The city streets were hot all day and practically melted under his feet as he walked. For hours he wondered around Barcelona watching the tourists barter with the locals for produce, jewelry, trinkets, just about anything. All the while he was trying to figure out just exactly what it was that he wanted to figure out about himself and why he picked Spain to escape his life in the states.
Even after the sun had set, the city seemed to have a beautiful, rich color to it. Deep hues of red, purple, blue, yellow and green, everything around him took on a different feel and meaning now that he was alone.
His Spanish was very broken, and so he didn’t say much all day and this lead to a deep hunger. Smelling what he thought was fresh bread off in the distance, he allowed his sense of smell to be his guide. The sun had set and couples took to the streets for what looked like romance. Continuing on his walk, seats filled up quickly with duos sitting, holding hand,s sharing plates, drinking wine and beer. They were all laughing and gazing into each others eyes. He had to push his own confliction aside and push forward.
“Shit, I am totally lost now,” he said under his breath as he stopped at the corner of a crowded street.
There were people everywhere, sitting and enjoying the beautiful night and food being presented to them. He knew better than to impose on any of them, to get his Yankee ass back to the hotel.
Giggling to herself, she could hear his muffled expletive and see his confused look. "A lost American," she thought, and then said, "Would you like to have a seat?”
Her voice came from the left of him. He turned, confused to hear an American voice and not even sure if it was spoken to him.
“Yes, Yankee, I am asking you if you would like to sit down. It appears as though you have lost your way and, by the looks of things, you could use a glass of wine and, judging by the time, something to eat? But if I am wrong, the main street is four blocks to the right and six to the left. When you see the fountain with the three men playing cards you are back in the center of town."
“You’re American!” He exclaimed. “I mean, are you? And sure, I would love to have a seat, and a glass of wine, and I’m starving!” Sitting down at the little table, he could not help but take a closer look at her. Wondering…
“Ha ha, yes, I am American.” She had traveled for the past year and tonight, she didn’t expect to find him. This Yankee, he was tall, with root beer eyes and solid shoulders. It looked like he hadn’t shaved in a good three days. She could tell he took good care of himself, even on a day in the streets of Spain, he was dressed appropriately, not like most men. She could pick them out easily, the kind that picked something out of a bag, smelled it and, judging on if the stench was 5 or 6, showered before leaving. He was handsome and his smile was intoxicating.
“You sure are a sight for sore eyes. I’ll tell ya what, I have been walking for hours and I don’t speak much Spanish. I have only been here three days, and I am getting by on what the hotel has to offer pretty much. Today I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and find something new. Guess I didn’t get too far, huh?” He found himself rambling on and in his head he knew it. He even told himself to slow down. But she was beautiful, she was wearing a black dress with little white polka dots and her skin was very tan, almost like she had been sitting on the beaches all summer long. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail and a red ribbon held it in place. Her eyes were an entrancing hazel.
Before she could even ask him what he liked to drink, a bottle of 2008 Tapeńa Garnacha showed up at the table with two glasses and the waiter poured.
“Well, cheers to exploring outside of your comfort zone.” she said as they clinked glasses.
Both of their eyes lit up when the first sip hit their mouths. Full of sweet soft berries, the rich rosemary and lingering spice at the back of the mouth made them both quickly return for another sip. In unison, they both allowed their shoulders to fall.
He knew that Spain was respected for its Tempranillos hailing from the Rioja region; but this Granacha was alluring, seductive and down right delicious. He almost forgot he was hungry. The tannins were still lingering on the roof of his mouth, dancing around the sides of his tongue and he found his hand reaching for more.
“What were you working on when I sat down?” he asked her.
“Oh this? Just some notes, nothing really. Maybe we should order some Tapas? How do you feel about cheese?”
He let out a bellowing laugh. “I would eat cheese on my death bed.”
It was like she knew someone or something about this place, but before he could even change the subject there were plates and there were forks. And then, then came the food. First, the cheese plate. There were 3 different types of cheese, none of which he could pronounce; but he was ready to explore, and his eyes lit up just at the chance to. Manchego, which is a sheep cheese, was light but set off the flavor of the rosemary in the wine. Iberic, a blend of sheep and cow milk, was nice and creamy in bringing forth the sweet bright fruit flavor of the berries in the wine. And finally the Cabrales, a blend of sheep, cow and goat was creamy and rich almost like a dessert.
“Why are you here tonight?” Her question was quick and to the point and might have taken him off course, but he simply looked her in the eye and said, “I don’t want to miss out on opportunities in life.”
Evasive, she thought, but she knew she couldn’t offer much of an explanation herself.
