I often crave to find places that are people free . Well a places that people don't usually crowd as every place in Manila now is packed. one random day I decided to go to Solidaridad, the famed bookshop of the great F. Sionil Jose. I often go here to look for new local titles and some that are hard to find.
Very traditional signage even with its font I must say. Was shooting in film this day and pity that I wasn't able to take photos of the place itself, upon entering I had that warm feeling of nostalgia for some reason with classical music on cue. Was lucky that day to get two poetry books of Marjorie Evasco.
Two stones away from the bookshop was this diner.
I was just really starving and couldn't wait to get to school, though to tell you the truth I hesitated on getting inside as there were only a couple of people inside and mostly old old men, "lolo"(grandfather) old some mafia looking so you get the things running through my head that time. Thank my hunger that I braved my ill thoughts against those lolos.
mirror shot, sorry just getting the hang of a full manual camera.
I got pancakes with coffee and if I remember it costed me 135 or a little bit over a hundred pesos. What now ihop? This is the real thing. They make their pancakes crispy on the sides and their coffee brewed gently!
time-honored diner seats!
Coffee Signage inside was hard to miss. That's when I knew I had to bring the squirrel to this magical hole of warm pancakes and warmer red lights.
TADAA....
OOTD before leaving school.
Sort of matching tops and bags. We were sort of trying to look respectable that day.ehhhh.
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| getting her hands on the syrup!! |
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| Coffee?? |
This is it. What we came for.
serious matters eh?
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| LEGIT COFFEE BREWER! |
The best thing about the place were the waitresses who were very accommodating letting us goof around! Well other than that the place is just different. Giving you a different feel, the right kind of quiet, you can still hear people speaking but in low hushed voices pardon for the television airing showing one of the local chanels but other than that the place is pretty quiet though not utterly silent.
When I'm inside, the world doesn't halt but instead everything seems steady as if I can watch people panic away outside and I am able to spend my time watching them from the coffee stained windows. Do try it out for yourself!
So if you do have the time. walk along Padre Faura and eat at Midtown Inn Diner and don't get intimidated by old men they're pretty much harmless. I even got the chance to eavesdrop (whoops!) and heard how one old guy has a balance on the tab, seems like the man has been eating there for quite some time. Something about the place broods wistfulness, like being drenched in De Ja Vu, being in a place that has existed far older than myself I feel an unfamiliar familiarity with the place. Like I have stepped in this space before although I'm pretty sure I have not. Maybe because stepping inside this place makes me aware of myself against what is outside or maybe that's the black coffee kicking in?
Glad that places like this still exist. If you know any more places like this one please do let us know!
X,
Arabella the pancake eater!
