The smell of coffee and tobacco was overwhelming, but there wasn't any smoke except for a thin layer close to the ceiling.
The car had been transformed into a snack-bar. Several round tables with small stools filled the room, and as far as I could see, all of them were taken.
I spotted the two employees, a woman, walking through the tables, delivering drinks and taking orders, and a young man at the counter, serving the clientele that was just leaning.
The woman was constantly going back and forth between the circular counter and the surrounding tables, and I could tell she was experienced, no one was left waiting for their order for too long, she was efficient.
I approached the counter and called the bartender, asking for a coffee. While I waited, I started surveying my surroundings, and since the counter was at the center of the car, I could practically see everyone and everything around me.
On one of the tables there were business men smoking big cigars, probably responsible for most of the smoke and active smell. Close to them was an old woman, absentmindedly looking out the window, smoking a cigarette. She reminded me of those women in the fifties, who smoked to look more appealing, not that this woman needed it. I could tell she was old, but very well preserved, and her dress showed off her beautiful legs, which I couldn't help but stare at for a little while. As I looked back up, she was smiling at me and winked. I think I couldn't have turned a brighter shade of red even if I turned a bucket of red paint on my head.
I turned around, facing the counter and my coffee, which had just been delivered since the man was now handing me a small packet of sugar. I proceeded to shake the sugar to one side of the packet and gently ripped open the other end. Picked up the small metal spoon and mixed both of the ingredients until I was satisfied the sugar had been fully dissolved. I picked up the small coffee cup and took in it's aroma. It wasn't one of the best but smelled good enough, so I risked a sip and drank the rest short after. It tasted better than it smelled, which was a nice surprise.
As I savoured the coffee, I continued to check on my fellow consumers, and surely enough, there was a table full of hoods close to a window. I was happy that they didn't seem to notice me, either beacause they were on the back end of the car or simply didn't care.
I looked outside and could see green hills, occasionally punctuated with big rock formations.
The barman came up to me and told me my fee, and as I was giving him the money I noticed his wrist, he had a watch.
"Excuse me, could you please tell me what time it is?"
"Sure, it is now exactly half an hour past one." He said while checking his wrist.
"Thank you."
I could only assume the bakery clock had been wrong or perhaps for decoration purposes only, it didn't matter now.
The barman brought me my change.
"Excuse me, could you please tell me what's our next stop?"
"Let me think... if I am not mistaken, we should be arriving at the big hill right about now."
And almost on cue, the train started slowing down.
The car had been transformed into a snack-bar. Several round tables with small stools filled the room, and as far as I could see, all of them were taken.
I spotted the two employees, a woman, walking through the tables, delivering drinks and taking orders, and a young man at the counter, serving the clientele that was just leaning.
The woman was constantly going back and forth between the circular counter and the surrounding tables, and I could tell she was experienced, no one was left waiting for their order for too long, she was efficient.
I approached the counter and called the bartender, asking for a coffee. While I waited, I started surveying my surroundings, and since the counter was at the center of the car, I could practically see everyone and everything around me.
On one of the tables there were business men smoking big cigars, probably responsible for most of the smoke and active smell. Close to them was an old woman, absentmindedly looking out the window, smoking a cigarette. She reminded me of those women in the fifties, who smoked to look more appealing, not that this woman needed it. I could tell she was old, but very well preserved, and her dress showed off her beautiful legs, which I couldn't help but stare at for a little while. As I looked back up, she was smiling at me and winked. I think I couldn't have turned a brighter shade of red even if I turned a bucket of red paint on my head.
I turned around, facing the counter and my coffee, which had just been delivered since the man was now handing me a small packet of sugar. I proceeded to shake the sugar to one side of the packet and gently ripped open the other end. Picked up the small metal spoon and mixed both of the ingredients until I was satisfied the sugar had been fully dissolved. I picked up the small coffee cup and took in it's aroma. It wasn't one of the best but smelled good enough, so I risked a sip and drank the rest short after. It tasted better than it smelled, which was a nice surprise.
As I savoured the coffee, I continued to check on my fellow consumers, and surely enough, there was a table full of hoods close to a window. I was happy that they didn't seem to notice me, either beacause they were on the back end of the car or simply didn't care.
I looked outside and could see green hills, occasionally punctuated with big rock formations.
The barman came up to me and told me my fee, and as I was giving him the money I noticed his wrist, he had a watch.
"Excuse me, could you please tell me what time it is?"
"Sure, it is now exactly half an hour past one." He said while checking his wrist.
"Thank you."
I could only assume the bakery clock had been wrong or perhaps for decoration purposes only, it didn't matter now.
The barman brought me my change.
"Excuse me, could you please tell me what's our next stop?"
"Let me think... if I am not mistaken, we should be arriving at the big hill right about now."
And almost on cue, the train started slowing down.
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