Basques around the world

Kaixo Basque friends:

How is everything going after the Easter break? Good weather is back with us here in the Basque Country, which will be good for the riders of the Tour of the Basque Country. If you like cycling and you want to follow live, you can do it on eitb.com.

It is also the Artzain Eguna in Ordizia, something similar to the trailing of the sheep in Ketchum.

Javier Clemente, the coach that led Athletic Club Bilbao to win two national championships, has been appointed coach of Real Valladolid. And if you like soccer, we have got a wonderful video of Messi’s poker of goals against Arsenal yesterday…. A soccer player from other planet

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Good afternoon Basques,

Due to some technical problems yesterday we didn’t send you our usual update of news from our Basques All Around the World group, so here’s a summary of events from the past couple of days:

The biggest news today is about Basque president Patxi López’s meeting with Brazilian President Lula da Silva. His trip of the South American country has brought some positive economic news.

The latest edition to our Basque Country Live Blog is Jess Soodeen, a Canadian with no Basque heritage except for the historical links between the Basque Country and her mother’s native Newfoundland.  Find out how this connection brought her to our shores.

Chef Najat Kaanache, born in the Basque Country to Moroccan parents, is currently in Chicago as part of a three-year trip to learn from the world’s best chefs. Read about her odyssey.

If you’re following the Basketball Euroleague, some bad news I’m afriad as Caja Laboral crash out against CSKA Moscow.

Lastly, if you happen to be in the Basque Country this June, AC/DC will once again be playing Bilbao. Not a few people were left disappointed last year when tickets sold out in minutes, so this year’s gig at the massive San Mames stadium hopes to cater for all.

That’s all for now.

Bihar arte-

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Good evening Basques –

We’ve more than 2,200 members in our Basques Around the World Group and we’re still going strong. We really enjoy receiving your comments and contributions and look forward to receiving many more.

So let us know what you think of three interesting news items we’ve had today:

Firstly, Basque cookery once again enjoyed international fame, this time at the hands of none other than the BBC! But rather than Michelin-star restaurants or pintxos, this report looked at another important part of our tradition: the ‘txoko’, or gastronomic societies.

You will no doubt remember the 47 tense days reported here by eitb.com when the Basque fishing vessel the ‘Alakrana’ was hijacked by Somali pirates? Now those seven weeks are to become the subject of a brand new film entitled ‘Alakrana’ from the pen of Basque screen writer Jorge Guerricaechevarría, who wrote the multi Goya Award-winning Cell 211.

Another Basque branching out into international waters is Bilbao-born surfer Kepa Acero, who’ll be heading off in May around the 5 continents of the globe to face whatever nature has to throw at him, as well as 5 world-class waves. You’ll be able to follow his journey – entitled 5 Waves, 5 Continents – on his website.

That’s all for today – let us know what you think!

Bihar arte.

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Good afternoon Basques-

It’s nearly the weekend here as we look forward to San José on Friday…

Meanwhile, there’s been some interesting posts on our Basque People Around the World wall.  It turns out that even as far back as 1960 an American – keen on Jai Alai – was determined to produce a Basque-English dictionary. Strangely enough, he was a White House police official!

Our Irish readers will be interested to know that the second edition of the Royal Basque Language Academy’s cultural magazine Erlea includes a special feature on Ireland, its history and literature, thanks to the collaboration of writer-journalist Paddy Woodworth.

Taking a break from rebuilding the kitchen at his famous Mugaritz restaurant, Basque chef Andoni Aduriz turned up in Australia yesterday to promote his restaurant at the Melbourne Food & Wine festival.

Also out in Australia is Zarautz’s Aritz Aranburu, who got to the third round of the Drug Aware Pro Championship in Margaret River. Compatriot Eneko Acero wasn’t so fortunate.

Lastly, for events coming up in the Basque Country: tickets have gone on sale for the Urban Dance competition Break on Stage, held every year in Bilbao. Making an appearance at this year’s event is, among others, London’s DJ Renegade.

That’s the news for today – Ostegunarte!

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