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 Buenos Aires, Argentina. The summer is coming to a close in South America and the city of Buenos Aires is beginning to develop a large program of festivals of communities, that includes, among others, the “Gastronomic Patio,” “Buenos Aires Celebrates,” and the “Immigrants Day,” that is traditionally celebrated in Palermo, in the parks that surround the Planetarium.

Last Saturday was the date for the Gastronomic Patio, an activity to present the richest manifestations, in all senses of the word, of the communities, that is its dishes, and traditional recipes.  In the Basque case, the Laurak Bat Basque club along with the Euskaltzaleak Basque Language Academy presented their stands with a large variety of typical snacks from the Basque Country, from croquettes, squid and prawns to pintxos, taloa and Basque cake.

[The Communities Gastronomic Patio is characterized by the extensive array of culinary specialties from a large number of countries.  The Basque chefs exceeded all expectations and had completely sold out before closing.]

Gastronomy wasn’t the only thing that attracted folks on this sunny Saturday.  The music also attracted visitors that not only approached to listen but also to ask about the origin, technique and little-seen instruments in these parts.

 

[Basque club musicians entertained with a triki, panderoa, albokas and txalaparta]

[And with the music came dances and dancers.  In an informal demonstration in front of the stand, dantzaris from Laurak Bat and the Dance Workshop at Euskaltzaleak danced a Fandango and Arin arin, as well as a polka among others.] 

The day was marked by wonderful weather and by an uninterrupted wave of people who regaled in specialties from each community and the shows that also took place on the stage in the street.  During the afternoon, the Chief of Staff of the City of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodriquez Larreta along with the Sub-secretary of Human Rights and Cultural Pluralism, Claudio Avruj, toured the stands that lined both sides of the avenue.

[The Chief of Staff of Buenos Aires visited the Basque stand motivated by the origin of his last name.  In the photo Alberto Ospital, from Euskaltzaleak; Arantxa Anitua, President of Laurak Bat and Vice-President of FEVA; Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, Sara Pagola and Claudio Avruj (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

Rodriguez Larreta visited the Basque stand motivated by the origin of his last name, from Iparralde, according to his family tradition.  During his visit to the stand, local leaders also exchanged words with Delegate of Euskadi in Argentina and Mercosur, Sara Pagola.