Genuine Basqueness
Today, I came back from San Sebastian to Bilbao, with a lengthy stop in Ondarroa on the way. The coastal geography is stunning, with steep hills and mountains backing directly onto the sea, with fishing towns mostly in the valleys. I chose Ondarroa because there is another bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava over the river Artibai. Again I was underwhelmed. Calatrava's most famous bridge is in Seville. Perhaps I need to go there and look at it. There was an absolutely ancient looking stone arch a little further upstream which, quite frankly, struck me as the most interesting bridge in the town.
Ondarroa was described as a "centre of Basque nationalism" in my guidebook, and it did indeed seem this way. Lots of slogans painted on the walls. I can't understand either Spanish or Basque, but I got the point. They were decrying the brutality and tactics of torture of the guardia civil (But not that of ETA), and demanding independence. The many bars of the town were filled with posters showing a map of the Basque country a different colour to the rest of Spain.
And, as has invariably been the case on this trip, the people were tremendously friendly and welcoming. I went into several bars, had some lunch, drank a little red wine, and it was almost like I was one of the locals. (The Basques, like people in the rest of Spain, seem to spend much of the day drinking a little red wine). In one of the bars, I watched a strange Basque sports program on the television, featuring what looked like an under-15s woodchopping competition, and a weird contest involving picking up large, heavy cubic objects to head height and then dropping them on what looked like a giant bean bag. The winner seemed to be the person who could lift the cubic object as many times as possible. However, there appeared to also be a later round in which the cubic object was bigger. (In fact, it had "230K" written on the side of it, so that may have been its weight).
Anyway, Guernica tomorrow.
I'm an Aussie presently living in London. This blog normally consists of my random thoughts on a variety of subjects, ranging from politics to telecommunications technology, movies cricket, urban design, beer, cheese, and whatever else comes into my head.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
►
2013
(4)
- ► 09/08 - 09/15 (2)
- ► 09/01 - 09/08 (1)
- ► 02/10 - 02/17 (1)
-
►
2012
(3)
- ► 02/05 - 02/12 (1)
- ► 01/29 - 02/05 (2)
-
►
2011
(20)
- ► 12/25 - 01/01 (1)
- ► 10/16 - 10/23 (1)
- ► 10/02 - 10/09 (2)
- ► 09/25 - 10/02 (1)
