Makila or makhila is strictly speaking the traditional Basque walking stick In reality it is much more than this: it is a century-old badge of honor in villages across the Basque Country, a must have accessory of the master of the Basque house, a walking help in a region with a rugged terrain and, maybe most importantly, a…weapon. With the occasion of the “European Arts and Crafts Days” held this year at the beginning of April I visited the only makila makers of the Basque Country, whose workshop -“Ainciant Bergara”- situated in the village of Larressore, is distinguished with the label “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV)” (“Living Heritage Company”). In size of the workshop Ainciant- Bergara family has been making makilas for six generation is tiny, a two room place, but what is even more surprising is that their makilas are known in the whole world having been offered to luminaries like Ronald Regan, Duke of Edinburgh, former French president Francois Mitterand, Pope John-Paul II and actress Natalie Portman on her wedding to Benjamin Millepied. Nicole Bergara, our host, was gracious to share with us many aspects of the makila making process but stressed that the family keeps the ancient […]

The pintxo (literally “thorn” or “spike”) is a small snack Typicaly eaten in bars, it’s a tradition from the northern of Spain and very popular in the Basque Country and Navarre. Usually eaten in bars or taverns it’s really a local culture. Their other name is “tapas”, but what make they different,  it’s because they are spiked with a toothpick to a piece of bread (most of the time). You can have many pintxos with many differents ingredients (ex : meat, seafood, fish, vegetables, etc). Pintxos can be very sophisticated and very elaborate. They are served in individual portions and always ordered and paid for independently from the drinks. See the video below : Source : TF1

Gabrielle Chanel discovers Biarritz She already made her identify with fortunates folks, notably in Deauville. However with the battle coming, wealthy folks and celebrities are escaping from  west coast of Normandie and town of Paris. Coco, discovers Biarritz due to right here love Arthur Boy Capel. Biarritz is already a well-known vacation spot for sea swimming, the famend society life at the Hôtel du Palais and cabarets. And Spain is a impartial nation and actually shut, so it is a safety place for everybody. The primary Chanel trend home It is in 1915, in Biarritz, that Chanel opens her third store and that is the place the place the primary Chanel trend home opened. Following her personal inspiration, she decides to shortens skirts and removes the dimensions. Like Paul Poiret who suppressed the corset in 1906, she frees the physique of the girl. Her outlets advantages of shoppers all through the elegant society that has collapsed through the battle on this secure resort of Biarritz metropolis. She decides to open her first store within the venter of town of Biarritz. The workshops are put in within the Villa Larralde, road Gardères, simply behind. They may employed 60 small basque palms, a few of them will […]