The Cafe Tingis in Tangier had all the exacting prerequsites I needed to practise at length and at leisure my lifetime’s passions; absorbing new places, observing new people, and getting as much chatting done as possible.
Actually, it’s not so much just chatting, it’s proper conversing that I love, at best with a sweeping assortment of people, and preferably for not too long at at a time to avoid boredom for everyone concerned, especially if someone is new to you.
The Café Tingis suited me perfectly as my ‘office’ also because it’s on a square called the Petit Socco, petit enough to offer a variety of potential conversation companions packed into a small space, so I could settle happily at my table for however long I wanted and still experience the variety I cherish.
One of the first people I noticed from my eyrie office was a flamboyant figure with silver-tipped cane striding down into the square. His name was Jono, and he was to share my zinc table at the Tingis most days for the next few weeks.
Out There & In Here 