CoffeePlanet

UPDATE (29.03): I headed back here to capture a higher quality panorama image for the purposes of this blog. I walked in followed by a family dressed too warmly and so scattered that you just knew they were tourists. A guy working in the cafe walked up to this group of 5 or 6, but no one spoke. After a moment, the guy—who immediately struck me as looking like young, pre-muscles Hercules from the Disney cartoon—realized that no one was saying anything on purpose. He picked it up quickly—“What country?” The group looked at him and said, “France.” “Bon jour,” not even a beat had passed and the Polish waiter began speaking to this group in fluent French with a smile and glittering ocean blue eyes. I was stunned. Absolutely impressed. Struck dumb. It was a beautiful taste of serendipity that I wasn’t at all involved in, but found myself party to as a witness. As he led them to a table—speaking French all the while—and I walked out, I felt the gape of my mouth and a rush of nonsensical pride.