Basques around the world

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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Hi Basques –

We’re made up today (really happy!) as the Basque Country and/ or Basques have been receiving praise and accolades from every corner.

Firstly, chef Eneko Atxa has just been named Chef of the Future by the International Academy of Gastronomy, which awards the title to only the most promising the innovative of cooks.

Elsewhere, UK national newspaper The Guardian has been singing the praises of our cider and cider houses. Check out what they have to say and find out which sagardotegis they’ve named in their top ten.

And last (but not least) another couple of famous Basques, Javier Aguirresarobe – cinematographer on films like The Road – and Mikel Urmeneta (he of Kukusumusu t-shirts and so on) have received the Universal Basque Award from the Basque Government and Caja Laboral.

We feel like winners today – except for Athletic, who lost 2-0 to Valencia last night. Well, you can’t win ‘em all!

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Hello Basques-

As you will know, Easter is a special time in the Basque Country. Whether you believe or not, there is no denying the impressiveness of the processions and actuations that go on around much of the territory. The most famous of all takes place in the Biscay town of Balmaseda and there is an article and video about this for you to enjoy today.

If you’re thinking of visiting over the weekend, there’s a report about this Easter’s weather as well as a gallery of photos to accompany it.

Important sports news today is that Bizkaia Bilbao Basket have made it through to the Final Four of the Eurocup, despite a 6-point loss to CEZ Nymburk.

Tiffany has sent us her latest update, reminding us about tomorrow’s Pairs Championship Final. Unfortunately she’ll be away and unable to keep us updated, but she has given us some important information on how to keep abreast of developments.

Happy Aste Santua

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Hey Basques, how’s it goin’?

One of our Basques from around the world, Stephanie Itza from Reno, wrote on our wall today to ask whether anyone would be travelling from the Basque Country to the US this July to accompany her little cousin who wants to visit. Please get in touch with Stephanie if you can help.

After the news announced by Athletic boss García Macua yesterday that the first stone of the new San Mames Barria stadium would be laid towards the start of May, the Basque Government finally confirmed today it would also give its backing to the project.

Further good news for Athletic fans is that manager Caparros has signed on for another year at the club.

You will probably remember that a couple of months ago the prestigious Basque restaurant Mugaritz was badly damaged when fire broke out in its kitchen. It was a tough blow to world-class chef Andoni Luis Aduriz, but he and his team are now looking positively to the future. They have started planning the new improved kitchen, and have opened a discussion forum on their blog in the hope that we will all play a part in its design.

This year marks the 400^th anniversary since 31 residents of the Navarre town of Zugarramurdi were tried as witches, 11 of them finally being burned at the stake. The city of Logroño, which tried and executed the women, has chosen to mark the fourth centenary by paying homage and apologizing for the atrocities carried out in 1610.

Lastly, you may recall the Eguraldiblog Macrophotography competition that was launched a few weeks ago. The final winner was Javier Bahillo, who shared some more of his macrophotos with us, which we hope you will enjoy.

That’s the news for today Basques.

More tomorrow.

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An interesting couple of days for Basques this weekend:

On Saturday, London-based Basque Yesenia Otamendi left a post on our ‘Basque people around the world’ Wall, inviting us to the 3^rd International Week of Solidarity with the Basque Country as part of the Basque Solidarity Campaign in London.

Our regular if unlikely contributor to the Dos Paredes Pelota blog, Londoner Tiffany, left her latest post about this weekend’s pelota matches, which you can also see on-line by visiting  http://www.eitb.com/television/etb-sat

Bad news for Athletic fans in Saturday’s match against Villareal, we’re sorry to report.

On Sunday, the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra played a benefit concert for Haiti; the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra and San Sebastian Choral Society are set to do the same later this month.

Those of you living in New York may have seen Basque soprano Amaya Arberas make her debut on Saturday night at the prestigious Carnegie Hall of New York as reward for her hard work.

Speaking of music, any rock fans will be glad to know that the details of this year’s Azkena Rock festival have been finalized, and tickets have now gone on sale.

Lastly, Txema Millan, a Radio Euskadi listener, shared some photographs with us, taken by his grandfather after a snowstorm in Bilbao in February 1956.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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