Fred
I like some (few) coffee shops/bars too, but the ones I find are not thriving, thrusting, throbbing hives of creative conversation. Rather, they are small and 'hanging on by the skin of their teeth' family operations feeling the hole in the Spanish economy bigtime. I remember having lunches in my local one a couple of years ago and it was full, every time, of local workmen having their coffee and cognac. Yesterday, I was the only eater. Nobody was propping up the bar for most of the meal. I'm starting to get a conscience about being able to buy a meal!
As a prelude to being a shadow of my former self, here's a shot of a young lady cooling off on my terrace one day.
I can't shoot that shot anymore, with anyone. The wooden door, despite repeated varnishing with marine varnish every year, finally rotted. We had two joinery companies come to quote for a replacement - not one came back after taking the measurements (the door, not the girl, she was long gone), including the firm that made the original one for us. So, in frustration, we had it walled up. The other side of the terrace is still as per original one, but it just shows you how much of a killer direct weather can be. I would hate to live on the shoreline; need a new everything every five years! Just like one of Toke's boats, come to think of it.
Rob C