AromaBuenCafe, San Ignacio

I walk into this pretty, very modern café (with a fabulous bathroom) that rivals Star Bucks for sure! Two beautiful womyn are behind the counter, smiling and greeting me.

We speak spanish – or rather they speak spanish and I speak the best I can. I tell them how happy I am to find them, and yes they have wireless! It’s unbelievable!

We have the usual introductory conversation that I can handle. Where I’m from, how long I’ve been on the road, where I’ve been to – and am I traveling sola? We talk about war and the u.s., violence and the u.s., organic seeds.

They ask about my hair, the paintings on the truck, the seeds I’m passing out.

Lupita is from Chiapas; her co-worker Rosa is from Vera Cruz. I ask them why they are here in San Ignacio. I think they tell me because of their esposo’s, who are in the military. I change the subject.

I find out they are closing in an hour so I rush back to the truck to get my computer. When I return, we can’t stop talking.

Lupita and I start writing on the computer, trying to figure out the translations. If the english translation is as bad as the spanish, we’re probably far from understanding each other.

They want me to park overnite up the hill in front of the military station. I tell them I fear boys with guns. They laugh and say I shouldn’t be afraid.

Lupita tells me she will call her husband. He IS military. Oh fabulous. But he’s a dentist, thank the goddesses, so when he comes in it is sin weapons.

They turn out to be a sweet, amazingly affectionate, respectful, loving couple who seem to like each other even. She tells me he is the owner of the café, and she works there. She asks me about the university have I gone to. I ask her if she’s gone to the university. She says no and I ask if she wants to go.

Ciro answers for her, no way will he let her go, as she agrees, shakes her head and points to him. He asks me do I know how many children they have at home? It turns out three: 10, 8, and 6 – a girl and 2 boys.

He tells me he is 17 years older than Lupita – he’s 52. She smiles and nods and says she’s 35. He takes over the typing as we delve deeper into who we are. 

I tell him in the u.s. they would call him a "cradle robber". They laugh and she says, yes they would call him that too, here in Mexico.

She leans against him comfortably, he looks her in the eye as they figure out words to use without the ñ, missing on my computer, questions to ask, responses.

Their happiness is obvious, as is their working relationship. He takes over the computer as she slips back behind the counter.

I ask if their coffee is organic. He writes that the people aren’t educated about organic coffee and they don’t know any better. I tell him, but he knows better, and he does. His wife is from the state that is growing coffee organically.

I ask about his military career and he asks about my anti-war work. He quotes fuckin George Lakoff and tells me “work for peace not work against war”. And when I say I do both, he elaborates: work for peace is positive, work against war is negative. Grrrrrr

He asks me if I’m catholic or protestant. I said neither: I’m jewish, but not religious just spiritual. He nods knowingly and types “you were born Jewish but you don’t practice now”. I tell him about the last christian I met who tried to convert me. He laughs and reassures me I’m okay in his book.

They tell me they are closing the café but that they will leave the internet on if I want to park the truck out front and continue to use it!

They are re-opening at 5pm. I’m so happy, I move the truck closer and sit outside, posting to ebay all afternoon until they re-open. Then I sit inside posting until they close. I spend the night outside their café, which unfortunately is closed Mondays!