Starbucks
Multiple locations in Monterey County starbucks.com
First you hear the friendly baristas taking orders, then you hear the espresso machine hissing. Then as you settle in with your foamy cinnamon dolce créme (extra whip, please) at one of Monterey County’s Starbucks locations, you hear the conversations of many, many interesting people around you. There are the cops, talking about their latest salacious investigation. There are the tourists, telling an embarrassing story about getting lost – at the ocean, which seems like it should’ve been a pretty good landmark. There are the neighbors you didn’t even know you had, seeming to tell all, and all you have to do is sit and sip and pretend to read a book.