door. It is the most awful sound!

What'smore, the door always slams shut.

Besides that, he often plays loud music in the early hours of the morning, which keeps me awake.

What are the noises that really get on your nerves?