This morning I met up with one of my good friends at Vivoli to have a caffè (coffee). I was happy that there were still some brioche (croissants) in the glass case when I arrived because a few times I've been disappointed because there weren't any left. I stood inside because I didn't want to wait outside. There were a few people standing alone at the bar focusing on eating their brioche and sipping on a caffé (coffee). I stood next to a shelf where there were two newspapers, and began reading about yesterday's partita (soccer match) in one of the newspapers while I waited for my friend to arrive.
For most of January, Vivoli had been closed so I haven't been able to go for my morning treat. Since last week, I had been looking forward to coming back to enjoy a brioche and a cappuccino. I don't go very often to Vivoli, but it is my favorite place for colazione (breakfast). I never get a chance to speak with the women who work there because I usually don't go there alone. They recognize me and greet me politely, but we rarely talk. I listen to them talk to the other patrons and am a little envious that I don't have this rapport with them.
At around 10.30 am, a group of American students came in to have a gelato. They hovered over the glass cases and talked with excitement about the selection of flavors. A few minutes later a group of locals came in to have their colazione at the bar. I was amazed by the two different groups and how they all decided to come to the same place at the same time for completely different reasons: the students to take a break from their visit of the city and to discover Italian gelato while the locals came to talk about work and have a caffè together.
When my friend arrived, we ordered our drinks and food from the girl standing behind the counter. She placed my brioche on a plate and handed it to me. My friend walked toward the back to grab a table for us and carried my brioche with her. I stood at the bar waiting for our two cappuccini. Instead of just placing them on the bar and sliding them over to me, the woman arranged them on a tray with a small sugar shaker.
I thanked the girl because I thought it was so kind of her to make it easier for me to carry the two cappuccini. I know they recognize me even though I don't come in that regularly. I did notice that I'm usually in there with my girlfriends for at least an hour or so and I see people come and go much quicker than me. I realized that most people don't sit in the sala (room) as long as I do with my girlfriends.
Before leaving, I brought the tray back with our empty tazze (cups) and piatti (plates). I told the woman at the cassa (register) what we ordered so that I could pay. I almost said, "A domani (See you tomorrow)" before I walked out, but I was embarrassed to let them know that I would be coming back the next day to have a caffè with another girlfriend.
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