One morning in San José del Cabo, I decided to just get a coffee (not breakfast) since I had eaten quite late the evening before. I walked along Calle Valerio Gonzáles and stumbled upon a small coffee shop, Dr Coffee. They didn’t have a food menu, just coffee. Only one couple sat at a table, otherwise the place was empty.
I ordered a cappuccino, sat down and took out my phone and Kindle, but soon I got distracted by the surroundings. There was a big TV screen above the counter showing stunning surf videos. On the opposite wall hung a surfboard signed “Local Boy”, so the coffee shop owner must have been a surfer. A frameless canvas print showed a skateboarder squatting all the way down in a tight curve, sort of like a surfer. Of course, there were many different kinds of coffee mugs, thermos bottles, coffee bean bags, and coffee makers displayed for sale in shelves. A poster with a collage of celebrities drinking coffee hung on the wall behind me. And the music added to the relaxed atmosphere, a playlist with oldies like Hotel California, Dancing Queen, You’re The One That I Want (Grease) and My Sharona.
The couple was reading quietly, and I got back to my book as well until the next person came in: a middle-aged Mexican lady with laptop and a bunch of cables. She set herself up and was listening to something (maybe a meeting?) without headphones for a while. A couple of young men came in, one tall and chubby in sweatpants and T-shirt, the other short and skinny in Jeans and button-up shirt. They both ordered Americano; the small wiry guy heaped three spoonfuls of sugar into his cup while the big one had his black. Never assume…
A clean-shaven man, maybe around 40, entered with a black pug lady (she’d clearly had puppies). He knew the laptop lady and they chatted. Another man with a beard and a somewhat frazzled energy entered and spoke with the barista and the pug-guy in a long monologue including gestures back down the street. The two men left the shop for a while, but the pug stayed behind, leashed to the table. I’ve never been a pug fan, but this one was the cutest little thing, almost like an animated plushy. Every time another dog passed by the glass door, she barked and growled to defend her new territory, but it looked so sweet that it only elicited smiles. Another lady came in and spoke with the barista about the dog and petted it which little Tia clearly enjoyed. The lady left with her two coffees before Tia’s owner came back and sat down to chat more with the laptop-lady. He seemed to know everyone.
Eventually, the reading couple left which prompted me to also move on after almost an hour of hanging out. During my entire stay in Cabo, this was the most local (Mexican) experience I’ve had, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
And there is a timestamp of yours too!! Woohoo!
C
Wow new format and look! I like it. More professional looking. A spellchecker would be great. You get the red line but no options when you click into the word. Wishlist for the devoted commentor! So you are back on coffee again. I’ll have to make you one sometime then. I have finally perfected my coffee making skills. Glad you enjoyed your coffee and people watching (dolce far niente – sweet doing nothing!) And yes I know that is Italian! Until next post.
C 🙂