Despite my new commitment to posting every day, I have dropped a day already. I have a good excuse though – two, actually. The first is I spent the morning organising, goal-setting and planning and am now sitting at an immaculate desk with a clear idea of where I am going and how I am going to get there. (Yes, 24 hours later and the desk is still clear!)

The second reason is that as I sat down to write yesterday’s post, I was reminded that there was yet another fiesta going on in our local neighbourhood. I have written here before about the famously prolific Spanish fiestas but after six months here I am still surprised – I hadn’t realised quite how many there really are. A few weeks ago we had the Festa Major – the Catalan for Fiesta Mayor which those familiar with Spanish culture will know is the main fiesta (festival) of the local town, village, or, as I have now discovered, neighbourhood.

Festa de l'Escuma - the Foam Fest

No sooner had that finished but we had the nationally celebrated Moors and Christians where people dress up and re-enact the conquest of Spain by the moors and subsequent Catholic reconquest. Then we had the Snail Fest (the

Catalans love their snails, especially here in Lleida. More on these cultural feasts later). Oh, and in passing University exams finished so they all filled the streets and some stragglers were still, well, straggling, at 11am the following morning…

Then last weekend the neigbourhood fiestas began with the usual (albeit more low key) processions of the local giants, events for the kids and a free barbecue breakfast.

Last night was the Festa de l’Escuma – the Foam Fest – where they filled a whole square with soap foam and about 1-200 kids ran around rubbing  it in each others hair, faces and anywhere else they could…

Tonight we have another recession-busting free paella party and this time some friends are involved in actually cooking these giant paellas so I expect special treatment! Reportage with Pics to follow!