If you’re taking your first trip to Europe, there is something you will probably notice immediately after walking down any street. Anytime you pass by a cafe, restaurant or bar, there are guaranteed to be tables lining the sidewalk. This isn’t the strange thing, however. In the U.S., there are also tables lining the street. The thing that differentiates Europe is that every single time, the chairs will all be on one side of the table. People never sit across from each other, only side by side. There are many reasons why they may do this.
They Love to Observe and People-Watch
Many countries in Europe love cafe culture–meaning they love spending hours sitting at a cafe, drinking coffee or having a pastry. What’s the best thing to do while doing nothing? People watching! When you sit facing the street, you get to watch everything going on, which is kind of like entertainment!
Increase Awareness of Their Surroundings
If you have your back facing the street, you are more vulnerable. You can’t see if someone is coming up behind you, which could make you more likely to be a victim of theft. Keeping your back to the wall (and your bag away from the street) prevents this from happening.