Marmara

While doing my usual Sunday afternoon camp out at Marmara today I decided to swap out reading El Pais for a book that Professor Vamvakas sent me in the mail mid-January. I've becoming something of a piece of furniture at Marmara for the following reasons

• it's the halfway point between my apartment and school
• their tapas are cheap and so rich
• coffee is also cheap
• the atmosphere its very chill, and I don't feel weird spending hours at a time there
• I'm slowly but surely establishing relationships with the employees

There's a guy that is always behind the counter there. Honest, he must have a bed in the basement because I swear he never leaves. My first impression of him was that he was intimidating and really didn't appreciate my goofiness/indecisiveness as I peruse the tapas nearly every day. But, as time has past, I think he's warmed up to me-- we're familiar now.

I was taken aback today because as I was reading my book he came and stood next to my table and stared at the page. Upon realizing it was in english, he made a face and shook his head saying "You should read spanish books". I took this as my chance to form a bond and asked him to give me some recommendations. Below is a list he wrote out for me... and excited as I am to check them out, it's more exciting knowing that we could now be pals.

The second picture happens to be a note written from another waiter at Marmara. Upon seeing the first guy give me the list of books, he asked me if he too could add something to the list. I gave him the note, excited to see what he would write. He came back with part of the note covered and said, the name of the book is called "Para salir de Fiesta"... which translates roughly, "if you want to party".... and then he uncovered the bottom half revealing his own phone number. I laughed and laughed so awkwardly and definitely turned bright bright red. So yeah, successful day bonding with the Marmara bunch