Basques around the world

Good afternoon Basques from a very – very – rainy Basque Country.

We’re almost drowning here from all the rain, and some parts of Biscay are even experience floods. Let’s hope it doesn’t get any worse.

Despite the miserable weather, we’re still celebrating… following Real Sociedad’s promotion to the first division, the latest fabulous sporting news is that Vitoria’s basketball team, Caja Laboral Baskonia, are now ACB Champions following a nail-biting match against rivals Regal Barcelona.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Ipuina Kontatu, today there’s a special item about the documentary which was filmed by American Emily Lobsenz. Emily discovered the Basque Country by chance, fell in love with the place and has now made a documentary. The title – Ipuina Kontatu – means ‘telling stories’, which is a clue to the format of the film, entirely based on first hand accounts from Basque shepherds, fishermen and many more typical figures.

For those of you struggling to learn Euskera – and even those who aren’t it’s really worth your while to check out the posts written by Cody Beaudreau and Megan Otteman, two Americans from Boise currently at the Barnetegi in Lazkao… real eye-openers.

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Kaixo lagunak!

The prominent American trumpeter and jazz composer Wynton Marsalis recorded together with the virtuoso flamenco composer Paco de Lucia ‘Vitoria Suite’ from July 20th to 22th, 2009, paying tribute to the Basque capital Vitoria-Gasteiz. The 2CD album will be finally released on Tuesday, June 7th.

Sunday June 6th saw the start of ‘Visible Donostia 2010‘, the first LGTB Festival of Culture aimed at lesbians, gays, transsexuals and bisexuals in Donostia-San Sebastian.

30 young adults have been selected for ‘Gaztemundu 2010‘. The Basque Government directorate for Citizens and Basque Communities Abroad have decided who can participate in this year’s edition. Among them Chileans, Americans, Argentineans and Colombians.

Caja Laboral defeat Real Madrid 64-56, will play ACB finals. The Basques won the fifth game of the series and will play Regal Barcelona for the ACB championship.

To finish with, we have two new posts in two of our blogs:

In Basque Pelota blog: Manomanista: Xala trumps battling Asier to reach the final. The scoreline, which seemingly suggests an easy victory for the favorite, fails to tell the true tale of a match where nothing came easily. Xala was put under huge pressure.

And in Learning Basque blog:  Reflections of a Boisean learning Basque in Maizpide Basque School in Lazkao, Guipúzcoa.

Agur!

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Dear Basques,

We are celebrating Mother’s Day in the Basque Country today, so happy mother’s day to all amas (Mother in Basque language)!

Let’s have a look at what we have for today on our Basque people all around the world wall in Facebook:

El Superbarbero de Sevilla, an adaptation of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville is at Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao from May 1st to 3rd and to celebrate its 10th Anniversary and with audiences of over 10 million so far, Stage Entertainment, brings Saturday Night Fever from May 6th to 16th.

You can also enjoy this video of Dantzari Eguna (Basque Dance Day) in Bayonne, northern Basque Country.

Remember Rufus Wainwright will visit the Basque town of Bilbao on May 9th. The Canadian musician will present his album All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu at the Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall at 20:30.

And lastly, as part of the ACB Basketball League, Caja Laboral defeated Real Madrid to nearly secure 2nd place.

That’s all for now.

Agur!

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Hello Basque all around the world,

With the clocks going forward, evenings will become longer meaning we can make more of the warmer weather. Enjoy these galleries full of photos sent by our Eguraldiblog users of the Basque countryside and beautiful gardens and parks.

Mary Culley provides us a link about Elkobasque webpage, Elko Euzkaldunak Club. Thanks Mary!

Yesterday, several cities in the world, and also in the Basque Country turned off the lights between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. for one hour in support of the WWF initiative Earth Hour. Public buildings, monuments and millions of private homes went dark to draw attention to the threat of global warming. Some 4,000 cities in more than 120 countries, starting with the remote Chatham Islands off the coast of New Zealand, were voluntarily switching off on Saturday to reduce energy consumption, though traffic lights and other safety features would be unaffected.

Basque folk singers Pantxoa eta Peio made their debut at the Chino Basque Club in California on Saturday.

The fifth Sagardo Eguna (Cider Day) was held at the Chillida-Leku Museum (Hernani, Gipuzkoa) on Sunday morning.

And to finish with, and as part of the ACB Basketball League, Janis Blums scored a three-pointer with just two seconds left to edge Meridiano Alicante 74-76 and lead Bizkaia Bilbao Basket to a win on Sunday afternoon. In addition, Caja Laboral beat 70-86 at Blancos de Rueda Valladolid and Lagun Aro fall at Gran Canaria 2014 83-68.

See you tomorrow with more.

Cheers!

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