Basques around the world

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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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-

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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Hello Basques,

Finally the sun is shining and it looks like spring is on its way.

If you live outside the Basque Country and are thinking of visiting soon, you might be interested to read about a new tour of cultural and culinary discovery. Set up by two non-natives, but confessed lovers of the Basque Country, the Discover the Basque Country tour promises a no-holds-barred insight into the more authentic side of Euskadi; this time, the lesser known San Fermines fiesta of the village of Lesaka.

Remember the news from a couple weeks back that Bilbao was to become the first ever Nobel prize-winning city? Today we can officially confirm that Bilbao City Council will receive the Lee Kuan Yew city prize for all its hard and conscientious work during the city’s post-industrial regeneration.

If you’re following the Manomanista, check out the latest post on our Dos Paredes, Basque Pelota Blog. Some interesting news about two of its main stars Barriola and Olaizola.

That’s all from us today.

Laister arte!

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Hi Basques,

We have a cracking item for you today Basques.  You might remember our previous articles about Ahizpak, two American-born Basque sisters from Nevada who moved to Boise eight years ago and started their own design company based on Basque symbolism.

Our latest article about them includes a video about one of the sisters – Maite – who came to EITB in Bilbao to pay us a visit and tell us first-hand about Ahizpak and what they’ve got planned for the upcoming Jaialdi festival.  Check out the article and video.

Meanwhile,  stay up to date with the latest news from the Manomanista with the latest entry on our Dos Paredes – English Pelota blog.

And lastly, much rain with a few sunny patches here and there have their (colourful) advantage, depending on where you’re standing of course! Enjoy these weather photos.

Laister arte.

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Hi there –

Loads of Blog news today Basques.

Firstly, we’ve got a brand new blog written by English San Sebastian based chef Jon Warren. Jon runs a company called San Sebastián Food, a world-class bespoke food and wine travel company. You might remember we told you about him teaming up with Paddy Woodworth, to offer small group visits around the whole Basque area. Jon’s blog – entitled Discover the Basque Country – will take you behind the scenes on a series of these tours.

Our other (Basque) food lover Tamar Marino’s latest post on our Basque Fed blog takes her into the heart of the Basque Country and its food as she tells us about her trip inland.

Our Pelota-loving Londoner Tiffany has written two important posts about the latest happenings in the Manomanista. After favourite Aimar Olaizola’s serious injury at the weekend, it looks as though Arretxe will be stepping into his shoes.

Tomorrow is an important day for Alava – San Prudencio is their saint’s day and they celebrate it with style and gusto. Find out why mushrooms and cooked snails will be so important to the province tomorrow.

As we’re talking about food, you might know that El Bulli is no longer officially the world’s best restaurant – it’s been taken over by a Dane. Two Basque restaurants – Mugaritz and Arzak – are still in the top ten.

That’s all for now.

Agur.

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Good afternoon to you Basques.

Well, summer is definitely on its way. Skies here are blue and sunny and the atmosphere is gearing up to a season of festival and frolics.

Talking of frolics, don’t forget AC/DC are playing Bilbao again soon. If you’re nearby and are thinking of going, tickets are on sale from tomorrow.

One of the next musical events in the calender is Donostia-San Sebastian’s Musicial Fortnight, taking place this year between August 7^th and September 3^rd.  Find out what it got in store this year and get a glimpse at the official programme.

In Pelota, Olaizola I beat Bengoetxea VI in the first match of the Pairs Championship, while it looks like our home-grown mountaineer Edurne Pasaban may actually be the first female to scale all fourteen 8000ers.

Not such good news for Osasuna, unfortunately, who now find themselves in the relegation zone.

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Today, 16^th March, it seems that Frederic Duhart discovered that our group can be a good way to know more about the Basque world. He told us that he has family in  Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Nice to meet you Fred!

Another friend, Alexander Amor, sent us a picture from our loved Bilbao Guggenheim Museum but seen from the air. Once you have seen it, you’ll notice why many people used to call it the cauliflower.

Food and beverage matching is more relevant than we think. It is a movement which some US gourmets started in the 80s, according to Donostia-San Sebastián Basque Culinary Center’s head, Jose María Aizegoa.

Do you want to know which are the most important upcoming concerts in the Basque Country? Enjoy this photo gallery.

On the other hand, if you’re more interested in arts, here you have some pictures on the Anish Kapoor exhibition, the latest at the Guggenheim.

…don’t forget our news on sports: soccer (Osasuna) and our Basque pelota blog to keep you updated.

And lastly, an industrial event: the Machine Tool Biennial Fair at Bilbao Exhibition Centre is nearer: 30,000 trade specialists have already joined the initiative.

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Welcome to the week Basques.

We’ve now got a total of 2,053 members in our Facebook group, “Basques Around the World”, which we created as a place where all Basques, wherever you are, could meet on-line and share news about the Basque Country.

Some better news than yesterday on the sports front as both Caja Laboral and Bizkaia Bilbao Basket managed wins in the ACB Cup.

And talking of sport, Londoner Tiffany posted her latest Pelota installment on our blog ‘Dos Paredes’; this time about a match between Gonzalez and Laskurain in Urretxu.  In other news, a short film about the same sport has received an important award.

On the subject of awards, Spain’s ‘Oscars’, the Goyas, presented 8 prizes to Spanish film ‘Cell 211’ on Sunday, including one for Basque actress Marta Etura (see photo), not the only Basque competing on the night.

Our other adopted Basque, Tamar Moreno, has written a long and interesting explanation about one of the Basque Country’s most typical food items served at one of its most iconic buildings.

And other gastronomic news is that the kitchen of one of the Basque Country and the world’s most prestigious restaurants – run by world-class chef Andoni Luis Anduriz – has been badly burned in a fire.  Let’s hope it’s up and running again soon.

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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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