“May I pour you another glass?” he offered as he was already pouring it. Emptying the last of the bottle into his glass, they both looked at each other and knew that another bottle was in their near future.
“Spain has more land devoted to vineyards than any other country, and ranks third for wine production in the world. Did you know that?” She was trying to distract the tension that was building between them.
His eyes were telling her a story of pain, a story of longing for someone to be near him and understand him for the years of hard work and struggle that he had been through. This was finally his escape into finding out what he wanted out of life and tonight he was finally relaxing, not needing to worry about anything but the moment and enjoying himself, the company and the wine.
Neither one of them had noticed the plates being removed and replaced with new ones. A beautiful salad of avocado, corn, black beans and tomatoes was placed in front of them. It was spiced and chilled to perfection. Fresh bread arrived and a new bottle of wine was uncorked. Cheers!
Suddenly a drunk man stood up and started singing, bumping into the Yankees chair, bumping him closer to her. It was then that he caught a smell of her, and touched her bare leg. Their mouths barely touching, he paused, looking down at her lips and then again at her eyes. He cleared his throat.
“There is a men’s room here, somewhere, around here, somewhere, right.” He was tripping all over his words.
She giggled again. “Um, yes," she cleared her throat, "it's up those steps and then off to the right of the patio.”
They both exhaled at the same time. She thought to herself, "Is it the wine, or this Mediterranean climate and the mountains that are making me feel this way?"
When he returned, he sat a little closer than when he had originally sat down. Maybe there was something to be said for these spicy hills and the juice they held.
With forks in hand another round of food appeared. Corn tortillas filled with a spicy meat, rice, beans, cheese, cabbage, cilantro and limes. As messy as it was, it was more delicious. Licking their fingers, he couldn’t help but reach out over the table, taking his thumb and running it over the side of her mouth. “A little something,” he said with a wink.
Her stomach flipped at the moment his hand touched her face and when his finger touched her lips you might as well of put that fork right into her.
“How long do you think you will be in Spain?” he asked her. He didn’t even know how long he was going to be there but he knew he wanted to see more of her.
“Until I am done with my work, maybe three more weeks. I have gone to most of the regions already, but I am going to spend about another week here in Barcelona and then play it by ear.” She never put time limits on her destinations or woke up to an alarm clock. Her days began when she woke and ended when her mind shut off, which was usually never.
Off in the distance someone was celebrating. A cake was brought out with sparklers and the waiters were singing. The golden crackle of candles bounced off her eyes. He couldn’t help himself as he placed one hand on each side of her face and pulled her close. She didn’t dare take a breath as his lips grew closer, slowly her eyes closed and her lips gave way to his.
There was an abundance of clapping and they pulled apart. Slighty laughing at the kiss and the applause, they sat there and looked at the table that had now been set for dessert. Two more forks and what was left of the Tapeńa. The waiter brought out a dark chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and two sugar cookie crisps.
The sidewalks were starting to clear out and so was the café. They both knew that when dinner was over, this encounter was going to be too. They were both trying to hold on to it as long as possible. But saying good bye was inevitable.
“Alright, so how do we end a night like tonight?” he questioned.
“The main street is four blocks to the right and six to the left. When you see the fountain with the three men playing cards you are back in the center of town,” she said. It was the same answer that started the evening. And in the back of his head he thought to himself, "Shit…I’m lost!"
“Let me at get the check and at least walk you back to your… where are you staying?” All these questions he was throwing at her was starting to make her feel dizzy.
“Let's just say it was my pleasure having wine in Spain with you tonight.” Her look was one he had never been given by a woman and it was sexy, confident, and alluring. It was killing him that he didn’t know anything about her.
“Okay, so now what?” He took her hand in his, pushed her loose strands of hair back and looked her in the eyes, very seriously and confused. It was now he realized they didn’t even know each others names. “Wait… How do I find you, I don’t even know your name?”
She took a deep breath. She knew this all along, feared it was going to come to this at some point in her journey, and pulling a pen from her book she pulled the linen off her lap and wrote something on it. Handing it over to him she said, “Don’t open this 'til I’m gone, please.”
It was then she leaned in one more time and kissed him, kissed him deeply. Their mouths parted and their tongues touched. Like the first sip, soft to the touch in the front, more intense in the back, and lingering for a long time. They sat there kissing, and when they were done kissing he could still feel her kiss in his mouth like the grape skin of the wine.
“I have to go. Now promise,you wont look at this till I’m gone.” She had to be sure he wouldn’t look.
“I promise,” was the last thing she heard him say.
The moment she turned the corner he opened the linen.
Inside was written... ~ A Journey Through Wine
Cheers!
<3 To MP
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