Day 106 of 160

Day 106: A Fonda Without an Heir

At a fonda (a small family restaurant) in the city of Guanajuato, Juan Diego (A) and his girlfriend Martina (B) are having lunch among the retired regulars when the owner, Don Filiberto (C; don is a respectful title), comes over to their table.

How to study this lesson 3 steps
  1. Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
  2. Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a Spanish word to see what it means.
  3. Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Spanish, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.

Dialogue

Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.

Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning

  1. A

    Fíjate, somos los únicos menores de setenta. Esta fonda lleva décadas viviendo de los mismos clientes.

    Look, we're the only ones under seventy. This fonda has been living off the same customers for decades.

  2. B

    Por algo será: comida corrida de 95 pesos, con postre. Ya quisiera nuestro café imaginario una clientela así.

    There must be a reason: a lunch special for 95 pesos, dessert included. Our imaginary café could only dream of customers like these.

  3. C

    ¿Más agua de jamaica, jóvenes? Perdonen, ¿oí bien que quieren poner un negocio?

    More hibiscus water, you two? Excuse me, did I hear right that you want to start a business?

  4. A

    Sí, don Filiberto, pero cada vez que nos ponemos a hacer números, el café se nos cae.

    Yes, Don Filiberto, but every time we sit down to run the numbers, the café falls apart.

  5. C

    Pues llevo treinta años cocinando aquí y estoy a punto de traspasar la fonda. Mis hijos viven en Monterrey; no hay relevo.

    Well, I've been cooking here for thirty years, and I'm about to sell the fonda. My children live in Monterrey; there's nobody to take over.

  6. B

    ¿Y sus clientes? Si usted se jubila, esos señores se echan a llorar.

    And what about your customers? If you retire, those gentlemen will burst into tears.

  7. A

    Martina, olvídate del café: aquí ya hay cocina y clientela. Don Filiberto, ¿la sazón entra en el trato?

    Martina, forget the café: here there's already a kitchen and customers. Don Filiberto, does your touch in the kitchen come with the deal?

  8. C

    La sazón no se vende, joven, se hereda. Cuídenme a los que envejecieron conmigo y a lo mejor los herederos son ustedes.

    A cook's touch isn't for sale, young man, it's handed down. Look after the people who've grown old here with me, and you might just be my heirs.

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