Fifty-One Years Behind the Same Counter
February 19, 2012 Filed in:
TravelWhen the gentleman at the left was a lad of 15, he drank coffee here at La Mallorca in Old San Juan, and the coffee was served then by the gentleman on the right, Andrés (or "Andy"). Now the gentleman on the left is in his fifties, and he still receives his morning coffee at La Mallorca from Andy. Andy has stood his station at the near curve of the long counter at this cafe for 51 years. He is 80. He works with a quiet grace and economy of movement, now wiping the counter, now sliding a salt shaker to its proper place, now writing a customer's check longhand on one of those pads with the light green paper. Tomorrow morning, I'll order another cafe con leche from Andy. What a pleasure!Tags: San Juan, Old San Juan, Feature
