Cowboys and Italians

This morning we decided to throw tradition out the window and try a new coffee shop right here in our very own neighbourhood. We love the name and the location but as we walked through the doors there was definitely something missing and too much of something else. We waited while the customers ahead of us were served - how did they know what to order as there was no blackboard listing all the types of coffee available? I glanced into the miniscule glass case - where are the freshly baked muffins and scones and croissants? All I could see were piles of iced biscotti and bianco nero ( nutella spread between two slices of white crustless bread). I had plenty of time to look around as we waited - the chandelier, the shag rug, the velvet chairs, and fluffy pillows strategically placed on the high back settee were just too much. We quickly walked out - we were not acknowledged walking in and no one seemed to mind that we had left.
When we visited Perugia five years ago we tried quite a few coffee bars. Two that stand out are Sandri which boasted about having the 'best coffee in Perugia' and the other was Caffe di Perugia whose claim to fame was 'the best coffee in Italy'. Every chance we had we frequented Sandri not only because they had the best coffee but they also had the best food - sweets and chocolates and hot lunches. The bar was one long glass case filled with every imaginable dolce and along the other wall set above the tiny tables and chairs were more glass cases filled with chocolates in every colour, shape, and design. The baby blue ceiling with angels looking down on us was another delight for the senses for those of us who looked up to thank the heavens for guiding us to this wonderful place. And so this morning we returned to our favourite coffee shop, the place that has the best of everything - the coffee, the warm muffins and croissants, and the staff that remember what kind of coffee you like.
Breakfast never tasted so good as it did this morning at the Lookout. We had company - I think they were hoping that there might be something left for them.