Basques around the world

Good afternoon Basques –

Those of you who were lucky enough to attend the Jaialdi celebrations in Boise this year, how are you feeling now it’s all over?

It might be over, but it’s still not been forgotten by Basque People All Around the World…

Were you one of those following the events on Twitter? This year’s Jaialdi became a hot topic among the Boise Twitter community these last few weeks and an invaluable source of information, photos, news, schedules and funny stories.

The Basque sport of pelota played an important part at this year’s Jaialdi, though the US is usually more famed for its liking for cesta punta, or Jai Alai.

Yesterday was the 31^st anniversary of Biscay-born Ramon Areitio’s record breaking 187-mile ball at the Newport Jai Alai of Rhode Island, a record which you may remember was broken by US golfer Jack Zuback just three years ago.

Basque golfer Txema Olazábal renewed the golf-Jai Alai speed challenge and went head-to-head with ‘cesta puntista’ Imanol López to prove once and for which one was the world’s fastest ball sport… and to raise money for a good cause!

Mugalari is back on our Basque Tourism blog with a new tip for travellers to the Basque Country. This time he’s here to praise the virtues of rural lodgings and tell us where to make reservations.

Agur!

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Hi Basques,

Day three of Jaialdi promises Basque sports galore including some of the biggest names in the world of Herri Kirolak and the NABO Pelota tournament.

Wednesday night, meanwhile, traditionally a big night, was apparently rocked harder than ever thanks to the likes of Amuma Says No and the Oinkaris. Basques All Around the World group members Katie D’Angelo (remember her?) and Jose Antonio Alcayaga III were there to soak up the atmosphere and give their take on the  events of the evening.

Meanwhile Kepa Junkera, who was in Boise earlier this year and went down a storm, has been busy playing gigs in Catalonia, Caceres… you name it. He’s also been busy on his blog, with two new posts: One is an interview he gave to Biscay newspaper Deia on July 8^th. Another one is further news about his and Xabier Amuriza’s latest combined work BETI BIZI.

More news soon.

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Arratsalde on!

There are just 4 days and 16 hours to go until the start of this year’s Jaialdi celebrations in Boise. Throughout the course of the festival, we’ll be bringing you news, images and updates of goings-on.

As you can imagine, with less than a week to go Boiseans are now in the final stages of preparations. It is now the turns of Boise Mayor David Bieter and Basque Museum Director Patty Miller to tell us how each of them has been preparing for Jaialdi.

Dave Bieter, a Boisean of Basque descent, says that there are more Basques than ever visiting from the Basque Country and just to make us feel welcome recorded an invite in his very best Euskera!

News this side of the Atlantic includes the latest from San Sebastian’s Heineken Jazzaldia, which included an important award presentation for double-bassist Roy Carter and a performance from Cuba’s Arturo Sandoval.

Laister arte!

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Arratsalde on!

José Antonio Alcayaga III has written to remind us about Ipuina Kontatu, the feature-length documentary about the Basque Country made by Emily Lobsenz.

There are just 11 days left to pledge a donation towards the 12,000 dollars they need to get it released. So far they’ve raised nearly $2000 but there’s still a long way to go.

Find out how you can donate and even win yourself a copy of the film and more.

As Jaialdi draws ever closer – just two weeks to go now until kick-off – organizers have been telling eitb.com about the last-minute preparations for the last week of July.

Another festival, meanwhile, will shortly draw to a close: Today was the penultimate bull-run of San Fermines – and the quickest. Read about how it went and see the video.

Gero arte!

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Hi Basques,

There are some exciting happenings coming up in the Basque World this summer. In case you hadn’t heard (;-) Boise’s Jaialdi Festival has come round again and there are now just 21 days to go!

July 6^th, of course, marks the beginning of what is probably the biggest, most famous, most spectacular fiesta in the whole of the Basque calendar: SAN FERMINES!!

