Basques around the world

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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Hi Basques,

I’m delighted that group member “Barka tu” chose our group to tell everyone about the Annual Basque Picnic coming up on July 4^th organized by the Southern Californian Basque Club – thanks for that Barka!

And in case you didn’t catch it, group member Ronald Borunda wrote to say that he and his wife will be visiting Navarre this summer and wonders if anyone can give him any travel tips for where to go and what to visit.

This side of the Atlantic, the annual Azkena Rock Festival kicks off today. Eitb English will be bringing you news and videos of the event, but don’t forget you can also watch it live on the special eitb.com Azkena Rock website.

Elsewhere in the Basque Country, anyone interested in jazz music should read our item about the Getxo International Jazz Festival kicking off next Thursday. If you can’t make this one, there are three other such festivals going on around here throughout July.

The sun continues to shine here in Euskadi. Of course, Wednesday June 23^rd were the Saint John (San Juan) celebrations where many towns and villages all over the Basque Country lit fires to welcome in the summer, which certainly wasn’t absent this year. Enjoy some wonderful images of last night’s revelry.

By the way, if you’re hoping for a decent summer holiday but don’t want to spend too much, check out this really interesting report by eitb.com.  You may end up in a New York penthouse for next to nothing!

That’s all for today.

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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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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