Ibis Budget is an extremely low-cost, simple, no-nonsense hotel chain offering efficient, basic,…read moreand clean rooms. I spent one night at the Ibis Budget just outside Lleida's city center. The hotel is only two years old, and the facilities are modern, simple, clean, and comfortable. Nothing's too exceptional here: furniture and decor is bare-bones, but the hotel has all the amenities you need for a comfortable, pleasant stay. One thing I can't underemphasize is how *clean* I found the room/bathroom--spotless! Ibis offers nothing special, but at it's very low pricepoint, you really can't beat it! If I find myself traveling to Lleida again, I'll most definitely consider Ibis as a solid, inexpensive option!

The best breakfast buffet I have had, in or out of a hotel. Eggs, Spanish meets, tortilla (Spanish…read moreomelette), multiple incredible pastries and tortes, two kinds of olives, made-to-order cafe con leche, mixed nuts, fruit galore ... YUM!

Gayle and I spend the night at the Parador in Lleida. Before checking out and heading off to Begur…read more(Costa Brava), we decided to take a walk. What we found almost outside our door was the remains of Lleida's Old Jewish Quarter - La Cuirassa. The outdoor exhibit covers several former city blocks and offers a nicely curated walk through one piece of local Jewish history. During the mediaeval era -from the Christian conquest of the city in the middle of the 12th century, down to the final expulsion of the Jews at the end of the 15th century- the Jewish quarter of Lleida was not a walled neighborhood, but it did have entrance gateways. Living side-by-side made it easier for the Jews to maintain their traditions, and protected them from popular uprisings. The La Cuirassa became one of the most important Jewish communities of the Crown of Aragon, and was the site of the Western Collective, the institution that administered the affairs of the Jewish community in this part of the Principality. It is estimated that in the middle of the 14th century around five hundred Jews lived in Lleida, some 13% of the city's total population. Now, after more that 500 years, Gayle and I were able to unexpectedly learn a little bit more about Jewish history in this area of Catalunya. As they say, " Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous".

Lleida's imposing main railway station sits at the end of the broad 'Rambla de Ferran', a…read morefifteen-minute walk from the centre of Lleida. It's a major junction and a principal stop for services between Barcelona and Zaragoza and Madrid. This now includes the high-speed AVE service, for which the station has received a major make-over: a modern glass-and steel wing has been added to the imposing 19th century French-style classical façade, and white-and-blue wavy roofs have been erected over the platforms. The main building contains a spacious ticket hall, with a separate information centre, a small selection of shops, a café, and security facilities for AVE passengers (all baggage for passengers on AVE services is X-rayed). It all feels spacious and modern, the only downside being that the subway beneath the tracks runs from the new extension, entailing a good five minute walk from the main entrance to the platforms (so leave enough time). In front of the station is a taxi rank, a small Tourist Information office and bus stops for local buses. Both conventional and AVE services go from Lleida go to Tarragona, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Madrid, and other conventional services to La Pobla de Segur and Manresa both through spectacular scenery.