12pm today was the traditional ‘txupinazo’ when a rocket officially announced the start of 9 days of partying, madness and joy. Catch the latest news, videos and photos today and throughout the next nine days on Eitb.com/en.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Igor has been speaking with Alberto Santana, head of the Basque Studies Center at Boise State University. He’s been talking about a rather different side to Jaialdi, where several academics have been invited to talk about the history behind Boise’s Basque names at a conference being held during the celebrations.

Happy San Fermines, and don’t forget to check out the Infographic on the traditional running of the bulls.

Laister arte!

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Hello-

Well I don’t know what the weather’s like where you are, but it’s typical Basque weather here today. However, it would seem we’re promised good, stable weather for the weekend, so here’s hoping.

The big news on this side of the Atlantic is that ex-Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman is playing a gig in the Basque capital Vitoria on Friday night. He’ll be heading up his new band, ‘The Rhythm Kings’.

We have three exciting new blog entries, firstly on our Tourist ‘Off the Beaten Track’ blog; Kepa Junkera has left his latest post about this year’s Jaialdi; and catch the latest from Tiffany about the Pelota.

And for Athletic fans, a new signing. Alaves player Igor Martinez will play for the team next season.

Ondo pasa!

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Good day to you Basques,

Boise’s international Basque Cultural Festival is drawing ever nearer folks, and two Boise sisters of Basque heritage have launched their latest Basque designs to coincide with the event; this year they hope to branch out and bring their creations to the ‘Old Country’. Read about ‘Ahizpak’ and see some of their designs here.

Our English pelota fan Tiffany provides the latest from the Fronton, with the good news that Abel Barriola has finally returned after a year of being out with injury. His comeback match will take place today in his home town of Leitza (Navarre) alongside Berasaluze IX, up against duo Idoate and Goni III.

In other news, Yo La Tengo, the noise band which was in many respects the quintessential critics’ band during the 90s, will be playing at Barakaldo’s Rock Star Live concert hall on 18th March, which is located about 7 kilometres far from the centre of Bilbao.

On a different ‘note’, internationally-acclaimed Basque musician Kepa Junkera has followed up his work on the short film about Pelota, released this year. This time he’s been collaborating on a big-screen production, not only helping out on the soundtrack of Emilio Aragon’s latest movie Birds of Paper, but giving some important advice on how to play the Trikitixa.

Finally, today our Basque Tourism blog reveals some interesting information, not least that the world’s biggest Rolls Royce collection is housed just 35kms west of Bilbao. It is in fact a collection of 75 unique cars, which also includes Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley, among others. If rare cars are your thing, you might think about taking a trip there next time you visit the Basque Country!

That’s all for today.  Have a great weekend!

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Hello Basques,

Today is March 3^rd and the weekend is nearer so we enclose a tiny map showing a poteo route in Bilbao taking advantage of the fact that one of the typical pintxo and txikito (little glasses of wine) streets of the city, Maestro García Rivero, will become pedestrian from summer onwards. Just go to our Facebook wall and you’ll find it.

We encourage Basque mountaineer Edurne Pasaban to reach her dream: becoming the first woman in the world to reach 14 ‘8,000s’. Tomorrow, she starts a trip aimed to reach Shisha Pangma and Annapurna summits. Aurrera Edurne!

However, we regret to tell you that former Basque PM Jose Antonio Ardanza has suffered a heart attack. Fortunately, he is said to be in stable condition.

Separately, Lontzo Sainz uploaded some news on the fact that residents of Bayonne-Baiona, a city of the French Basque County, have rejected the lack of political will of American president Barack Obama to put an end to the economic, financial and commercial blockade of his country against Cuba, while Sean Paul Artis made us remember the dates of the Jaialdi 2010 in Boise, Idaho: 7/29-8/1.

Don’t forget to get our latest news on basket (Bilbao Basket) and Basque pelota, with the Aspe pelotaris sweeping the board at Pairs Championship.

Lastly, a cultural suggestion:  the ‘Silicon Dreams. Art, Science & Technology at the EU’ exhibition at Tabakalera centre in Donostia-San Sebastián.

Cheer up!

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