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Bordeaux, France.  The board of directors of Bordeaux’s Euskal Etxea is very satisfied with how well received their activities were this last weekend, as part of “Heritage Day,” according to club president David Mugica.  The most successful event, without a doubt, was the Basque Market organized by the club with the collaboration of the Idoki association, in Palace Square.  The booths that included cheese, cakes, wine, crafts and various delicacies lured the people of Bordeaux to get to know and enjoy this important part of the Basque tradition. 

There were many curious people as well as buyers who passed through the square.  According to the Basque club data, more than 500 people passed through on Sunday with another 300 visitors on Sunday.  Among those were the mayor of the city, Alain Juppé, and Julian Celaya, Director of Relations with Basque Citizens and Collectivities Abroad.

[The club’s “txiki” dancers performing Basque dances in Palace Square (photo BordeleEE)]

[The Minhondo bakery tempted the public with their appetizing show of Basque cakes (photo BordeleEE)]

[Visiting the booths in the Basque Market, from left to right, David Mugica, President Eskualdunen Biltzarra; Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux; and Julian Celaya, Director of Relations with Basque Citizens and Collectivities Abroad (photo BordeleEE)]

In addition the choral groups Bestalairak and Etxekoak gathered around 150 people for a concert Saturday night that offered great ambience according to Mugica.  “It was worth seeing how the crowd followed the txaranga through the streets after the concert, all the way to Basque Square,” the president explained.   In the square, next to the Basque clubhouse, the evening continued until nightfall with an informal dinner at the euskal etxea, dancing and music, taking advantage of the good evening temperatures.

[Enjoying the night and the good atmosphere at the pary at Basque Square (photo BordeleEE)]

Another activity during the weekend was the pilota tournament organized by the euskal etxea, where high level pilotaris competed in various disciplines such as cesta punta and handball.  The Euskal Etxea published photos of the weekend on its Facebook page, here: http://es-es.facebook.com/pages/Bordeleko-Eskual-Etxea-Maison-Basque-de-Bordeaux/132085886843811?sk=photos_stream

[Jai Alai, or cesta punta matches, were another attraction this last weekend in Bordeaux (photo BordeleEE)]