Police officers in full riot gear watch over hundreds of Basque separatists marching in support of senior ETA member Inaki de Juana Chaos in San Sebastian August 26, 2006. The banner reads in Basque, 'No to life sentence. Release Inaki de Juana.' REUTERS/Pablo Sanchez (SPAIN)
Thousands of people march through Bilbao, northern Spain, behind a Basque, a Lebanese and a Palestinian flag to support self government for the Basque country and to show support for the Palestinians and the Lebanese August 25, 2006. The banner reads 'Self government for the Basque Country'. REUTERS/Vincent West (SPAIN)Basque tradition
Poteo in Bilbao
08/22/2006
Although somewhat modernised, Bilbao maintains the age-old tradition of the “poteo” or “txikiteo” (going from bar to bar with a group of friends and having small glasses of wine).
Once a predominately male custom, this ritual is now commonly practiced by women as well. In the early evening, particularly on Thursdays and Fridays, people meet for a round of potes, named after the now obsolete heavy wine glasses once commonly used.
The term “txikiteo” comes from the name of the coin that once covered the cost of a glass of wine. García Rivero street and Plaza Campuzano are the hot spots in the city centre, as well as the Estraunza district. And not too far from here Licenciado Poza and Dr. Areilza streets bustle with the younger crowd.
Diputación street, in the middle of Gran Vía, and the new shopping zone known as the Ensanche are popular because of the pedestrian-only streets and the number of bars serving creative upscale “pintxos”. Next to Jardines de Albia gardens, Ledesma and Arbieto streets, also for pedestrians only, attract great numbers of people in the evening. The so-called ‘Guggenheim effect’ and the quality of the bars surrounding the museum are turning Iparraguirre, Ajuriaguerra and Heros streets into a new “poteo” zone.
And last but certainly not least for lovers of this ritual is the Casco Viejo, or Old Town. Here you will find such places as the well-loved Plaza Nueva square with its sidewalk cafés and relaxing atmosphere. There are countless “pintxo” bars near the intersection of Perro and Sanguinaria streets, some of which are even mentioned in the Michelin Guide.
Mouth of the river Nervion
A walk by Santurtzi: a Basque fishing port
08/20/2006
With the monument to the Carmen Virgin, the sea people’s beloved patroness, and the Brotherhood of Fishermen as reference points, the fishing port receives colourful boats.
Dominating the left border of the Abra, the mouth of the River Nervión, Santurtzi is a village, which has always been related to its great port and to its sardines, the ones that are remembered in the folk song “Desde Santurce a Bilbao…”.
Besides, foot as an outdoors sculpture museum can cross it. Up to its classic monuments dedicated to the Carmen Virgin, in the fishing port, and to the sardine woman’s image, in Iparraguirre promenade, Santurtzi has recently added a genuine outdoors contemporary sculpture museum. Fifteen works by Spanish and foreign sculptors have been installed in what they want to be a plural and growing museum. The Sculpture Museum of Santurtzi consists of fifteen bronze and steel works, a new proposal which spreads over its principal parks and promenades.
The art is another appeal for a walk, which may begin in the fishing port and continue by the marina. There, around the sports centre, we will find the first pieces of the sculpture museum.
Next to Ramón Rubial Park, the Oriol Palace takes us back to a century ago. This building, built by the architect Achurraco, is an eclectic style example from the beginning of the twentieth century. They have just reopened it as a hotel called Palacio de Oriol NH Hotel.
Going off along the Cristóbal Murrieta Avenue, we will arrive at the Town Hall and at San Jorge’s Church. This 1905 Town Hall building of French inspiration has two curious domes covered by black slate and stained glass in its inside staircase.
Further on, the monument to the sardine woman is in Iparraguirre promenade, of course, “with her skirt tucked up / showing off his calf…”. Laucarini is the author of the sculpture, which pays homage to the sardine woman traditional figure, who used to sell fish charmingly.
Statement
ETA says peace process is now "in a clear situation of crisis''
08/18/2006
The band explicitly referred to the governing party in the Basque Autonomous Region and that in the Spanish State, and warned that "if the attacks continue against Euskal Herria, ETA will respond."
The armed Basque group ETA said Friday that the peace process launched in Spain with its cease-fire declaration five months ago is now in crisis, accusing politicians of delaying steps toward a settlement of the conflict.
The band explicitly referred to Basque Nationalist Party PNV, governing party in the Basque Autonomous Region, and Socialist Party PSOE, governing party in the Spanish State.
In a communiqué issued to Basque Country newspapers Gara and Berria, ETA said the peace process was at an "impasse". It accused the government of hounding Basque nationalist politicians and threatened an unspecified "response" if this continued. "If the attacks continue against Euskal Herria (Basque country in Basque language), ETA will respond," the group said.
Thus, it made a vague warning to "respond" if the Spanish government continues what ETA called repression of Basque pro-independence militants.
In Friday's statement ETA accused the ruling Socialist party and the Basque Nationalist Party, which governs the troubled northern region, of "showing a clear will to delay the steps to be taken.'' Neither party is interested in negotiating any real changes to the Basque country's status within Spain, ETA said. And Zapatero's party just wants to make history by ending the decades-old conflict and is trying to "convert the peace process into a mere tool for staying in power.'' The peace process, it added, "is in a clear situation of crisis,'' the statement said.
ETA also repeated a charge that the Spanish government had agreed to a "cease-fire" of its own in talks leading up to the ETA truce, apparently agreeing to stop arresting ETA members. But the government is not living up to this commitment, ETA charged.
The government has repeatedly denied it made any promises with ETA to elicit the militants' cease-fire, which began in late March.
President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero announced formally in Parliament in late June that his government would hold talks with ETA on getting it to dissolve. The government is to brief the legislature in September on how the peace process is going. Zapatero has said the process could take years.
