Basques around the world

Hi Basques,

Sadly, our main news today is about Basque poet Sergio Oiarzabal, who died suddenly on June 12th at the age of 36. Award-winning Sergio’s family asked us to spread the sad news about their son and brother. Those who knew Sergio and want to leave a tribute will find a blogsite address contained in the obituary.

Big sports news is that Pelota start Martinez de Irujo won his fourth ‘txapela’ on Sunday in the final of the Manomanista. He beat Yves Xalaberri (better known at Xala). As always, Tiffany gives a full rundown of the match in her blog post, and there are also videos and photos to enjoy.

Lastly, Basques All Around the World member Mary Culley wrote on our Facebook Wall to inform us of the 4^th July Basque Festival in Elko Nevada. Check out Mary’s post or visit the website www.elkobasque.com.

Gero arte.

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Hello Basques!

The Basque town of Salvatierra/Agurain hosts the 30th edition of Araba Euskaraz, the festival of Basque schools in Alava under the slogan “Gogoz Biziz”.

The Arriaga Theatre in the Basque town of Bilbao is staging a new production of ‘Mirentxu’ with the Basque Symphony Orchestra from June 19th to 26th.

Watch today’s videos:

Basque dancers performed ezpatadantza (”sword dance”) in homage to Don Diego Lopez de Haro, who founded Bilbao 710 years ago.

Stairs in San Miguel (Vitoria/Gasteiz) are now ‘Piano Stairs’. Jesus Guridi Conservatory and the town council decided to celebrate the Music Day in this original way.

Cycling march in favor of road safety in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The aim of this march is to raise driver and cyclists’ awareness to respect each other.

New posts:

Dos paredes Basque Pelota blog: Asegarce sign Albisu

See you tomorrow!

Agur

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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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Arratsalde on!

A few items today to bring you up to date with goings-on around the Basque Country this week.

Today you can read about Cody Beaudreau, an American learning Basque in the Basque town of Lazkao. He tells us of his first impressions of the Barnategi where he’s studying.

Lots of sports news, the most recent being the result of Caja Laboral Baskonia’s match against Real Madrid. Read about the nail-bitingly close match which led to a fourth play-off this Friday.

STOP THE PRESS: the North Korean World Cup squad are wearing shirts manufactured in none other than Basque town Mondragon. Find out how home-grown brand Astore made it onto the mysterious Far Eastern side’s kit.

The third sports news today, well… it’s not often we bring you news about Donostia-San Sebastian side Real Sociedad, especially since their demotion to the 2nd division. Well, they may just be promoted this weekend so watch this space…

By the way, if you’re going to be spending time in the Basque Country this summer, you’ll want to know which of our beaches have received blue flags for cleanliness. You have 3 to choose from…

That’s all for now.

Gero arte!

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Hello Basques,

Ibilaldia 2010 kicked off in the Basque town of Bermeo this morning. Basque sea was the protagonist of Ibilaldia 2010, which was attended by Urdaneta project’s director Jose Barrio and the son of the Canadian researcher Selma Huxley, specialized in the history about Basque sailors.

From May 29th to 31st, musician Miquel Ortega will be presenting Josep Carner’s ‘Bestiari’ at Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao. The show, based upon Josep Carner’s book of poems about animals, is recommended for children aged 7 and up.

On Saturday, the Foral Government of Biscay auctioned 113 Pyrenean cattle in the Basque town of Gorliz.

Also on Saturday, Basque ballet-star Lucia Lacarra (Principal Dancer of The Munich Opera Ballet) succeeded at Euskalduna Palace in Bilbao.

Laslty, we have found out through Kepa Junker’s blog Inside & Out that he will give a Masterclass and a small musical performance at the Stanford University, California on Tuesday, June 1^st.

See you tomorrow

Agur!

