There is nothing I can do to cure my wanderlust, and as time goes by I now enjoy roaming around my country more than when I was younger and was set on discovering exotic cultures. Now, however, I firmly believe that Basque culture is actually very exotic indeed, occasionally even for someone born and bred there! The thing is, this country has countless traditions and surprises hidden away in every nook and cranny of its wonderful geography.
Euskal Herria, traditional and modern
The Basque Country or “Euskal Herria” (country of the Basque speakers) is a modern territory with a great passion for its roots and identity.
It’s the perfect cocktail of tradition and modernity: here they speak Europe’s oldest language, they run ahead of bulls in their fiestas, and they lift heavy stones for sport, that is true.
But they have also updated that ancestral knowledge for a perfect fit in the modern world. The main exponent of this hugely successful transformation may be found in Basque cuisine, which our wonderful chefs have turned into an international gastronomic benchmark.
Much more to discover
A large number of tourists are guided to the Basque Country by the light of Michelin stars and the bars laden with pintxo snacks. They pack in as much added value as possible to their visit to Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum with a visit to the Rioja wineries, a concert, or taking a look at one of the international film and music festivals held here.
But obviously the Basque Country is much more than this popular list of sightseeing venues. We could say that it is a world of mysterious traditions frozen in time, just waiting for us to come along and discover it. The more I learn about it, the more excited I get, and the more I want to share it. That’s why I set up Walk On The Basque Side.
