Speaking of Basque women, I just read a book called Lieutenant Nun: Memoir of a Transvestite Basque in the New World by Catalina de Erauso. An amazing true story from the 17th century.

And news of a modern Basque woman comes from a good web site for Basque news in English. www.gara.net/english/wee...rt135056.php

In the first quarter-final session for the national bertsolari Grand Championship, at Lekunberri (Navarre) last Sunday, it was Amaia Agirre who won the day against her five opponents and now moves on to the semi-final stage.

LEKUNBERRI
Bertsolaritza, not a uniquely Basque folk activity yet a highly traditional one across Euskal Herria, has been described by a former grand champion as the Basques' 'sport of words'.

No, it is not a debate club, nor is it a spelling competition: it consists of singing verses (bertsoak) to pre-established tunes (based, for example, on well-known Basque popular melodies), but with words improvised on the spot.

As in any sport, there are rules to make it truly competitive. Strict rhythm and rhyme patterns must be followed, for example: a syllable too many or a bad rhyme will lose you points. But that's the easiest part: for professionals, it's all about what you say (or rather sing) and how cleverly you express it.

In the past, a good bertsolari (verse singer) was invited, for instance, to village weddings, with instructions to poke light fun at the newlyweds and their families in their verses (better than boring speeches). And in the rural cider houses you could usually count on a good session of boisterous verse fun around a sturdy wooden table from equally sturdy middle-aged farmers after a good supper.

They didn't have championships then, they just did it for fun. Now it's all different. Kids learn the rules of bertsolaritza at Basque schools, and the best start to compete from their teens. Once largely a men's reserve, verse singing is today becoming equally popular among women. There are even formal contests with professional judges, and national championships.

But one of the most popular modalities in competitions is what is called the prison, where all the bertsolaris except for the one on stage are shut away out of hearing range until it is their turn, one by one, to emerge in front of the audience, where each is asked to sing on the same subject.

On this occasion the subject given was: 'You get on the bus at the station and take a seat at the back. As your jouney begins, you are looking out through the back window...'

The next semi-finals are on Saturday, October 15, at Idiazabal (Gipuzkoa), when it will be the turn of six more bertsolaris to delight the audience with their talent and quickness of wit, while vying to enter the semi-finals and compete against Amaia Agirre.
 

I learned at a party last night from a woman whose boyfriend was Basque that there is one way to tell a Basque.
We all seem to have a small bump at the back base of the skull. I had noticed mine but I thought it common...apparently it's only Basque who have this.
Odd but true

The word is HEAR not here. On the wish list is the power of EDIT

I agree with Maria...I have never met a Basque man that I wasn't related to, and unfortunately, the ones that I am related to don't care that they are Basque...or I'd introuduce you to one, Maria ;)