- ► 09/04 - 09/11 (2)
- ► 08/14 - 08/21 (2)
- ► 08/07 - 08/14 (1)
- ► 07/31 - 08/07 (1)
- ► 07/24 - 07/31 (1)
- ► 07/17 - 07/24 (1)
- ► 07/10 - 07/17 (2)
- ► 05/08 - 05/15 (1)
- ► 04/24 - 05/01 (1)
- ► 04/03 - 04/10 (1)
- ► 03/13 - 03/20 (1)
- ► 02/20 - 02/27 (1)
-
►
2010
(26)
- ► 12/19 - 12/26 (1)
- ► 12/05 - 12/12 (1)
- ► 10/31 - 11/07 (2)
- ► 10/03 - 10/10 (1)
- ► 09/12 - 09/19 (1)
- ► 08/22 - 08/29 (2)
- ► 07/25 - 08/01 (1)
- ► 07/04 - 07/11 (1)
- ► 05/23 - 05/30 (2)
- ► 05/16 - 05/23 (3)
- ► 04/04 - 04/11 (2)
- ► 03/14 - 03/21 (1)
- ► 03/07 - 03/14 (1)
- ► 02/28 - 03/07 (1)
- ► 02/21 - 02/28 (1)
- ► 02/14 - 02/21 (2)
- ► 01/10 - 01/17 (1)
- ► 01/03 - 01/10 (2)
-
►
2009
(13)
- ► 12/27 - 01/03 (1)
- ► 12/13 - 12/20 (2)
- ► 12/06 - 12/13 (1)
- ► 11/15 - 11/22 (1)
- ► 11/08 - 11/15 (1)
- ► 11/01 - 11/08 (2)
- ► 10/25 - 11/01 (1)
- ► 08/30 - 09/06 (1)
- ► 07/05 - 07/12 (1)
- ► 05/17 - 05/24 (1)
- ► 02/01 - 02/08 (1)
-
►
2008
(27)
- ► 12/28 - 01/04 (1)
- ► 07/20 - 07/27 (1)
- ► 06/29 - 07/06 (1)
- ► 06/22 - 06/29 (1)
- ► 05/18 - 05/25 (4)
- ► 05/04 - 05/11 (2)
- ► 04/27 - 05/04 (2)
- ► 04/13 - 04/20 (1)
- ► 04/06 - 04/13 (1)
- ► 03/30 - 04/06 (5)
- ► 03/09 - 03/16 (2)
- ► 03/02 - 03/09 (1)
- ► 02/24 - 03/02 (1)
- ► 02/10 - 02/17 (2)
- ► 02/03 - 02/10 (1)
- ► 01/27 - 02/03 (1)
-
►
2007
(121)
- ► 12/16 - 12/23 (1)
- ► 11/25 - 12/02 (2)
- ► 11/18 - 11/25 (1)
- ► 11/04 - 11/11 (1)
- ► 10/21 - 10/28 (1)
- ► 10/14 - 10/21 (2)
- ► 09/23 - 09/30 (1)
- ► 09/16 - 09/23 (3)
- ► 09/09 - 09/16 (1)
- ► 08/19 - 08/26 (1)
- ► 08/12 - 08/19 (2)
- ► 07/29 - 08/05 (2)
- ► 07/22 - 07/29 (2)
- ► 07/15 - 07/22 (4)
- ► 07/08 - 07/15 (5)
- ► 07/01 - 07/08 (4)
- ► 06/24 - 07/01 (10)
- ► 06/17 - 06/24 (5)
- ► 06/10 - 06/17 (5)
- ► 06/03 - 06/10 (3)
- ► 05/27 - 06/03 (5)
- ► 05/20 - 05/27 (4)
- ► 05/13 - 05/20 (2)
- ► 05/06 - 05/13 (2)
- ► 04/22 - 04/29 (8)
- ► 04/15 - 04/22 (1)
- ► 04/08 - 04/15 (6)
- ► 04/01 - 04/08 (6)
- ► 03/25 - 04/01 (12)
- ► 03/18 - 03/25 (10)
- ► 03/11 - 03/18 (8)
- ► 01/21 - 01/28 (1)
-
►
2006
(27)
- ► 12/17 - 12/24 (2)
- ► 09/24 - 10/01 (1)
- ► 07/16 - 07/23 (1)
- ► 07/09 - 07/16 (1)
- ► 06/25 - 07/02 (3)
- ► 06/18 - 06/25 (1)
- ► 03/26 - 04/02 (1)
- ► 03/05 - 03/12 (2)
- ► 02/26 - 03/05 (1)
- ► 02/19 - 02/26 (5)
- ► 02/12 - 02/19 (5)
- ► 02/05 - 02/12 (1)
- ► 01/22 - 01/29 (2)
- ► 01/08 - 01/15 (1)
-
►
2005
(117)
- ► 12/25 - 01/01 (1)
- ► 12/18 - 12/25 (1)
- ► 12/04 - 12/11 (1)
- ► 11/20 - 11/27 (1)
- ► 11/13 - 11/20 (1)
- ► 10/30 - 11/06 (2)
- ► 10/23 - 10/30 (1)
- ► 10/16 - 10/23 (7)
- ► 10/09 - 10/16 (1)
- ► 10/02 - 10/09 (4)
- ► 09/25 - 10/02 (4)
