It may just be Edinburgh.
But I'd say I've been to most cafés in the centre of Edinburgh, and I have had this experience at a number of them. And not just the small ones. Kilimanjaro (where this happened) is not small. And as I said, Elephant House is almost designed for it.
Not the smallest one around, but still.
What would you consider an average-sized café?
Probably Beanscene on Nicolson Street (if that's still there). Or your average Starbucks or Costa (not that you'd ever go there, I realise).
The Elephant House is not small, but that is quite a kooky place in more than one respect. Also it's a bit of a stretch to call it a "café" given the extent of its cooking.
Most cafés provide food these days.
Yes, but not cooked food for every meal. If you can get a proper cooked dinner (not just a sandwich or panini), that makes it a pub or a restaurant.
British people also avoid sharing tables whenever possible. However, when that isn't possible (because all the tables are occupied), the next best thing is to pick the table with the fewest other people on it (i.e. yours, because you're on your own) and politely ask permission to sit there. But not try to make conversation with strangers. That's just wrong. Clearly this person was a bit dotty.
See, in Norway, if the tables are occupied, you leave.
Even if you know that everywhere else also has no completely free tables because there's a big festival on?
Yes. Or you stand in line and wait for a table to show up. If you are really desperate. Or you wait around till you see someone you know so you can crash at their table. This jazz festival, for example. People were standing around half an hour or more just waiting for a table. And we were two people sitting at one with four chairs.
Wow, you guys are weird.
The solution is either to go to less crowded places, or to bring someone else with you. Preferably someone who also has a lot of work to do, and who you don't particularly want to chat with.
I keep going to less crowded places, but they inevitably shut down.
Good point. I had forgotten about the Curse of Camilla™. But what about my other idea?
Tor doesn't believe in working in cafés, and if I go with other people I feel too much of an obligation to be sociable.
Which is why you should find someone in a similar situation to yours and make a no-socialising pact at the start.
Vigilantibus non dormientibus jura subveniunt.
—Nous disons en allemand : le guerre, le mort, le lune, alors que 'soleil' et 'amour' sont du sexe féminin : la soleil, la amour. La vie est neutre.
—La vie ? Neutre ? C'est très joli, et surtout très logique.
—Nous disons en allemand : le guerre, le mort, le lune, alors que 'soleil' et 'amour' sont du sexe féminin : la soleil, la amour. La vie est neutre.
—La vie ? Neutre ? C'est très joli, et surtout très logique.
Regrets
- 23/08/2010 04:25:33 PM
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I think the problem is that you go into small cafés.
- 23/08/2010 10:28:04 PM
542 Views
But I don't.
- 23/08/2010 11:33:16 PM
531 Views
Kilimanjaro is pretty small really.
- 23/08/2010 11:45:35 PM
513 Views
Re: Kilimanjaro is pretty small really.
- 23/08/2010 11:50:16 PM
529 Views
Re: Kilimanjaro is pretty small really.
- 24/08/2010 12:13:16 AM
600 Views
it wouldn't bother me to have someone sit at my table
- 24/08/2010 04:29:49 PM
525 Views
*NM*