Random thoughts about food in Spain, No. 1

We stayed in apartments during most of our time in Spain, for several reasons, some of them food related. Sometimes when we're traveling our clocks get really turned around and we're hungry at strange times. A couple of times in the past we've been out searching the streets for a restaurant at a time when everything was closed except American fast-food franchises. Eating at home saves money, it's fun to explore the markets, the four of us all enjoy cooking, plus shopping and eating together gave us time to talk about what we'd seen and done during the day.

We stayed near Puerta del Sol n Madrid, and we hit El Corte Ingles, Spain's largest department store, almost every evening on our way back to our apartment. In their basement supermercado we stocked up on eggs, cheese, bread, jamon Iberico or Serrano, olives, roast peppers, smoked salmon, fruit, fresh veg and the like for tapas dinners and hearty breakfasts. We bought and consumed several containers of blood-orange juice every day (Tropicana brand -- do we have that here?!), and sampled unbelievably inexpensive and highly enjoyable riojas and albarinos. We all appreciated having such great variety less than five minutes from home.