The bombing of Gernika has become an integral part of the greater Basque experience, quite possibly of Basque identity itself. Every Basque, whether born in Bilbao or Boise, knows what happened in Gernika. Reproductions of Picasso’s Guernica can be found in even the simplest of basseriak in the rural Basque Country, in places where modern […]
Nor Naiz, Gu Gara (Who I Am, We Are) is a series aiming to explore the meaning of Basque Identity around the world, both within Euskal Herria as well as in the diaspora. For an introduction to the series, look here, and for a list of the previous entries, look here. About three years ago […]
First, Bilbao wins the “Nobel prize” of cities. Then Donostia is chosen as European Cultural Capital. Not to be outdone or left behind, Vitoria-Gasteiz, capital of the province of Araba and of the Basque Autonomous Community, has been chosen as the European Green Capital 2012. Vitoria-Gasteiz was chosen because of its environmental policies, including its […]
A very interesting development from the Basque Country. With all of the concerns related to climate change and dependence on foreign oil, people are looking for new ways to extract energy from where ever possible. The Basque Country is known for its waves — just ask any surfing aficionado. And while not as famous as […]
(I couldn’t resist the pun.) Some big news for the Basque Country’s biggest cities. First, Donostia has been chosen, along with Wroclaw, Poland, as one of the two European Capitals of Culture in 2016. EiTB has the news here. This means that for the year of 2016, Donostia will host events that highlight Europe’s cultural […]
In his blog, Ricardo Ibarra posted an infographic taken from El Correo that shows the breakdown of the last elections by region within the Basque Autonomous Community, an image shamelessly stolen from him and reposted here (click on the image for a bigger version). It is interesting to see how things break down. Gipuzkoa went […]
The Basque Country has changed dramatically since the time my father left for a new life in the United States. Not only politically, with the death of Franco, the activity of ETA, and the rise of the Basque Autonomous Community, but socially, as well, as the Basque people have taken their culture into the 21st […]
It wasn’t long ago, in fact not even a month ago, that Spanish courts had ruled that a new party in the Basque Country couldn’t stand for elections held just yesterday. Bildu (Gather in English), a coalition of nationalist and left-of-center groups, was formed when Sortu (Create in English), another attempt to form a new […]
If you’ve never been to the Basque Country and are considering your first visit, you might have no idea of where to start your tour. Or if you’ve been several times to see family, you might want to break out of the routine of visiting the family baserria and find something new. Rick Steves, “America’s […]
I just stumbled onto this by pure accident (sometimes, spending too much time just surfing the web does lead to serendipitous discoveries). Basque Stage is part project, part contest, with the goal of teaming up young chefs with world-renowned chef Martin Berasategui, owner of his signature restaurant in Lasarte-Oria, Gipuzkoa. Basque Stage will award two […]
