All posts by buber

The Adventures of Maite and Kepa: Part 176

“It’s sort of like a cheat code,” mused Kepa as Amalur hovered above their bed expectantly. “You know, in video games, there are times where they right combination of moves opens up an Easter egg.” Maite turned to look at him. “You think this is all some kind of game?” Kepa shrugged. “Not a game, […]

Basque Fact of the Week: Amalur, Mother Earth

Basque mythology can be a bit daunting to delve in to. The problem is that not much was written down and the bits we do have – much thanks to amazing ethnographers such as José Miguel de Barandiaran Ayerbe – are tangled threads of stories where characters and themes have merged and split many times, […]

A Basque Twist on a Classic Cocktail

A random article I stumbled across describes a Basque twist on a classic cocktail. The Bamboo, created by German bartender Louis Eppinger possibly in the mid-1800s in San Francisco if not a bit later in Japan, consists of “equal measures of dry vermouth and dry sherry, plus a couple dashes of bitters.” Brooklyn’s Bar Vinazo has […]

Basque Fact of the Week: The Feria of Santo Tómas

One of the biggest events to open the Christmas season in the Basque Country is the Feria of Santo Tómas, a rural market in the heart of the city. Originating in Gipuzkoa – more specifically Donostia – it has spread as a celebration throughout the Basque Country. Today, the Feria is a celebration of rural […]

Basque Fact of the Week: Txakolin, the Basque White Wine

One of the unique pleasures of the Basque Country is all of the wonderful tastes it has to offer. I’ve written about some of the unique drinks you can find only in the Basque Country. Txakolin, or txakoli as it is more commonly known, is perhaps the most well known, having found its way across […]

The Adventures of Maite and Kepa: Part 175

Maite panted as she reached the apartment door. She wasn’t sure why, but the steps up to the apartment were always the hardest. She was always tempted to take the elevator but had yet to succumb to that temptation, pushing herself to climb the four flights of stairs up to their floor. She pushed open […]

Basque Fact of the Week: Artxanda, a Green Oasis in Bilbo

Sometimes, you just miss the most obvious things. I’ve been to Bilbo several times, but I never thought to take the funicular up to Artxanda. But, that’s the beauty of traveling with others, they make you think about things differently, explore new avenues, push you beyond the familiar. The funicular itself is iconic, though in […]

The Adventures of Maite and Kepa: Part 174

Kepa lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Maite had gotten up early to go for a jog along La Concha. She had invited Kepa to join her, but he wasn’t really a jogger. He needed a competitive element to get him motivated to exert himself. A game of basketball with friends, that was great. […]

Basque Fact of the Week: Igeldo, the Mount and the Neighborhood

Perhaps the most iconic vista of La Concha and Donostia is from Mount Igeldo, the peak that rises to the west of the city. A small winding road leads from the city up the slope to an amusement park that hosts this most amazing view. You can also grab a funicular that will take you […]