FANtastic!

So, it turned out that Saturday was a festival here in Girona. Basically, it was an extra shopping day. Normally, shops close for lunch on Saturday and don't re-open, but shops didn't close until around 9pm and there were vendors set up along the streets as well. We were shocked when we returned from Figueres to find the streets were packed with people:
We found a delightful shop selling microbrews, local gazpacho, and even botifarra d'ou a local sausage of egg and meat. I'm still shocked by Europe's general lack of open container laws as they nicely opened our beers and we drank them as we browsed the vendors.
Our evening was concluded by a trip to Bauhaus, a large German hardware store chain that reminded me of Home Depot. As you can see from the photo above, it has been quite enjoyable weather during the day. However, this has meant warm evenings. We were there for fans. After a fruitless week looking for a square fan to wedge in our window, our persistence was rewarded and we now enjoy cool, sleep-filled nights.We also bought a vertical fan, which works pretty well. It's still taking us some time to get used to the design though. Who would have thought that fans styles change throughout the world?
Love, fishes, robots, and cool breezes,
--Chrissy and Chee Sing

Dalí Museum

So, Saturday was off to the Renfe (rail) station (actually, it's the same station as the bus terminal) to catch a ride to Figueres (pronounced like Feeg-Air-Es). It's around a half hour ride from Girona with two options for Renfe: the regional train (2.90, has far more stops) or the medium distance train (3.90, nicer seats with outlets). We took the regional train on our way, and due to some bumbling with our change, missed the regional home (it pulled away as we had our tickets). Aside from a wait around the platform that smelled something like WD40, it wasn't too bad. It meant we could plug in Chee Sing's phone (which ran out of batteries during our picture taking at the museum) and so played games for the shorter ride:
As a note for anyone prone to motion sickness: it's generally more comfortable to ride facing the direction of travel. On the way, we decided to sit backwards, which always seems like it would be fun (in a return to childhood fashion), but for me is actually only enjoyable for the first quarter hour.
Figueres is special as it was the birthplace of Salvador Dalí and the location of the museum he constructed for his works. As one of my favorite artists of all time, it was quite a treat. I think it's a very interesting experience to view an artist's works as they would have you view them, even after their death.I was quite struck by Dalí's obvious deep devotion (obsession?) with his wife Gala. Her images are much more influencial in his work than I had realized, and her death was obviously devestating to Dalí.Dalí's Crypt is inside the museum.
The museum is divided into two different entrances: the main museum, and the jewelry museum. It turns out that Dalí had exquisite pieces designed from precious materials, in order to showcase art for arts sake (there is a quote on the wall to the effect of noting the importance of impractical art in a utilitarian society). They were quite amazing (a couple I would wear even if they proved uncomfortable as Chee Sing imagined they would be). Some of the pieces move!
After the museum, we wandered around town, picked up some groceries (since nothing would be open Sunday) and stopped for some kebabs on our way back to the station (we ate them in the park across the street which had a neat fish fountain).
Overall, a highly recommended adventure! I'm going to avoid giving too much away, since we are sure to drag any and all of you that visit off to the museum.
Love, fishes, robots, and amazing art!
--Chrissy and Chee Sing