In a gesture of solidarity and to express congratulations to our Basque friends of Mexico, last month a NABO delegation went south for a weekend to join in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Euskal Etxea of Mexico City.

Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world today with somewhere over 25 million people living in the larger metropolitan area.  And of course, sprinkled in that population you'll always find a handful of Basques who got together to create a Basque club.  That's what happened one hundred years ago, and this year (2007) the Euskal Etxea of Mexico City has been celebrating this accomplishment with several events meant to commemorate the centennial anniversary. Joining in one of these commemorative events was a NABO delegation consisting of Mary Gaztambide (NABO President), Xabier Berrueta (North American "asesor" for the Basque Disapora) and John Ysursa (NABO Facilitator).  It was a chance to meet and greet our Basque friends from Mexico, and to present their members with a commemorative plaque from their Basque friends to the north.

Back in October of 2006, Eduardo Ormaechea and his wife Begona joined us for our North American summit that collected delegates from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. They were our gracious hosts for our weekend in Mexico City. To read about that initial meeting click on: Ipar Amerikako Euskal Elkartea

Founding of Basque Clubs
After seeing the incredible similarities among most Basque clubs, one would think that there was a meeting called long ago in the Basque Country somewhere for all those Basque immigrants.  It's as if at this meeting Basque participants were given a blueprint plan to put into effect in their new homeland.  The plan called for getting a group together to form a Basque club.  If things went well, the club could expand its horizons and build a clubhouse.  And so it went 100 years ago in Mexico City.  Today the Euskal Etxea of Mexico City has an impressive home facility that includes a full restaurant, two frontons or handball courts, a couple of assembly rooms, classrooms, offices, and of course a bar in an expansive three-story structure. 

The board of directors of the Euskal Etxea of Mexico City were our hosts for a reception dinner in their "Txoko" restaurant.  The food and drink were just the ticket, and soon we were all singing and dancing.  Pictured here are some of their younger directors.

Our NABO delegation was hosted in fine fashion, as we went right into a dinner reception where we meet with most of the club's board of directors.  The festivities took right off, and after the meal we were singing and dancing.  It did help that we had met some folks earlier.  Back in October of 2006, NABO hosted a summit of North American Basque communities and we invited Mexico and Canada to send along delegates. Canada's two Basque clubs (Montreal & Vancouver) sent delegates, and from Mexico City came Eduardo Ormaechea and his wife Begona to join us for a weekend in Gardnerville/Reno.  The gathering was informal, being primarily an opportunity for our communities to meet each other.  Having taken the name "North American" years ago, the thinking was that it was time to reach out to our Canadian and Mexican Basque friends.  

Euskal Etxea of Mexico City is marking its 100 anniversary with a series of events. In September they hosted the men's choir from Donosita "Gaztelupe" that performed one night at the Basque clubhouse, then the following day (pictured here) at a former Jesuit church outside of Mexico City.

During that weekend in Nevada it was decided that we should reciprocate and make a visit to Mexico and Canada.  Since Mexico City was celebrating its 100th anniversary the following year, this decided the matter and soon plans were made to travel south. The original trip was slated for March 2007 but it had to postponed, but fortunately we were able to go in September just in time as their anniversary was culminating.  To mark a century as a Basque community, the club held several events and this time around they hosted the "Gaztelupe" men's choir from Donostia, Gipuzkoa  One night they performed for the membership at the club then the next day at a former Jesuit church just outside Mexico City.  We were along for the ride, taking in these festivities.

Mexico City is a large and impressive city.  Its historic center is highlighted by the Metropolitan Cathedral which was built just a short distance from the former large pyramid that served as the focal point of Aztec culture in their capital of called Tenotchitlan.

Three days is not near enough to take in one of the world's largest cities.  Our gracious hosts arranged a couple of tours for us including one of the impressive Anthropological Museum, and then Mary and myself took a ride on the "Touribus" (an English double-decker bus with the top open) our last morning there.  It is a city of contrasts: of old and new structures, of pre-Columbian and Spanish cultures, of rich and poor, of traditional and avant-garde.  Its historic center is marked by the Metropolitan Cathedral that was built soon after the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs.  Just a short distance away were the ruins of the large pyramid temple that served as the spiritual center of the former Aztec empire.  When we were there the country was in the midst of their patriotic celebration:  in the U.S. its the 4th of July but in Mexico they celebrate the whole month; 2010 will be their bi-centennial of Independence.

The Euskal Etxea (pictured) is a three story building that includes a full restaurant (called "Loyola"), several meeting rooms, two frontons or handball courts, classrooms and a large doomed interior. To read more about the club in Mexico click on: centrovascomexico.com

While separated by distance and some varied traditions, we nevertheless felt very much at home there in the Basque community.  I remember feeling the same years ago when we traveled to Mar del Plata, Argentina.  There's something comforting about stepping into an "Euskal Etxea" which probably has to do with its name which means "the Basque's house."  Those who envisioned and built these facilities did it not just for themselves, but for all Basques.  We hope to follow-up on this joyous weekend with more contacts in the time ahead.  Next up, some of us have to make a trip up north to visit our Basque friends in Canada and so the Basque wheel will keep turning.

To our gracious hosts in Mexico City we say "eskerrik asko--muchas gracias!"