Pausa

At 10:50 every morning, the bell rings at school and it is Pausa. We all leave our classes and most of us head down to Michelangiolo Caffe at the corner. Marco is the barrista and he fields and makes the coffees for everyone. I think his mother is at the cash and some days it is his father. They also sell sandwiches and pastries. It is a zoo in there because we all descend on him at the same time. 

On the first Monday there are so many of us newbies, we don’t know where to stand to order, how to order, when to pay nor how to pay. It is full-on chaos, shouting, calling out your coffee, being pointed at, and looking somewhat stunned. Some days it is 1 euro, sometimes 1.20, it depends. He works up quite a sweat serving us all in our 20 minute window. He’s gruff and nice all at the same time.  For some reason, the ladies get their drinks before most of the men except the regulars who seem to be having as much fun watching the chaos as they are their caffes. By the second day, we already know how it all works and Marco already knows what I drink – decaf macchiato. By the third day it is already waiting for me when I come in.

Yesterday when I got to Michelangiolo, I noticed that the glass sliding doors were closed because it was cold. Cold for here, not cold as in cold back home. So I approached the door and it slid open 5cm and then closed again. Interesting. So I went to the door around the corner and that worked perfectly. I had my cappuccino, chatted, paid and left. I went out my usual door, but again it didn't open more than 5cm. I turned and looked at Marco, he sort of shook his head, no, with a little grin. As if to say, "it doesn't work, but it's fun to watch people try it."