Source: Irekia - Basque Government

The fifth day of the Lehendakari's visit to North America concluded with an extensive agenda of cultural events. Having visited the U.S. street with the strongest Basque character, the Basque Block, the Lehendakari participated in the inauguration of an exhibition on Basque Pelota (ball games), attended an exhibition on Basque sports and finished off the day with a dinner in the company of the Jaialdi Committee and representatives of institutions from Boise and NABO, the North American Basque Organizations, before whom he will commence tomorrow's agenda.

Boise's peculiar exhibition of Basque rural sports commenced with Aizkolaris, traditional log choppers, working to the beat of AC/DC, as if they were NBA stars, a rendition of the American national anthem, followed immediately by the Gernikako Arbola, the unofficial anthem of the Basques. The exhibition demonstrates the symbiosis between Basque and North American cultures that this city and the State of Idaho in general experience each day. The Lehendakari, Patxi López, attended this exhibition after visiting what is perhaps the street with the strongest Basque character in the entire world: The "Basque Block." This urban area boasts a markedly Basque personality, replete with official Basque flags and geographical, cultural and gastronomical references to the Basque Country. Here, visitors will find the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, two old guesthouses, one of which, constructed in 1864, is the oldest residence in Boise, and, almost by necessity, two restaurants (the Leku Ona and the Gernika Bar) along with a shop (The Basque Market), a pelota court and the building of the Basque Association (Euzkaldunak)

The area also represents the focal point of the activities centered around the Jaialdi of Boise, a demonstration of the permanence of Basque culture in countries as far removed as the U.S.A., as a result of the role played by the Basque diaspora, and an event that congregates Basques from all over the world. The Lehendakari and the Basque delegation visited these streets immersed in the sound of trikitrixa, traditional Basque accordions, the smell of txistorra sausages and terraces filled with Basques drinking beer and even kalimotxo.

Amidst this atmosphere, the Lehendakari attended the inauguration of an exhibition on Basque Pelota, wherein he encouraged the Basques of Boise to enjoy themselves and see themselves reflected in the exhibition, "because this is a part of the history of the Basques, of their present and, without doubt, their future." "This is apart of all of us," he stated.

The fifth day of the Lehendakari's official visit concluded with a dinner attended, at the invitation of the Lehendakari, by the Jaialdi Committee and representatives of institutions from Boise and NABO, the North American Basque Organizations, before whom he will commence tomorrow's agenda.