Lunch in Spain...

Yesterday I had lunch in Spain. As you do. Friends of mine were going to visit a garden center just over the border, apparently the prices are much cheaper than here in France. So I tagged along.

Their mission was to buy an olive tree for their garden, my mission was to get my passport out and to eat some tapas. Mission accomplished for all of us.

It took us about an hour and a half to get to Figueres, which is in the north-east corner of Catalonia and is the birthplace of Salvador Dali. The sun was shining as we drove up through the Pyrénees, which were ablaze with bright yellow Mimosa, and crossed the border into Spain. We got caught in the rain in Figueres after our lunch, so had to run through the town, which at that hour (3.00pm), seemed to be collectively enjoying its afternoon siesta.

Not a bad way to spend a Monday. The only regret was that we didn't have time to stop at a shop and stock up on Cava and Rioja. But I plan to go back soon to visit the Dali museum and laze in one of the cafés on the square soon. Here are some photos:

At the motorway border between France and Spain, a pyramid built with the excavated stones from the building of the motorway. A homage to Catalonia.

The fairytale-esque olive tree forest at the garden center. Some of these trees are several centuries old.

The Dali Museum, designed by Dali himself.

The tapas bar in the center of Figueres. We had calamari, potates bravas, bread with aubergine, tapenade and anchovies, chorizo, croquettes, ice cream, vino rosado, and the strongest, smallest black coffee I've ever had.