Basque Country - Tumblr Posts
04.05.22
“I can't stand it to think my life is going so fast and I'm not really living it.” —Ernest Hemingway
Jet lag is finally wearing off a bit. I was travelling for the first and second and didn’t sleep for over thirty hours. Now for some Spanish immersion (y un poco de Euskara).
“Going to another country doesn’t make any difference. I’ve tried all that. You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another. There’s nothing to that.” —Ernest Hemingway
06.05.22
“Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.”
I spent a lovely morning at the museum of fine arts and exploring the city a bit. The fresh air and scenery was a nice change after a short bout of homesickness.
This post would be hecka long if I included even half the art I absorbed, so here’s a couple I thought were pretty neat: Calle Larrazuria (Pablo Uranga), Jardín (Inocencio Asarta), Estanque con Surtidor (Fernando de Amárica), La Presa del Puente (Amárica), and El sol da resplandores a los lugares humildes (Amárica).
“With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.” —Max Ehrmann
07.05.22
Walked to the library today, taking in the nice weather in the park along the way. Really need to get it through my head that French verbs can’t be turned into Spanish ones by conjugating/pronouncing them like they are.
“When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest. The only thing that could spoil a day was people and if you could keep from making engagements, each day had no limits. People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.” —Ernest Hemingway
08.05.22
“We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them.” —J.R.R. Tolkien
Like the Hobbit, my adventure yesterday consisted mainly of walking, talking, and eating food. Also, ponies. Wish I had an awesome soundtrack though.
09.05.22
“Not all those who wander are lost.” J.R.R. Tolkien
As for myself? Most certainly. I can’t keep a map in my head, and definitely wandered a bit from where I intended to go. But was that where I needed to be? Perhaps. The plan is quite ineffable, you know.
10.05.22
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” —F. Scott Fitzgerald
I recognize that there is value in appreciating one’s journey through life. However, consider instead the merits of not. All this to say, I spent too much time today focusing on the goal and not enough appreciating everything else. As well, I burned a bit. As a hitchhiker, I should’ve known a towel would have been massively useful.
11.05.22
“A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.” —Robertson Davies
Spent most of the day (re)reading in the shade of the park. As much as I respect my target language’s own books, I enjoy seeing the changes made during translation too much.
12.05.22
“Peu de chose nous console parce que peu de chose nous afflige.” —Blaise Pascal
Visited the arms museum today and had lunch in the park. All this from a rough morning, but hey—it is Thursday, after all. We’ll get a hang of them eventually.
13.05.22
“As far as I can see, it's not important that we have free will, just as long as we have the illusion of free will to stop us going mad.” —Alan Moore
I’m not a fan of modern art, and I’m still not entirely sure why I went to the museum. Possibilities include both free admission and the illusion of free will. As well, it’s a lot less fun when there’s no one with you to make fun of the art.
14.05.22
“Summer afternoon — summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” —Henry James
A relaxing day spent practicing my Spanish, exploring the city, and eating good food. I got to see some traditional Basque folk dancing downtown as well, though I was without a doubt more focused on the food.
24.05.22
“O May! O treacherous May! these months are very dreams.” —Frederick William Faber
After a minor crisis of the mental sort, we’re back on a cold day in May. I have discovered my raison d’être in good food, especially leche merengada. I practiced my Spanish today in the archeological museum, though my speaking skills evidently require attention, as my happy accident of the day was ordering a tarta rather than a taza of chocolate.
29.05.22
“I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days - three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.” —John Keats
Three such marvellous days spent with people I love. I feel ready to begin again, and I hope the feeling lasts.
01.06.22
“It matters not who you love, where you love, why you love, when you love, or how you love. It matters only that you love.” —John Lennon
In my case, I love sweets from the bakery and reading. Happy pride to everyone, and—especially my aspecs—I love you guys (unironically).
02.06.22
“What is this life if, full of care, / We have no time to stand and stare.” —W. H. Davies
Forgot to post this yesterday. I ate a whole pound of cherries, along with an empanada and a pastel Vasco. Right now, I’m enjoying a rainstorm and sunshine from my bedroom.
Some of the colorful and ancient traditional masquerades of EH:
Hergarai (Nafarroa Beherea)
Abaltzisketa (Gipuzkoa)
Altsasu (Nafarroa)
Altsasu (Nafarroa)
Abanto-Zierbena (Bizkaia)
Lantz (Nafarroa)
Ituren (Nafarroa)
Donibane-Garazi (Nafarroa Beherea)
Zalduondo (Araba)
Unanu (Nafarroa)
