Hello Dali

As we rounded the bend we could see Cadaques and the ocean stretched out below us. The coastline was very beautiful and rugged, not dissimilar to parts of the Cornish coast. Cadaques is located on the Costa Brava about a 45 minute drive from the French border. We had had amazing views of the Pyrenees en route. It was late April and the peaks were still capped with snow.
The approach to Salvador Dali's home is very low key and at first we weren't even sure that we were going the right way. The Casa-Museu Dali is situated in Port Lligat Bay, to the north of Cadaques. It was first opened to the public in 1997.

The museum is run by the Gala-Salvador Foundation which also runs the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres and the Gala Dali Castle House-Museum in Pubol. It was Dali's only fixed abode from 1930, and the place he usually lived and worked up until 1982 when, upon his wife Gala's death, he took up residence at Pubol Castle.
We purchased our tickets and were told that there was a wait of 30 minutes until the next available slot. Apparently it is not unusual for Summer visitors to have to book a visit two weeks in advance! It was not a guided tour as such, but only small groups of people were let in at a particular time.
Perched on a rock by the water's edge, we watched a group of fishermen repairing their nets in the sun whilst we waited.
The house is made up of a number of fisherman's huts, purchased one by one, and converted into a single residence. Visitors can explore various rooms including the artist's studio and get a real sense of how the couple lived, The house was very quirky with lots of natural light and big ocean views. Deep inside, there was an oval sitting room with a domed ceiling and no windows giving it a sense of intimacy and very strange acoustics. There were assistants on hand to answer our questions and to make sure nothing was touched!
Visitors can also wander freely in the gardens and walk around the swimming pool, which was adorned with giant metallic snakes and Michelin men peeping from between the shrubs. The highlight for me was the garden where, perched on top of the wall, was a sculpture of two giant white heads looking out over the landscape that so inspired Salvador Dali.
We are already planning our next trip – a visit to the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres where most of Dali's famous artwork is on display and, closer to home, the exhibition which is running this Summer at the Tate Modern.