HA! This is well-times, Alvaro. We're going on a vacation road trip tomorrow and neither of us can hardly wait. We're at the level where the routine of life is sucking our brains and life right out of us. Then my husband announced he was leaving his laptop home. He purchased a hard-cover book and will be attending a Basque festival in Idaho. I usually take my laptop and plan to on this trip too. Unlike him, I have lots of mental outlets on the laptop. Comics, Wordle, news, emails, FB, and most important of all, Substack. It has become my alternate universe, a stimulating place of inspiration and camaraderie. And the writing I do for my page keeps me alive. There's no money in it for me, but if I dropped off this platform, I'd shrivel up and blow away. Meanwhile, I'll be attending the same Basque festival and getting away from the damned chores. That's enough for me. Thank you for this article, Alvaro, and giving us permission to breathe.
What do you mean, a Basque festival in Idaho? How's that. As you know, I'm from Spain, the Basques are from here.
I'm fine with the decision to take a break and travel freely on the road. The trips you take without too many plans for flights and accommodation are the ones I like the most. I hope that if you take your laptop with you it will only be to distract you on some occasions and not to end up working away from home.
Substack is definitely the most welcoming social network on the internet, I completely agree with you. I think it's the only network that can really be called ‘social’.
Ah mi amigo, Boise is the center of Basque community and culture in America. Last century, young Basque men would come to the Great Basin in western America to herd sheep. They would spend their summers in the countryside, then bring the sheep into the rail heads in Boise, Elko, Winnemucca, and Reno, NV for market. Once that was done, they'd winter over in the Basque hotels near the rail depots. Bringing their families over after a few years, they would establish homes and communities here. Today, Basques travel back and forth between the Basque Country in the Pyrennies and these communities in America. During the summer now, there are Basque festivals to share their culture and catch up with friends throughout the West. We've been to one in Elko and there will be one in our town of Minden next month. In Boise, there are athletes from the Pyrennies to play handball and pala (?). Also, Boise has a special "Basque Block" open to everyone with a museum, a market of Basque foods, restaurants, bars, and a community center for special events like this festival. Last night, the place was packed with everyone having a good time. Today, there will be dance performances and games. So far, I've not seen anyone playing Mus, a Basque card game. The Carson Valley Basques, though, hold Muss tournaments twice of year and that brings a lot of old friends together. Someday, Jeff and I need to learn how to play Mus.
How interesting! I had no idea that existed. It's incredible how a Basque community settled there and what I liked most is that they have spread their culture there and even hold events.
How good to hear that.
Have fun and learn to play Muss, (I don't know either hahaha)
Oh, I don't know if you knew that the Basque language is very difficult.
LOL Oh yes! I find it incomprehensible at least for me. Jeff has been studying it and succeeding to a certain extent; although he does have a talent for languages. He's a software engineer and learning languages is a very necessary part of the job. Eskerick asko!
There are lots of little ethnic enclaves throughout the US. Despite the fact Basques are spread far and wide through the West, these festivals and other events bring them all together once in awhile.
HA! This is well-times, Alvaro. We're going on a vacation road trip tomorrow and neither of us can hardly wait. We're at the level where the routine of life is sucking our brains and life right out of us. Then my husband announced he was leaving his laptop home. He purchased a hard-cover book and will be attending a Basque festival in Idaho. I usually take my laptop and plan to on this trip too. Unlike him, I have lots of mental outlets on the laptop. Comics, Wordle, news, emails, FB, and most important of all, Substack. It has become my alternate universe, a stimulating place of inspiration and camaraderie. And the writing I do for my page keeps me alive. There's no money in it for me, but if I dropped off this platform, I'd shrivel up and blow away. Meanwhile, I'll be attending the same Basque festival and getting away from the damned chores. That's enough for me. Thank you for this article, Alvaro, and giving us permission to breathe.
What do you mean, a Basque festival in Idaho? How's that. As you know, I'm from Spain, the Basques are from here.
I'm fine with the decision to take a break and travel freely on the road. The trips you take without too many plans for flights and accommodation are the ones I like the most. I hope that if you take your laptop with you it will only be to distract you on some occasions and not to end up working away from home.
Substack is definitely the most welcoming social network on the internet, I completely agree with you. I think it's the only network that can really be called ‘social’.
Ah mi amigo, Boise is the center of Basque community and culture in America. Last century, young Basque men would come to the Great Basin in western America to herd sheep. They would spend their summers in the countryside, then bring the sheep into the rail heads in Boise, Elko, Winnemucca, and Reno, NV for market. Once that was done, they'd winter over in the Basque hotels near the rail depots. Bringing their families over after a few years, they would establish homes and communities here. Today, Basques travel back and forth between the Basque Country in the Pyrennies and these communities in America. During the summer now, there are Basque festivals to share their culture and catch up with friends throughout the West. We've been to one in Elko and there will be one in our town of Minden next month. In Boise, there are athletes from the Pyrennies to play handball and pala (?). Also, Boise has a special "Basque Block" open to everyone with a museum, a market of Basque foods, restaurants, bars, and a community center for special events like this festival. Last night, the place was packed with everyone having a good time. Today, there will be dance performances and games. So far, I've not seen anyone playing Mus, a Basque card game. The Carson Valley Basques, though, hold Muss tournaments twice of year and that brings a lot of old friends together. Someday, Jeff and I need to learn how to play Mus.
How interesting! I had no idea that existed. It's incredible how a Basque community settled there and what I liked most is that they have spread their culture there and even hold events.
How good to hear that.
Have fun and learn to play Muss, (I don't know either hahaha)
Oh, I don't know if you knew that the Basque language is very difficult.
LOL Oh yes! I find it incomprehensible at least for me. Jeff has been studying it and succeeding to a certain extent; although he does have a talent for languages. He's a software engineer and learning languages is a very necessary part of the job. Eskerick asko!
I am extremely surprised that the Basque language and culture has proliferated in the US. Unbelievable.
Cheers for Jeff! Studying Basque is a feat
There are lots of little ethnic enclaves throughout the US. Despite the fact Basques are spread far and wide through the West, these festivals and other events bring them all together once in awhile.