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 name with fortunates people, particularly in Deauville. But with the war coming, rich people and celebrities are escaping from  west coast of Normandie and the city of Paris. Coco, discovers Biarritz because of here love Arthur Boy Capel. Biarritz is already a famous destination for sea swimming, the renowned society life at the Hôtel du Palais and cabarets. And Spain is a neutral country and really close, so it’s a security place for everyone. The first Chanel fashion house It’s in 1915, in Biarritz, that Chanel opens her third shop and this is the place where the first Chanel fashion house opened. Following her own inspiration, she decides to shortens skirts and removes the size. Like Paul Poiret who suppressed the corset in 1906, she frees the body of the woman. Her shops benefits of customers throughout the elegant society that has collapsed during the war in this safe resort of Biarritz city. She decides to open her first shop in the venter of the city of Biarritz. The workshops are installed in the Villa Larralde, street Gardères, just behind. They will employed 60 small basque hands, some of them will later join the prestigious address of […]