Reader—
Just a quick note to say hey this week since I’m still catching up after almost three weeks away.
I wrapped up a great trip to Seattle with more nature walks, lots of quality time with family and friends, and a several-day stint to Boise (an underrated city—stay tuned for more on that).
While the reason for the side trip was to celebrate my grandma’s 92nd (!) birthday, the dates coincided with Jaialdi, a Basque festival that only happens once every five years.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Basques moved to southern Idaho and northern Utah, Nevada, and California to work as sheep herders, and their descendants have created thriving communities in those areas, especially in Boise.
I’ve been wanting to attend Jaialdi for close to 20 years—ever since I led group tours through the Basque Country and later married a Basque man. But the dates never worked out, and the last Jaialdi was cancelled because of Covid. So I was extra-thrilled to get to go this year.
People came from all over the world to watch sports like wood chopping and rock lifting, sample Basque cuisine, see pala (paddle) and handball matches, peek into historic sheep wagons (basically the original camper-van tiny homes), enjoy traditional music and dance performances, and party the night away on Boise’s Basque Block.
The Basque pride was flowing as much as the kalimotxo, a red-wine-and-Coke combo that tastes way better than it sounds.
I created a quick Reel of some of the highlights on my Instagram—check it out here (and make sure to follow me if you’re not already).
And if this sounds at all interesting to you, mark your calendar now for Jaialdi 2030!