- ► 09/18 - 09/25 (2)
- ► 09/11 - 09/18 (4)
- ► 09/04 - 09/11 (5)
- ► 08/28 - 09/04 (3)
- ► 08/21 - 08/28 (2)
- ► 08/14 - 08/21 (2)
- ► 08/07 - 08/14 (1)
- ► 07/31 - 08/07 (2)
- ► 07/24 - 07/31 (1)
- ► 07/17 - 07/24 (5)
- ► 07/10 - 07/17 (2)
- ► 07/03 - 07/10 (2)
- ► 06/19 - 06/26 (1)
- ► 06/05 - 06/12 (1)
- ► 05/29 - 06/05 (3)
- ► 05/22 - 05/29 (3)
- ► 05/15 - 05/22 (1)
- ► 05/08 - 05/15 (1)
- ► 05/01 - 05/08 (2)
- ► 04/24 - 05/01 (2)
- ► 04/17 - 04/24 (5)
- ► 04/10 - 04/17 (2)
- ► 04/03 - 04/10 (2)
- ► 03/27 - 04/03 (3)
- ► 03/20 - 03/27 (5)
- ► 03/13 - 03/20 (2)
- ► 03/06 - 03/13 (6)
- ► 02/27 - 03/06 (3)
- ► 02/20 - 02/27 (2)
- ► 02/13 - 02/20 (2)
- ► 02/06 - 02/13 (3)
- ► 01/30 - 02/06 (2)
- ► 01/23 - 01/30 (3)
- ► 01/16 - 01/23 (3)
- ► 01/09 - 01/16 (2)
- ► 01/02 - 01/09 (3)
-
►
2004
(336)
- ► 12/26 - 01/02 (1)
- ► 12/19 - 12/26 (2)
- ► 12/12 - 12/19 (1)
- ► 11/14 - 11/21 (1)
- ► 11/07 - 11/14 (1)
- ► 10/10 - 10/17 (1)
- ► 10/03 - 10/10 (2)
- ► 09/19 - 09/26 (2)
- ► 09/12 - 09/19 (2)
- ► 09/05 - 09/12 (1)
- ► 08/29 - 09/05 (3)
- ► 08/22 - 08/29 (8)
- ► 08/15 - 08/22 (6)
- ► 08/08 - 08/15 (5)
- ► 08/01 - 08/08 (6)
- ► 07/25 - 08/01 (5)
- ► 07/18 - 07/25 (3)
- ► 07/11 - 07/18 (7)
- ► 07/04 - 07/11 (6)
- ► 06/27 - 07/04 (9)
- ► 06/20 - 06/27 (6)
- ► 06/13 - 06/20 (10)
- ► 06/06 - 06/13 (9)
- ► 05/30 - 06/06 (9)
- ► 05/23 - 05/30 (9)
- ► 05/16 - 05/23 (8)
- ► 05/09 - 05/16 (13)
- ► 05/02 - 05/09 (10)
- ► 04/25 - 05/02 (7)
- ► 04/18 - 04/25 (8)
- ► 04/11 - 04/18 (11)
- ► 04/04 - 04/11 (8)
- ► 03/28 - 04/04 (10)
- ► 03/21 - 03/28 (11)
- ► 03/14 - 03/21 (8)
- ► 03/07 - 03/14 (12)
- ► 02/29 - 03/07 (11)
- ► 02/22 - 02/29 (17)
- ► 02/15 - 02/22 (8)
- ► 02/08 - 02/15 (8)
- ► 02/01 - 02/08 (13)
- ► 01/25 - 02/01 (10)
- ► 01/18 - 01/25 (13)
- ► 01/11 - 01/18 (17)
- ► 01/04 - 01/11 (18)
-
▼
2003
(796)
- ► 12/28 - 01/04 (9)
- ► 12/21 - 12/28 (14)
- ► 12/14 - 12/21 (13)
- ► 12/07 - 12/14 (13)
- ► 11/30 - 12/07 (6)
- ► 11/23 - 11/30 (14)
- ► 11/16 - 11/23 (14)
- ► 11/09 - 11/16 (8)
- ► 11/02 - 11/09 (9)
- ► 10/26 - 11/02 (14)
- ► 10/19 - 10/26 (11)
- ► 10/12 - 10/19 (17)
- ► 10/05 - 10/12 (19)
- ► 09/28 - 10/05 (11)
- ► 09/21 - 09/28 (16)
- ► 09/14 - 09/21 (11)
- ► 09/07 - 09/14 (13)
- ► 08/31 - 09/07 (15)
- ► 08/24 - 08/31 (13)
- ► 08/17 - 08/24 (10)
- ► 08/10 - 08/17 (14)
- ► 08/03 - 08/10 (10)
- ► 07/27 - 08/03 (13)
- ► 07/20 - 07/27 (12)
- ► 07/13 - 07/20 (10)
- ► 07/06 - 07/13 (15)
- ► 06/29 - 07/06 (15)
- ► 06/22 - 06/29 (16)
- ► 06/15 - 06/22 (15)
-
▼
06/08 - 06/15
(14)
- The spread of SARS Alfred Croucher (China hand) h...