ETA has been fighting since the late 1960s in its campaign for a Basque homeland straddling northern Spain and southwest France. Prior to the cease-fire announcement it had not staged a fatal attack since May 2003.
Peace process
Batasuna leader voices "worry" for socialists' "lack of maturity"
08/17/2006
Likewise, outlawed Batasuna spokesman has regretted the attempts of the Socialist Party to "distort" the contents of a future agreement for political normalisation.
Banned leftwing nationalist spokesman, Arnaldo Otegi, has voiced today his "worry" for the development of the peace process due to the "lack of maturity and responsibility of socialist leaders. In his opinion, they try to "distort" the contents of a future agreement for political normalisation in the Basque Country.
Otegi, who offered a press conference in Donostia-San Sebastián alongside party member Rufi Etxeberria, has said nobody can believe that in the talks with socialists preceding the cease-fire Navarre was not taken as part of the peace process, or that leftwing nationalism swore allegiance to the Spanish Constitution, as some socialist leaders pretend to affirm.
Likewise, he has voiced his will to work for a compromise within the next few weeks to start a multiparty dialogue that doesn't exclude territories and respects the will of Basques.
Recipe
La Piperade- Basque Omelette
08/16/2006
Beat 4 eggs slightly with salt and pepper and stir them vigorously into the hot vegetable mixture, raising the heat so the eggs will cook quickly. Slide the omelette whole onto a heated platter.
Slice a small sweet green pepper finely and sauté it very slowly in olive oil.
Add salt and pepper, 1 small onion, chopped 1 small clove of garlic, chopped and mashed, and 2 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped.
Add 1 generous tablespoon shredded cooked ham and simmer the mixture slowly for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are rather soft.
Add 1-tablespoon butter.
Beat 4 eggs slightly with salt and pepper and stir them vigorously into the hot vegetable mixture, raising the heat so the eggs will cook quickly. Slide the omelette whole onto a heated platter.
Church and feudal tower
Way of St. James in the Basque Country : Portugalete and Muskiz
08/15/2006
Portugalete, at the mouth of the estuary, is another obvious example of a Middle Age city, with its layout of ordered streets, walls, church and feudal tower.
This town was created by Doña María Díaz de Haro, the Good, widow of Prince John, who was murdered by Don Tello, and was granted the fuero de Logroño in 1322. Its old part has been declared an Historic-Artistic monument.
It has a remarkable church, called Santa María, which is Gothic in style with three naves and a vault supported by strong columns. A primitive construction, dating from the 14th century, not much is left of the original since it was rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries. It has a small triforium in keeping with typical pilgrim’s churches. Although Renaissance in general, its altarpiece is outstanding for its 14th century Andra Mari, by the master Guiot de Beaugrant. It also has a small altar dedicated to Saint James the Moor Slayer at Clavijo.
Not far from here, defending one of the entrances to the town, above the ancient port, is Salazar Tower. The Salazar family was an important lineage from the Encartaciones region, whose influence spread through the Mena Valley to the Jurisdiction of Castile. Its most famous member is the first chronicler of Biscay, Don Lope García de Salazar, who left us a precious historic document, a real social and political chronicle, and a mirror of noble life in the late Middle Ages with his work: “Biendazas y Fortunas”. This tower was the setting for Don Lope’s “adventures”, such as his escape from the hands of his own sons who had taken him prisoner; on leaving the tower he took refuge in the belfry of Santa María, until he was recaptured.
Portugalete is explicitly and directly documented by a pilgrim. The person in question is the Armenian Martyr Bishop, de Arzendjan, who made the return journey along the coastal route in 1494; settling in “the great city of Portugalete” on his way back.
We continue on towards Muskiz, home to the Muñatones Castle, cradle and ancestral home of the Salazar lineage, and perhaps the most outstanding of all Bizkaian fortresses. This castle had a nearby palace and hermitage, dedicated to San Martín; these buildings were declared an Historic-Artistic Monument in 1944.
In prison, and after two escape attempts, Don Lope states: “...here, in my birthplace of San Martín, a prisoner of those I engendered and raised, fearing a poisoned drink and that the unorganised covetousness for taking my belongings will prevent them from setting me free, I await the mercy of God and rid myself of thought and imagination by writing this book”. He was poisoned as feared at the age of seventy.
We continue along the coast towards Finisterre, through Cantabrian lands.
Internet tool
Learning Basque language promoted in Australia
08/14/2006
The Boga system is a computer program designed to learn Basque through the Internet. It has been set up in the Basque Centres of Sydney and Townsville.
The Basque language will be given impetus in Australia as the Boga system has been put into operation at the Basque Centres in Sydney and Townsville. Boga is a computer program designed to learn Basque through the Internet.
The Culture Department of the Basque Government explained Monday in a statement that the head of the Basque Communities' Relations Abroad, Josu Legarreta, and the co-ordinator of the program "Euskara Munduan" (Basque around the world), Kinku Zinkunegi, visited Australia to promote the program.
In their trip, Legarreta and Zinkunegi visited Sydney, Townsville and Melbourne. They didn't install the Boga system in Melbourne since the Basque community was too small there and they didn't have headquarters for their use.
The same sources reminded that the Boga method is already working in different countries in Europe, South America and the United States.
The origins of "Euskara Munduan," set up in 2000, goes back to 16 years ago, when the plan "Argentina Euskaraz" (Argentina in Basque), a program that was taken form Argentina to other countries wanting to promote learning Basque, started.
Thousands of Basque separatists march in San Sebastian August 13, 2006, during a demonstration that was initially banned by the Spanish High Court as it was called by the outlawed separatist party Batasuna. REUTERS/Pablo Sanchez (SPAIN)
