Chapter 33
Amir found us a coffee shop and we decided to have our refreshment inside out of the hot sun. The place was quite busy, and again I had the impression we were in an establishment that was a morning hangout for the locals. We found a table and I sat down while Amir went to the counter. There were three chairs at the table, and as the place was quite crowded, a man soon asked me in Arabic if he could sit at my table. I nodded, as there was no place else for him to go. We sat in somewhat awkward silence as he drank his coffee. Amir returned with two espressos and the usual three pastries, and the man left almost immediately. Amir gave me a questioning look, then shoved all three pastries in my direction. Excellent choices, the cream-filled goodies resembled a Napoleon, a crème-filled filo pastry, and a torte of some kind. In spite of the high decibel animated Arabic conversations on all four sides of us, we relaxed and enjoyed this break from walking in the sun.