Turku, Café Art

For the first text in this blog, I choose a place from my home town, and one of my favorites. Working as sociologist of religion, and writing now my dissertation, I need creative places to write and work. For that, I have various 'offices' where I work. In summertime my regular spot has been for many years now Café Art by the river Aura in Turku. Privately owned (read: no chain-café-bullshit, but rather a family business with soul and unique style) café is famous for their coffee. But at same time it means that there is usually at least short waiting time for getting your cappuccino or like - one reason why I choose usually tea. There is also good selection of teas to pick from, so quality is quaranteed, and you don't have to wait in queue so long.

Book, tea, and half eated cinnamon roll - and of course the trees and stuff - perfect workday in summer.

 This time newspaper, and poetry of the scenery. When heat gets too much, trees will provide shadow and wind blowing along the river will help you to enjoy the hot day.

Inside, one room - also available for meetings etc. This time I escaped from the rain and prolonged my office hours by one cappuccino. On the wall you see one piece of art they also sell - hence the name Café Art.

Café Art has been running now for so many years (at least seven, i think), that I don't remember when exactly they opened. There used to be another café, Café France, in same place, provided with services of French consulate in Turku - before it moved to Casagrande house three hundred meters up to the riverside. Café France had poor serving, but excellent service. Table service in Finnish cafés is very rare, so it was wonderful little extra for tiny café. Café Art, at first, continued table service, but after their business grew, they bought bigger coffeemaker, display cabinets etc - in other words renovated the whole café - the table service ended. So by advancing in one direction, they withdrew in other. But still, I continue going there - especially in summertime.

Afterword:
...Not long after I posted this, Café Art raised prices on the products I usually order. Coincidence, maybe, probably, but it did cause me and myself to visit other places more often. That's only logical, I quess?

Update:
...Not a year from my post and the price for tea has gone up 40% and for cinnamon roll 50%. Quite a strike on the products I frequently choose. Not the best policy considering old customers and their satisfaction. More subtle rises would be better tolerated. Less quality with higher prices...