It’s been said that a can of Coke has the same number of calories as a bottle of beer, or a glass of wine, albeit with a shitload more sugar. Also a bottle of wine contains 4.3 glasses (6 ounces). So calorically-speaking we have consumed 42 cans of Coke each since we arrived in Spain 2 weeks ago.
Our calories have been induced by Monastrell, Tempranillo, Bobal, and Rioja sources. We have stayed true to our local regions and have opted for mostly Roble and Crianza wines that have been aged in oak barrels. When Carol isn’t looking I will slip in a Gran Reserva which has been aged a minimum of 5 years.
So far I have sampled 5 varieties of Spanish cerveza and they measure up nicely to the other 46 national beers that I have enjoyed in the past. My close friend Ted assures me that even China offers a favorable hop-based beverage and he truly is an expert, at least in amount consumed, so I’ll trust him on that.
Our current location offers me a meager two block stroll to a fabulous inebriant purveyor who stocks a plethora of wines from worldwide sources as well as all of the high end liquors you could desire, plus a smattering of temperature-reduced beers for immediate consumption.
The proprietors appear to be a long-together couple who know their trade. He works at a desk just beyond the retail area, spectacles-deep in a video screen and she lounges at a lovely counter usually entertaining regulars seated on stools with local lore. It’s like going home.
Despite meeting about six times already I haven’t built up the nerve to converse with her in her native tongue so I don’t yet know her handle but with three days remaining we will be acquainted on a more personal basis I’m sure, possibly with a photo if she will allow me the luxury.
Being frugal consumers we tend to choose from the lower shelves (3.8€ to 6€) which doesn’t face the least amount of judgement from her and today when I was forced to purchase double my normal quantity because tomorrow is Sunday, and this afterall is a Catholic-based country, she gave me a positive nod on one of my choices, a Corcovo syrah. We will save it for tomorrow and I hope I don’t lose too much sleep in anticipation.
Today was another stellar day activity-wise and our sustenance was mostly breads, cheeses, tomatoe, avocado, olives, cucumber, sprouts, tapenade and fruit. A truly Mediterranean diet. The pounds would literally be melting off us if it weren’t for those 42 Cokes.
Blue Delivery 