Lleida, or Lerida by any other name...
The weird thing about Cataluna is that they speak a completely different language here...Catalan. It's kinda like Castilian Spanish but with too many x'es and it doesn't make any sense. The prominent monument is an enormous castle / church perched on the top of a hill in the middle of town. It was also incredibly windy and cold the whole week I was there. To the point, that I started getting weird headaches and lightheadedness. I'm not sure I can attribute it to the weather but it was odd.
I can't really say much for Lleida (Lerida in Catalan) weather, architecture, or people. I was actually visiting Carmen, my Andalusian sister, since she now lives up north. Carmen's roommate, Eugenia, is from Argentina and her sister, Lauara, was also in town during the same week.
In addition to the mechanics of lesbian love, I was also introduced to the fine customs of Argentina including homemade empanadas and the social rituals of drinking mate (a very herbal tea). I also spent a couple nights having my Aerobed taken over by the ass of Carmen's schizo dog Asa, who was almost dumbly friendly unless you accidentally stepped on his tail and then your foot would look suddenly bite-worthy. (Carmen thinks he was abused as a puppy).
In the end, Lleida, the city, was forgettable, but the friends I made were definitely unforgettable.
