Happy Hallowewwwwww

The texture is what I think chewing wacky noodles would be like. I understand white and yellow teeth, but...blue and green? From drinking lots of Slurpees?  Once you get past the aesthetics, they're actually strangely addictive. Like...candy.

Larceny, Valour

I previously commented on Kilometroak, an annual walk-a-thon event to raise money for Basque-speaking schools. This year's event took place in Tolosa, where many participants were wearing t-shirts in support of Herrira, a prisoner's rights group that has recently been subject to some difficulties. 

Herri kirolak, because we do sports differently in the country. You know you want to try it. 

Another big deal issue not only in these parts but in the Spanish state in general is the LOMCE, or the Wert educational reform law. There were some really large protests/strikes in public education facilities everywhere last week. People are upset because the law cuts funding to public education as part of the current austerity measures, and it also undermines the ability of autonomous communities to oversee their own education policy, especially with regards to linguistic requirements. Bear in mind that schools in this region are often bilingual (Basque-Spanish) if not trilingual (Basque-Spanish-English), and the law is attempting to take away autonomous community authority and assert the supremacy of the Spanish language.   

Some really good music with an accordion and a nyckleharpa.

Lots of people. Possibly too many. And it was extremely loud. But the incredible support that people show for their schools is pretty impressive.

  

Sagar Uzta

We had such a good time last year at the Astigarraga apple festival, we decided to go again. Hard cider production is a major industry in this town and the region in general. 

An apple pie competition

Basketmaker

Idiazabal is a local cheese that goes well with cider (and everything else).

Astigarraga has its own cider museum.

The main attraction is the cider kiosks. Buy a glass for 3 euros and you can try as many hard ciders as you want.

An exhibition on grafting techniques.

Mosto, or freshly pressed apple juice (the word can also refer to grape juice). Sweet, unfermented, unfiltered cider is not common here like it is in the northeastern U.S. (I am hoarding a bottle from a recent artisan's festival for the right occasion) and it is a novel product for people in this area, who pass it around during this festival after the apple crushing demonstration.

Distributing juice from the press.

A page from a really cool cider dictionary published by the cider museum. It has information about how cider is produced, local apple varieties, apple pests and pathogens, etc. A totally great find. And motivation for improving my Basque...