Book Spotlight - Entangled Fate

First, where exactly is Basque country?

Basque Country lies in the NORTH OF SPAIN near the BAY OF BISCAY, and in SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE.

Though it straddles both Spain and France, the people do not consider themselves Spanish or French, and do not say they live in Spain or France, they say they are Basque and live in Basque Country.

Why are the Basque and their country special?

In short. The people and the language.

The Basque are thought to be the OLDEST PEOPLE (ETHNIC GROUP) in Europe. They are closest descendants of the Paleolithic people who established the first settlements in Britain over 10 000 years ago.

FUN FACT: The Basque are genetic blood-brothers of the Celts, the Welsh and Irish

The Basque have a very ORIGINAL DNA. According to The Guardian, notes and queries, The Basques have the highest concentration of type O blood in the world, more than 50% of the population, with an even higher percentage in remote areas where Basque is more widely spoken. Basques also have a higher incidence of Rhesus-negative blood than anyone else in the world.

THE BASQUE LANGUAGE, or Euskera is completely unique and unrelated to any other language, i.e. Latin, French or Greek, in the world. It is the oldest language in Europe and can be traced back to the Neolithic period.

The Basque are said to live by the VENDETTA. If they hate you, it is until death. The same goes for when they love.

Eating, for the Basque is a NATIONAL PASTIME. They have over 1500 secret gourmet societies called TXOKOS (pronounced chokos) where members go for eating entertainment; members eat and cook together, experimenting with new foods and preparation, with lots of singing and dining and socializing.

The Basque also have a very famous wine region – LA RIOJA, where their most famous drink, TXAKOLI (pronounced chacoli) comes from; a slightly sparkling, dry white wine, which goes well with pintxos.

Wait, what the Heck are Pintxos??

Basque country has a rich culinary heritage and is best known for PINTXOS – small, composed bites that are not unlike tapas, but are worlds different.

PINTXOS, pronounced “pinchos” are a small, savory canapés presented in a myriad of colors, forms and flavor combinations, laid out on giant platters and spread along every counter in town. Twice a day, hundreds of people pour into the streets of San Sebastien for a traditional “pintxos crawl,” moving from bar to bar: tasting, drinking and socializing.

The Basque have a very interesting NATIONAL SPORT, PELOTA, which is a cross between handball and squash but way faster moving. The ball is the most lethal of all sports, three quarters the size of a baseball and harder than a golf ball and can be hurtled up to 188mph!

TEA IN BASQUE COUNTRY

In the Basque Country, tea is often served during social gatherings and family get-togethers. It is a common beverage to share with friends and loved ones during informal meetings or celebrations.

Traditional tea is made up of local herbal infusions or “tisanes.” Common herbal infusions include mint, chamomile, lemon verbena, and other aromatic plants.

While not an actual tea, “txakoli” is a traditional Basque wine that is sometimes referred to colloquially as “tea” due to its light and refreshing nature.

COFFEE is more commonly consumed than tea in the Basque Country, and you will find many cafes and bars serving coffee as the preferred hot beverage.

BASQUE WORD LIST with some pronunciation

Euskadi (Basque Country)

Euskara (The Basque language)

Donastia (San Sebastian, coastal city in Basque Country)

Bai – yes

Eskerrik asko (thankyou)

Eskerriska (cheers)

Baserri (a traditional stone and wood farmhouse commonly found in Basque Country)

Lauburu (Basque cross. Symbol of Basque Country and unity of its people)

Sagardotegi (cider house)

Pintxos – pinchos (Basque food similar to tapas)

Txakoli – chacoli (Famous Basque sparkling wine)

Kaixo – kike so (Basque greeting, hello)

The ‘RUNNING OF THE BULLS’ is a famous Basque festival held in Pamplona in July.

THE PLOT for Entangled Fate came to me while I was on a supervised visit with my neighbour’s son and his father; I was the court appointed supervisor for their weekly visits. Very awkward.

One day, as I sat there, I wondered what would happen if the father (he was kind of sketchy) bonked me on the head and I woke up in a closet or in some strange room on the other side of the world.

This was unlikely, because he didn’t even have a bus pass, but I have a very wild and unnaturally creative imagination, and the plot for this story (Spanish Security later changed to Entangled Fate) unfolded in my mind as I sat through every visit.