Spain! And Fanta Limon…
I’m back from my wonderful vacation in Spain. Wherever I went when I was there, we were always served tinto de verano, which literally means, “summer red wine.” They’d bring it to the table in big pitchers. It’s half-wine, half Fanta Limon, and it’s really refreshing and delicious.
For those of you who have never had Fanta Limon, it’s actually a lemon soda with real tartness, unlike 7-Up or Sprite. You can’t get Fanta Limon in America, either! So what did I do when I got back? I searched it out on the Internet. It was tough, but I found some. I bought ten 2-liter bottles of the stuff. It just arrived via UPS, and now it’s sitting in my dining room waiting to be turned into tinto de verano.
It’s almost embarrassing that I went to such great lengths to get my hands on Fanta Limon, but that wonderful concoction of wine and lemon soda brings Spain back to my mind so vividly! It’s such a warm, friendly country. The people are incredibly generous and relaxed. They’re happy. They enjoy life. Everyone you meet, you exchange kisses on both cheeks. I told my kids when I got back, “We need to remember every day to have some fun. Americans are so rushed, so goal-oriented, we lose track of what life’s about.”
I was glad that my oldest child got to go to Spain, too–he was there longer than I was and made very good friends in Trujillo, a little corner of Spain that looks like a charming Walt Disney World set. I marveled at the narrow, 1000-year-old streets, the beautiful town square, or plaza mayor (said to be the prettiest in Spain), and the castle standing guard over the whole city. There’s no crime in Trujillo. You can walk its stone calles alone and at night and be perfectly safe.
My son’s headed to college now, but when he gets caught up in the stress of grades and schedules, he’ll have that little corner of his heart that is Spanish now. He’ll remember what’s truly important…to surround yourself with friends and family and make the most of every moment.
Viva Espana!