On Sunday the 27^th we boarded a tour bus and drove about 90 minutes to Figueres. Dali’s hometown. Dali built a museum there and it is very cool. There are many stories about the many ways in which Dali was psychologically bent. Some are probably a result of his self-promotion, some are probably all too true. He was born 9 months after his older brother (Salvador) died. Hmmmm. He claimed to believe that he was his brother reincarnated. What kind of parents would name the 2^nd son after the first now deceased son? He also apparently had a tormented relationship with his wife Gala. But… his art is remarkable. He had very sophisticated technique and what an imagination. We spent too little time there.

After the museum we drove to the castle Dali bought for Gala. Nothing too magnificent. Supposedly Dali bought it in 1969 for $6K.

I would have rather stayed another couple of hours in the museum….

The Dali foundation website.

Lunch, overlooking another beautiful valley full of vineyards and olive groves

So, I am trying hard to keep publishing in chronological order. We had no connectivity in Tuscany so… no Italy posts yet.

In fact, I am working on my last Spain posting, The Dali museum. But today is “catch-up” day, so we’ll see how far I can get. Meanwhile I will post 1 Italy picture to whet your appetites.  MJG underwrote a lunch of bread, wine, cheese… We ate it sitting on the grass outside the walls of Massi Maritimma. Thanks Michael!

The Paella Trip

So, perhaps the signature dish of Spain is paella (pie eh’ ya). And you can make a paella in many styles. But the favorite is Paella Valencia. And Kathy was “tour lead” for our paella outing.

We had a very good tour guide who was English and grew up in Barcelona. He loves his city, knows everything about it, including how to make quality paella.

But before hitting the market to see where one could get the necessary ingredients, he wanted to show us some more sites. We did a quick stop at Casa Mila again. Some of us had not yet seen it and even for those who had he had more perspective on it. Then back on the bus for a ride to Placa Catalunya and a short walk down Las Ramblas to the market (Mercat de la Boqueria). We see vendors with all the necessary and tasty seafood and of course saffron. Then a walk through the Gothic Quarter on the way to the restaurant where we get to watch chefs cooking paellas in paella pans 3’ across. Then of course, we eat. Mmmmmmm.