SamC
04-13-2007, 07:07 AM
Just spent 10 days as a chaperon for a High School trip to Italy and Spain. Because I had to watch the kids, I did not get to do much soda related photography or exploring, but I had a few things to post. This was my first trip to continental Europe:
Italy:
- Coke seems to be far more popular. Rare to see Pepsi at all. Most in the city stores carry Coke, Coke Light (which tastes like real Coke), and Sprite (in the old labeling). More full line stores had a broader selection, but still mostly Coke products.
- Schweppes has a "Schweppes Cola". Tastes like RC. Probably is.
- The Vatican serves only Pepsi in its official snack bar.
- Sprite Zero is available.
- Soda is very expensive. Triple the US price. And no free refils. Bottled water, however, is not sold at the same price as soda, but is rather far cheeper.
- No vending machines.
Spain:
- Spain is as different a country from Mexico as the USA is from the UK. I guess I should have known that, but its still surprising, to me as an American used to associating Spanish with Mexico and Latin America. Marketing and packaging were totally different from Mexico.
- Pepsi is marketed by a beer company and delivered in trucks labeled for the beer, not the cola.
- Burger King has Pepsi.
- Sprite is often replaced by Fanta Orange. Coke, Coke Light (which tastes like Diet Coke), and Fanta Orange. Coke Zero is available.
- Some vending machines. Which look like US versions from 1985 or so.
Other:
- United Airlines has Pepsi. Lufthansa has Coke, like most airlines. However you get this tiny can. About 6 ozs.
- German airport (Frankfurt) has more American style soda selections.
Italy:
- Coke seems to be far more popular. Rare to see Pepsi at all. Most in the city stores carry Coke, Coke Light (which tastes like real Coke), and Sprite (in the old labeling). More full line stores had a broader selection, but still mostly Coke products.
- Schweppes has a "Schweppes Cola". Tastes like RC. Probably is.
- The Vatican serves only Pepsi in its official snack bar.
- Sprite Zero is available.
- Soda is very expensive. Triple the US price. And no free refils. Bottled water, however, is not sold at the same price as soda, but is rather far cheeper.
- No vending machines.
Spain:
- Spain is as different a country from Mexico as the USA is from the UK. I guess I should have known that, but its still surprising, to me as an American used to associating Spanish with Mexico and Latin America. Marketing and packaging were totally different from Mexico.
- Pepsi is marketed by a beer company and delivered in trucks labeled for the beer, not the cola.
- Burger King has Pepsi.
- Sprite is often replaced by Fanta Orange. Coke, Coke Light (which tastes like Diet Coke), and Fanta Orange. Coke Zero is available.
- Some vending machines. Which look like US versions from 1985 or so.
Other:
- United Airlines has Pepsi. Lufthansa has Coke, like most airlines. However you get this tiny can. About 6 ozs.
- German airport (Frankfurt) has more American style soda selections.