Basques around the world

Hey Basques,

There are only minimum services today due to industrial action, though the sun certainly isn’t on strike.

Remember we told you a few weeks ago that Bilbao had been awarded a ‘Nobel’ prize thanks to its ‘liveability’ and post-industrial rejuvenation? Well the City Mayor is currently in Singapore to pick up that award.

Mugalari has written about another good reason to visit the city. You may or may not know about the hanging bridge, actually classed as a World Heritage Monument by UNESCO. A fantastic piece of machinery, it’s been running since 1893.

Don’t forget of course that AC/DC played in the Basque capital last night. By all accounts the whole of the San Mames stadium rocked to the Australian band’s gig, possibly their last ever – and they played it in Bilbao! Why would that be, we wonder..?

Don’t forget the next big musical event is BBK Live, starting on July 8th. If you don’t know already, here’s a sneak peak at some of the acts playing on the first night.

That’s all for now!

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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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 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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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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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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Kaixo Basques!

American Chris Horner wins Tour of Basque Country. Second overall behind the Radio Shack rider was Spain’s Alejandro Valverde with Basque rider Beñat Intxausti in third. See some of the best photos of the Tour of the Basque Country.

The Basque City of Donostia- San Sebastian was one of five cities worldwide selected for The Google Model Your Town Competition, a contest in which contestants use a program called Google SketchUp to create images of their cities and submit them to Google for consideration.

The first ever International Comic Exhibition of Navarre is closing its doors on Sunday, April 11th, putting capital Pamplona under the global spotlight for comics for four weeks.

And to finish with, tickets for the AC/DC concert at the Basque city of Bilbao will go on sale next April 22nd, Live Nation announced on its website. The Australian band will perform live at Athletic’s San Mames stadium, a venue which has a much greater capacity that their previous concerts in the Basque Country have allowed.

That’s all for today

Agur!

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Good afternoon Basques,

Due to some technical problems yesterday we didn’t send you our usual update of news from our Basques All Around the World group, so here’s a summary of events from the past couple of days:

The biggest news today is about Basque president Patxi López’s meeting with Brazilian President Lula da Silva. His trip of the South American country has brought some positive economic news.

The latest edition to our Basque Country Live Blog is Jess Soodeen, a Canadian with no Basque heritage except for the historical links between the Basque Country and her mother’s native Newfoundland.  Find out how this connection brought her to our shores.

Chef Najat Kaanache, born in the Basque Country to Moroccan parents, is currently in Chicago as part of a three-year trip to learn from the world’s best chefs. Read about her odyssey.

If you’re following the Basketball Euroleague, some bad news I’m afriad as Caja Laboral crash out against CSKA Moscow.

Lastly, if you happen to be in the Basque Country this June, AC/DC will once again be playing Bilbao. Not a few people were left disappointed last year when tickets sold out in minutes, so this year’s gig at the massive San Mames stadium hopes to cater for all.

That’s all for now.

Bihar arte-

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Aupa Lagunak!

Casa Rural Lizartzanea has left us a post on the wall of our group in Facebook Basque people all around the world telling us about this country house which is 20 minutes far from Donostia-San Sebastian. Thanks to your contribution!

We have good news for Athletic Bilbao lovers since they climbed to sixth with 42 points, despite being held 2-2 by visiting Getafe in a stormy encounter at San Mames in Bilbao yesterday.

In addition, Bilbao Bizkaia Basket took the lead on the scoreboard with just one minute left to end the game to defeat Cajasol and extend their winning streak to 6 and Caja Laboral was unable to stop all-mighty Barcelona.

To finish with, the best eight bertsolaris from Navarre competed for the ‘txapela’ (winner’s beret) in the Basque Bertsolaritza championship celebrated in Lesaka, Navarre.

See you tomorrow and ondo izan!

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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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