All posts by buber

Buber’s Basque Story: Part 24

“So,” mused Kepa as he stared at the sky, “that thing he was holding, that de Lancre put in that box, was one of these zatiak, one of your pieces of magic.” “Bai,” answered Marina. “And we got in the way. We stopped you from stopping him.” Kepa turned to face Marina. “Sentizen dut. I’m […]

Basque Fact of the Week: The Aquitanians, Ancestors of the Basques

The Basque language is what is called an isolate — it has no known living relatives. Contrast that with the other languages of Europe, almost all of which are Indo-European languages, and you can see why Basque has attracted so much attention from linguists. However, just because the Basque language has no living relatives doesn’t […]

The Basque Country by the Numbers

Rate of activity in the primary sector (e.g. agriculture, mining, forestry, grazing, hunting and gathering, fishing, and quarrying). Source: http://atlasa.net/en/society/provinces

Buber’s Basque Story: Part 23

“Wow,” said Kepa. “That’s amazing!” Maite glared at him. “You believe all of this? None of this is even possible. Magical stones thrown through time? An evil French judge trying to collect them?” She turned to Marina. “Why would he come here, to the Basque Country, in the first place?” Marina gave a wan smile. […]

Basque Fact of the Week: The Conquest of the Americas

The Basques have always been known for their adventurous spirit. Their search for fishing grounds took them to Iceland and beyond, reaching the coast of what would become Canada, where they established whale processing sites and developed a pidgin with the local Native Americans (and the Icelanders too). However, they also played a big role […]

Buber’s Basque Story: Part 22

“Anyways,” continued Marina, “I was alone. I couldn’t go back to my home, since the other villagers were always watching, afraid that some new evil would rise from it. At one point, the fear became so great that they burned it down. I made a new home in the woods, but those that needed help, […]

Fighting Basques: Colonel María Rementeria Llona and the Women at War Together With the US

This article originally appeared in Spanish at El Diario. You can find all of the English versions of the Fighting Basques series here. The struggle of women for equal participation in American society – from the right to vote, achieved in 1920, and women advancing in equality with men in terms rights and responsibilities derived […]

Basque Fact of the Week: The Prince of Wales Nearly Became the Lord of Bizkaia

Looking back at the history of Europe, it is amazing how what we view today as solid political borders and national identities often grew out of random happenstance. If Joan of England had made it to Castile to wed Peter the Cruel, instead of succumbing to the Black Death at the age of fourteen, how […]

Buber’s Basque Story: Part 21

“Like I said,” began Marina, “I was born in 1583, in a small village in Lapurdi called Sara — the French call it Sare. It’s just across the border from…” “Zugarramurdi,” interrupted Kepa. “I’ve been there. It’s a cool little town.” Maite just shook her head at him. “Yes,” continued Marina. “My parents lived in […]