Basques around the world

Good afternoon.

First up, ‘Basque’ member David Larrabee has sent us this interesting link: http://sacred-texts.com/neu/basque/index.htm, which throws up some interesting items on Basque legends.

Jon Warren has written an interesting entry into his diary which he’s posted on our ‘Discover the Basque Country‘ blog. Get an insight into Jon’s gastronomic adventures.

Jon’s partner on the new ‘Discover the Basque Country’ tour, Basque expert Paddy Woodworth wrote to tell us that the new venture has received coverage in two important US sites, as well as the good news that they have already received their first bookings.

Further news on our Dos Paredes pelota blog: This weekend, Group A will compete in the Manomanista, with Martinez de Irujo still the hot favourite. Find out the line-up here.

And on our Basque Country Live blog: read about adopted Basque Angela Linskey who left her home in Yorkshire almost 40 years ago and now runs an organic farm on renewable energies producing fruit jams and jellies. Also see some spectacular photos of Angela’s farmhouse Naera Haundi.

The debate rumbles on following Restaurant magazine’s publication of this year’s top 50 eateries: find out why Basque chef Juan Mari Arzak was indignant at the decision to rate ‘El Bulli’ in second place.

Ondo ibili!

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Good day Basques,

Welcome once again to our blog, we love to have you!

Well our other blog writers have been busy bees lately; Pelota fans now have a total of 3 more posts to read about the latest on the Manomanista competition.

Meanwhile, our Basque Tourism blog contributor Mugalari has kindly made a list of not 10 but 11 “Must Sees” in the Basque Country.

We’ve got a really special item about a new short film entitled Artzainak: Shepherds and Sheep, by US Basque Javi Zubizarreta and his colleague Jacob Griswold, about the bygone age of the Basque shepherds who emigrated to Idaho and other areas of the west. Zubizarreta and Griswold look into the hardships suffered by men who left their country in pursuit of a better life.

We’ve got some updated news about the Basques chefs – Aduriz and Arzak – who made it into Restaurant magazine’s Top 10 best eateries in the world, and remember we told you yesterday about the San Prudencio celebrations in Vitoria-Gasteiz? Today you can see a video of yesterday’s opening ceremony.

Enjoy!

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Hi there –

Loads of Blog news today Basques.

Firstly, we’ve got a brand new blog written by English San Sebastian based chef Jon Warren. Jon runs a company called San Sebastián Food, a world-class bespoke food and wine travel company. You might remember we told you about him teaming up with Paddy Woodworth, to offer small group visits around the whole Basque area. Jon’s blog – entitled Discover the Basque Country – will take you behind the scenes on a series of these tours.

Our other (Basque) food lover Tamar Marino’s latest post on our Basque Fed blog takes her into the heart of the Basque Country and its food as she tells us about her trip inland.

Our Pelota-loving Londoner Tiffany has written two important posts about the latest happenings in the Manomanista. After favourite Aimar Olaizola’s serious injury at the weekend, it looks as though Arretxe will be stepping into his shoes.

Tomorrow is an important day for Alava – San Prudencio is their saint’s day and they celebrate it with style and gusto. Find out why mushrooms and cooked snails will be so important to the province tomorrow.

As we’re talking about food, you might know that El Bulli is no longer officially the world’s best restaurant – it’s been taken over by a Dane. Two Basque restaurants – Mugaritz and Arzak – are still in the top ten.

That’s all for now.

Agur.

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Hi Basques –

Firstly, a correction: José Alcayaga (the US-Basque photographer) kindly wrote to inform us that his photo exhibition is on in Greenwich Connecticut and NOT New York! Thanks for that José.

Otherwise, if you’re curious about Basque history you should definitely read on:

This Thursday and Friday (April 15^th and 16^th) at the University of Nevada in Reno is the 9^th Annual International Conference. This year the title is “War, Exile, Justice and Everyday Life, 1936 -1946” and includes an interesting section on Basques caught up in the civil war and in exile.

Back in the 1960s, one such Basque exile – Gotzon Elortza, then residing in France – would sneak across the State border to film his land and people, knowing it would help keep the language alive. Three documentaries by Elortza – the first ever to be filmed in the Basque language – are now being re-mastered.

Fittingly enough, this Thursday also sees the start of the Zinebi International Short Films and Documentaries Festival, which offers two months of films in the categories of shorts and documentaries – check it out if you can.

Some great news if you’re looking for a cultural holiday to the Basque Country – author Paddy Woodworth and chef Jon Warren have teamed up to offer you a unique Basque adventure. The first one will be this July between 5^th and 8^th and includes a trip to San Fermines in Lesaka, Navarre.

Bihar arte!

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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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Hi Basques, is everything Ok?

Our friend John Coffey has sent us a video showing a lot of pictures of Bilbao. He came from Ireland two years ago and, according to many viewers,  his work –which he uploaded on YouTube– really captures the city!

US singer-pianist Norah Jones will be presenting her latest album release, The Fall, at the Palacio Euskalduna (Bilbao) this 11th July, concert promoters Last Tour International have informed. Sooner, (this week) The Rumble Strips (UK) and The Answer (N. Ireland) will play in Bilbao, and Donostia-San Sebastián will be also receiving the British.

Our latest news on sports include, as usual, Basque pelota and more information on Athletic Club Bilbao soccer team, whose representatives have issued a press release announcing that the construction of the Basque team’s new stadium will start towards the beginning of May.

More entertainment news: our adored Guggenheim museum hosts Hip Hop at Art After Dark party on March 12th. Art After Dark is a successful nighttime programme which combines art with music from homegrown and international DJs, designed in collaboration with Bilbao’s Fever nightclub.

…and we take a look back through history:  in 1610, 31 neighbours from the Navarre town of  Zugarramurdi were accused of witchcraft and tried in Logroño. The Spanish Inquisition sent eleven of them to the stake, carrying out the execution in the capital of La Rioja. Today, March 9th, both towns have paid tribute to the victims.

That’s all for today… we’ll come back tomorrow!

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Hey Basques, everything ok?

Today, Thursday, March 4th our Facebook group shows some information on Iparraldea XXI  (Iparraldea 21), a documentary based on the French Basque youth which has been produced by Euskal Kultur Erakundea, an association on Basque culture. The work is aimed to join young people from Iparralde and Euskadi, different and alike at the same time thanks to Basque idiosyncrasy.

Furthermore, a travel agent from Waterbury, Vermont (New England-USA), offers a packaged tour to the Basque Country in its website. The advertisement includes a review made by native Basques, actual guides of the initiative.

You can also enjoy some pictures and videos on Basque weather and bands such as Elkano Browning Cream and Oreka TX, a group who fusions tradition and modernity through the Basque instrument txalaparta. Besides, they have become nominees for the Independent Music Awards. Congratulations!

Separately, Athletic Club Bilbao was defeated on Wednesday in a match against Paraguay. And a Basque citizen was the mastermind behind one of the world’s biggest networks of virus-infected computers… it was a data vacuum that stole credit cards and online banking credentials from as many as 12.7 million poisoned PCs.

Cheers!

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