Figueres y Cadaques

As per my last post, this was our big shopping day. For the last few months prior to us going away on this overseas jaunt, the kids had been saving so that have some money of their own to spend. Grandparents and others threw in some Euro's and at the end of the day, they both went away with 300 Euros. That's a decent pile of cash.

The differing approach of our 2 children to both having and spending a large wad of cash is interesting. Amazingly, Ben still has some left - and we have 2 weeks to go. Basically, quality or buying something that you actually need, is not an issue and doesn't come into the decision to buy. Translated that means he buys any old shit. Where ever we are, Ben will wander off (we make sure he is OK of course) and invariably come back with something useless. He just cant handle having money in his pocket and not spending it. Jamie however, I am convinced will return to Auckland with Euros. She hates spending! Every decision is meticulously calculated. Those of you (and that's all of you), that know our children realise these spending traits mirror their respective personalities perfectly.

Anyway, big shopping day. It was Sunday and Figueres is closed!

Nice planning Mum and Dad. Needless to say the reaction from our kids was not one of a positive nature. However, the day turned out fine. Apparently not all of Figueres was closed, Zara was open. Zara is open? That's great news! Zara was one of our key shopping destinations. To cut a long story short -  we came, we shopped and we spent. All of us got some bargains, even Jamie - Spain is soooo cheap.

After a long day shopping at one store because the rest of the city is closed, we headed home to regroup and get ready for dinner. We managed to find an awesome pinxtos and tapas restaurant (thanks Trip advisor) and had a superb meal. The pinxtos (or small Tapas from the Catalan region) are sitting on the bar top. You walk up, grab a plate and take however many you want. At the end of the meal, they count the toothpicks that you have left and charge you accordingly. Its a great way to dine and they are only 1.90 euros each.

Pinxtos

84 euros later (!) and we headed home for the evening to watch the Cup. 2 races to those bastard's Oracle. Really worried that the only way we will win a race is if Oracle make a mistake... They are not really bastards, I just want us to win cause firstly I'm a Kiwi and secondly, winning might make us some money. Purely selfish :)

The next day, we headed for Cadaques to meet up with Pop Rudestar AKA my father. The drive was short and easy - a bit like Christine. Sorry Lesley. Cadaques is on the Costa Brava coast and was the playground of the aforementioned Salvador Dali. Its a beautiful place - full of white buildings and the crystal blue of the sky and the sea.

Gorgeous Cadaques

We spent the day checking out the city then relaxing by the pool in our hotel. Another hard day. As of 5 minutes ago, we just arrived back from a lovely dinner which we had just down the road from our hotel. 2 good quality, large courses including bread and a bottle of wine for 14 euros each - that.s about NZ $25. Ludicrously cheap. Its so cheap here. I'm not sure why - I'm thinking economies of scale, access to well priced produce or the plethora of other restaurants and therefore the increased competition dragging the prices down. Either way, its good for me.

Tomorrow, we are off to Switzerland. Its our BIG drive. Up at 7am, out the door by 8am, in Lausanne, Switzerland (out of Spain, traversing France and into Switzerland) by 4pm if we are lucky - that's 8 hours. Ben is going with Dad, I have the girls. Bring it on..