A Greek man had come in an hour or two previously (the owner told me) and had a hard time making the owner understand him, as his English was not too good — and neither was the owner’s. Finally the Greek man just pointed, paid for his package, and left.

But he came back an hour later (just before I arrived, in fact), carrying his dripping package, which he flung onto the counter of the store.

“This may be alright for you Chinese” he said, “but we Greeks can’t eat noodles like this!” He then stormed out.

The owner showed me the package and its soaking contents. The man had purchased, cooked — and apparently attempted to eat — a package of Chinese incense sticks.