May 05, 2005
america part 7 (coffee)
 Last week I wrote my last post about the normalcy of getting coffee to go in the US vs. the rarity of it in European cities. Last Sunday morning, after having written that, I went down to our local coffee shop for some sun and some caffeine, which I planned to enjoy in their spacious green garden out back. But due to a miscommunication between barristas when I ordered, the guy working the register rang up my "coffee for here" as a "coffee to go." Cost for coffee to go: $1.50. Then he looked down and realized that my coffee was actually in a ceramic mug "for here," and had to re-ring the order. Cost for coffee for here: $1.63. Apparently they have to charge tax on any food or beverage consumed on the premises. I couldn't even begin to explain the rationale behind that, but the government is apparently providing a tax incentive (albeit a small one) to people who get their coffee to go.And all the cemetery pictures I've posted are from Le Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris, better known as the place that Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Balzac will hang out chain-smoking and playing bridge until the end of time. |