My Sofia cafe experience

There was a cafe next door to my hostel.  I ate there twice.  The first time I was at a table by myself.  A guy came by and asked if the other chairs were free.  I said they were, thinking that he would take them to his own table.  Well, he sat down with his two friends.  It was a small table.  They were there to drink coffee and smoke and talk to each other.  They did not interact with me at all.  I ate a full meal while they drank their coffee and then left.  It was unusual to me, but I thought it was a Bulgarian custom.  When I described the situation to other Bulgarian people, they thought it was weird also, so I guess it was just these people....  but it almost  happened the second time I ate here also!  I was alone, again, and three older ladies came in.  They were about to sit with me until one of them found a table that could accommodate all of them.  My whole time in Bulgaria, it only happened at this one cafe.  It was a good memory I will remember.