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Hi Basques,

An historic day today for Bilbao, the Basque Country – perhaps, indeed, the world! As momentous achievements, big and small, are being achieved in all corners:

First and foremost, the laying of the first stone of Athletic Bilbao’s new stadium, San Mames Barria.

Enjoy the taster video we’ve included for you here, and read about the “emotional” occasion which included a giant human chain (also with video).

Another significant Basque sporting event was also happening some miles away: Home-grown mountaineer Edurne Pasaban landed at Madrid airport after completing her challenge to climb the 14 8000ers – read what she had to say about her feelings, the future and what it is like to be the second woman to manage the feat.

And, as if you needed more reasons to come to Biscay: The province’s Txakoli wine was recently highly-rated by esteemed US wine-taster Robert Parker.

Lastly, if you’re in or around the Basque Country this autumn, you might like to know that legendary group Supertramp will be playing at the BEC! in Barakaldo on September 17^th.

That’s all for now!

Agur.

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Good morning/afternoon!

We have a couple of great blog posts today Basques.

Firstly, a new post on our Basque Country Live blog. This time a one-to-one with Jon Warren, the man behind San Sebastian Food and co-creator of the Discover the Basque Country Tour, both of which we wrote about last week.

It’s all go since we started our Kepa Junkera blog – Kepa played the Chino Basque club in Chino California on Saturday, a visit which was to coincide with a recording session.

Talking of music: We told you that legendary blues musician John Mayall would be playing Bilbao. Well check out the video of his performance.

Eitb.com also managed a scoop with famous US creative writer Robert McKee, who’ll be dropping into our headquarters on Friday. He gave us an exclusive interview in the lead up to his visit, which you can see here.

That’s all for now.

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Hello Basques!

It’s really warm and sunny here in the Basque Country today, a really nice day to visit ‘Arrain Azoka’ (Fish Fair) in the Basque town of Bermeo as it is celebrating its 16^th edition. Over thirty stalls are installed in Parque La Lamera Park with the aim to display their produce, of which many are very difficult to find on the market nowadays.

Blues musician John Mayall will be in Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria on May 23rd, 26 and 29th, respectively.

According to Eustat data, the number of visitors to the Basque Country increased by 10% in April 2010.

To finish for today, check a new post on Kepa Junkera’s Inside & Out blog: In Boise, Kepa Junkera is recording with pianist Paul Tillotson, and singer Curtis Stigers, as well as bass player Rod Wray and drummer Spencer Martin from the Basque band Amuma Says No.

Have a nice day and please, remember to have  a look at the best moments from Boise’s Jaialdi 2005. You will find new photos every day!

Agur!

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Good afternoon to our 2,245 members-

The sun continues to shine here and we’re promised a fabulous weekend of beach weather and small waves for those budding surfers!

Because of a few technical hiccups yesterday we couldn’t tell you that the video of the Athletic Bilbao squad playing against 200 school children ended up receiving 30,000 hits on the net and was voted by digg users to go on its homepage. It was also posted by an Aussie Man Utd fan onto the UK team’s official forum.

Well, there’s more… because the 20,000 spectators, raised enough money to build a football school for children in the Congo. It was Etxebe’s decision to donate the money to the children, who have been in the hearts of all Athletic players and fans since a video was made of them singing the team anthem.

Anyway, read that story and see the video here.

Remember we told you about a new tour entitled Discover the Basque Country, created by historian Paddy Woodworth and gastronomy guru Jon Warren. Well there’s another great article, this time about Jon and his company San Sebastian Food, which provides a more original experience for tourists all centred around the Community’s great food.

And we have a brand new blog! Basque internationally-acclaimed musician and trikitixa maestro Kepa Junkera is currently on a tour of the States. From time to time he’ll be writing to us about his experiences and the people he meets on his travels. His first article is about Ramon Echeveste, born in Doneztebe, Navarre. He left the Basque Country at the age of 20 with nothing but the clothes on his back.  He is now the successful self-made owner of a sheep company.

Ondo ibili!

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