Basques around the world

Dear Basques all around the world,

How is August going on? We guess many of you will be on holiday at the moment and we hope you are all enjoying yourselves wherever you are!

If you are in the Basque Country do not forget to visit Bilbao on Saturday 21st as the ‘Big week‘ or ‘Aste Nagusia‘ will be celebrated for 8 days. However, if you cannot visit Bilbao during those days, you still have the chance to visit London, as Marijaia will also be present in London.

Last month London Basque society celebrated the San Fermin festival and some months ago they also celebrated Herri Urrats with a picnic and festival. Now it is the time for ‘Aste Nagusia‘.

Or if you prefer you could visit the Basque town of Zarauz since it will be hosting Zinematik Surfing, a get together around surfing films. Surf, cinema and music will be the protagonists of the festival that will take place on August 27th and September 10th and 27th.

We have good news for Julia Roberts fans as she will receive Donostia Award 2010 at Zinemaldia. Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, Richard Jenkins and director Ryan Marphy will present Eat Pray Love at the 58th San Sebastian Festival in Donostia-San Sebastian. The film will be presented in the Official Selection of the Festival, out-of-competition. The Velodrome will host the world release of the first Spanish digital 3D animated film, Holy Night!, in the shape of the directorial debut by Juan Galiñanes.

And to finish with,  enjoy these two photo galleries on Basque designs Kukuxumusu and Kiribiltxo.

Agur!

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Arratsalde on!

Wherever you are, I hope the weather is to your liking.  Over here, August has so far been typically Basque, by which I mean varied, sometimes wet but never lacking in beauty. You only have to take a look at our Eguraldiblog users to see that!

Once again Zorionak, Enhorabuena, Félicitations and Congratulations to Javi Aitor Zubizarreta, a Basques Around the World group member and one that’s frequently been making our headlines recently. The latest is that Javi received an important Award following on from his work on Artzainak: Shepherds and Sheep.

Igor caught up with him in Boise and got a taster of what’s to come in his next movie. It’s a fiction movie – though still no sign of Super-Basko!

Once again the Basque Country has hit the headlines in New York for its gastronomy – what else? Yesterday the focus was a wine, little known internationally but increasingly popular here and in the US. You guessed it – Txakoli.. Enter here to find out what they said – you may be surprised.

You may remember last month we published a report ‘on the ground’ from San Fermines in Lesaka, where we got a firsthand insight into the Discover the Basque Country tour?

Paddy Woodworth, Irish journalist and author of two books about the Basque Country, is one of the co-creators of that tour and has been telling Olwen what it’s like to share a passion.

That’s all for now.

Laister arte!

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Kaixo lagunak!

Zer moduz?

The Symphony Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre opens the 71st edition of Donostia Musical Fortnight. The festival will be held from Saturday, August 7th to Friday, September 3rd.

Basque sailor Unai Basurko will begin a sailing expedition to the North Cape (Norway) this Saturday, August 7th. The aim of the expedition is to develop educational materials about the environment for primary students.

The mayors of Vitoria and Bilbao have both expressed their satifaction with the decision to bring the Spanish Vuelta back to the Basque Country in 2011 after a 34 year absence.

To finish with, Basque group Ken Zazpi have begun recording their latest album Hortzemugak Begietan which they will release at the end of 2010. Watch this video:

Don’t forget to have a look at our latest blogs:

Discover the Basque Country blog: Winemaker joins San Sebastian Food team! Jon Warren proudly announces that San Sebastian Food now has the expert knowledge and premium guiding of a very exciting young talent in winemaker Jean-Paul Trijsburg.

Basque Pelota blog: Virgen Blanca: Plain Sailing for Irujo and Beloki. Manomanista champion Juan Martinez de Irujo and Ruben Beloki qualified on Thursday with ease for the semi finals of the Torneo Virgen Blanca at Ogueta. They will now meet Xala and Barriola for a place in Monday’s final.

See you later!

Agur!

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Good afternoon Basques –

Those of you who were lucky enough to attend the Jaialdi celebrations in Boise this year, how are you feeling now it’s all over?

It might be over, but it’s still not been forgotten by Basque People All Around the World…

Were you one of those following the events on Twitter? This year’s Jaialdi became a hot topic among the Boise Twitter community these last few weeks and an invaluable source of information, photos, news, schedules and funny stories.

The Basque sport of pelota played an important part at this year’s Jaialdi, though the US is usually more famed for its liking for cesta punta, or Jai Alai.

Yesterday was the 31^st anniversary of Biscay-born Ramon Areitio’s record breaking 187-mile ball at the Newport Jai Alai of Rhode Island, a record which you may remember was broken by US golfer Jack Zuback just three years ago.

Basque golfer Txema Olazábal renewed the golf-Jai Alai speed challenge and went head-to-head with ‘cesta puntista’ Imanol López to prove once and for which one was the world’s fastest ball sport… and to raise money for a good cause!

Mugalari is back on our Basque Tourism blog with a new tip for travellers to the Basque Country. This time he’s here to praise the virtues of rural lodgings and tell us where to make reservations.

Agur!

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