Perpignon, France to Figueres, Spain

It is au revoir to France as we head south along the very southern coast of France and into Spain.  The weather is, in a word, hot.  About 95 in US degrees.  And there is a pretty strong wind off the sea.  Lots of water is in order for our trip.  We are glad to leave Perpignon.  Not so much because the city itself isn’t nice; it really is very unique and enjoyable.  Rather, the dump that we stayed in is best forgotten.  We’ll laugh about it in a week or two.

The way up

Our route takes us over the Pyrenees but over a pass near the coast that rises about 1,200 feet our way to Figueres, the home town of Salvadore Dali.  An uneventful journey all things considered, though the pass has 11 percent sections that were a challenge.

The way down...

 We arrive in Figueres and it immediately reveals itself as a unique town.  We are staying in a hotel close to the Dali Museum and a photo of the hotel tells part of the story. 

Hotel Plaza Inn, Figueras

That's our room, with the pony

 But the entire city is given over to Dali-esque whimsy and surreal art.  It is crazy beautiful.  After cooling down and eating our recovery snack (salted cacahuetes – peanuts), we wander around town.  It is Saturday evening and the streets are crowded.  A bar has the Brazil / Chile match on TV so we have a beer and watch the game.  Great game, Brazil taking it on the tiebreaker after two extra periods.

A selfie that only got one self...

 Back at the hotel the owner, who is a bigger than life kind of guy who speaks very little English but has no problem making himself clear, invites us to his rooftop party that starts at 9:00 p.m.  We figure “what the heck” and head to the roof at the appointed time.  More Dali on the roof, which has a nautical theme complete with boat for guests.  As soon as we are off the lift we’re met with beer and wine.  We are then introduced to other guests, who the host has arranged in seats in the rooftop boat according to nationality and language skills. 

Our vessel for the night

Then comes the food: barbequed sardines marinated with olive oil and basil and shrimp/crawdad boiled and spicy and crisped nicely.  And the beer and wine flows in volume. 

 The party was a hoot and everyone had a great time.  We sat with a couple from Avignon, France, who have a place nearby on the sea, a couple from Barcelona, Spain, in Figueres celebrating their 10^th anniversary, another couple from Bolivia and Spain who are expecting a baby shortly, a Puerto Rican dance instructor (Salsa) who could not convince Lorie to dance, a Honduran living in Barcelona and a couple who hail from Russia and Spain.  We also met others from around the world who shared our boat.  What a great time!  We enjoyed every person and heard and told many stories and stayed up well in to the early hours, when the Mojitos started flowing.

Our shipmates for the evening

The hotel owner is a heck of an entertaining host.  There was no charge for any of this – it is the owner’s way of saying “thanks,” we suppose, and he surely has a good time, too.  We are both convinced that Figueras is one of our favorite stopping point so far, in addition to Carcassonne.

Our host.

If your travels take you to Northern Spain, say at Hotel Plaza Inn in Figueras and stay for Saturday night.  You will not be disappointed!  Chapeau, Senor!