Weekend Routine

It has been a Saturday morning routine ever since he moved to the neighborhood 17 years ago.

He showers, puts on his most presentable casual outfit, and heads out at 9a.m. - well before his neighbors - to walk the five blocks to his favorite cafe near the center of Madrid. He sits at a hideaway table that is also next to a window. He remembers the first time he saw this table from the outside and he knew it was a spot he wanted to make his own. He drapes his down vest over the second chair and lays his phone and glasses out before him as he opens the paper. 

He begins breakfast with an espresso which he drinks quickly as he reads and waits for the cook to prepare his regular order. Eggs, jamon and crusty white bread with soft butter. The waitress always offers jam, but he has always refused. There is no reason to think this weekend will be different in that regard.

His routine is just like the news. “Spain has been having the same arguments with itself since before I was born,” he thinks. Once you see the patterns it is all very comfortable.