- Socialising animals. Brian Micklethwait had a pos...
- More things I learned in Spain Supermercado means...
- Note to David Adesnik Why not link to me. I have ...
- The importance of good design Here we have a deli...
- Cricketing things that have been happening in my a...
- A new hope I have been moved over to the new vers...
- Back in London My return from Spain was largely u...
- French Restaurants versus Spanish Restaurants In ...
- Watching television I have never really thought a...
- Note to Slate. It may well be that Pixar's great ...
- A nice thing about Bilbao. Unlike in many Europea...
- Genuine Basqueness Today, I came back from San Se...
- More hassles Earlier today, the blogger homepage ...
- ► 06/01 - 06/08 (15)
- ► 05/25 - 06/01 (8)
- ► 05/18 - 05/25 (12)
- ► 05/11 - 05/18 (13)
- ► 05/04 - 05/11 (15)
- ► 04/27 - 05/04 (18)
- ► 04/20 - 04/27 (16)
- ► 04/13 - 04/20 (19)
- ► 04/06 - 04/13 (22)
- ► 03/30 - 04/06 (28)
- ► 03/23 - 03/30 (16)
- ► 03/16 - 03/23 (29)
- ► 03/09 - 03/16 (16)
- ► 03/02 - 03/09 (28)
- ► 02/23 - 03/02 (23)
- ► 02/16 - 02/23 (21)
- ► 02/09 - 02/16 (21)
- ► 02/02 - 02/09 (15)
- ► 01/26 - 02/02 (24)
- ► 01/19 - 01/26 (22)
- ► 01/12 - 01/19 (13)
- ► 01/05 - 01/12 (18)
-
►
2002
(301)
- ► 12/29 - 01/05 (19)
- ► 12/22 - 12/29 (2)
- ► 12/15 - 12/22 (24)
- ► 12/08 - 12/15 (23)
- ► 12/01 - 12/08 (25)
- ► 11/24 - 12/01 (17)
- ► 11/17 - 11/24 (18)
- ► 11/10 - 11/17 (14)
- ► 11/03 - 11/10 (16)
- ► 10/27 - 11/03 (11)
- ► 10/20 - 10/27 (15)
- ► 10/13 - 10/20 (17)
- ► 10/06 - 10/13 (16)
- ► 09/22 - 09/29 (1)
- ► 09/15 - 09/22 (5)
- ► 09/08 - 09/15 (3)
- ► 09/01 - 09/08 (4)
- ► 08/25 - 09/01 (2)
- ► 08/18 - 08/25 (4)
- ► 08/04 - 08/11 (4)
- ► 07/28 - 08/04 (5)
- ► 07/21 - 07/28 (2)
- ► 07/14 - 07/21 (2)
- ► 07/07 - 07/14 (5)
- ► 06/30 - 07/07 (4)
- ► 06/23 - 06/30 (4)
- ► 06/16 - 06/23 (2)
- ► 06/09 - 06/16 (4)
- ► 06/02 - 06/09 (3)
- ► 05/26 - 06/02 (9)
- ► 05/19 - 05/26 (2)
- ► 05/12 - 05/19 (5)
- ► 04/21 - 04/28 (2)
- ► 04/14 - 04/21 (5)
- ► 04/07 - 04/14 (5)
- ► 03/31 - 04/07 (2)
No comments:
Post a Comment