A still well-preserved craft
A chistera, the traditional wicker glove, will allow sportsmen and women to try their hand at Basque pelota. The timeless espadrilles, shoes made of light canvas with a sole made of braided hemp rope, are very famous in the Pyrenean valleys. Textile, always, Basque linen is also a nice idea for a souvenir or gift. Decorated or not with the Basque cross, often striped, Basque linen bears witness to an ancestral weaving tradition, composed of several techniques: winding, warping, weaving, making up. The txapela is another essential part of Basque craftsmanship. This black beret is full of symbolism, as it is received as a sign of distinction in sports championships and other competitions of all kinds. This is the case, for example, in bertsolaris tournaments, where the winners are crowned with a txapela. It is also possible to come back with a kaiku (knitted jacket decorated with pompoms), anarrantzale
scarf (in white and blue checked cotton). On the North Basque Country side (in France), we find two contemporary clothing brands with a gently chauvinistic style, BTZ and 64, which multiply sweat shirts and other swimsuits, with a touch of surf influence. But the real treasure of local craftsmanship is the makhila. This walking stick, emblematic of the mountainous character of the Basque Country, hides a steel tip inside its pommel. It is a unique object, with the name and motto of the owner engraved on the pommel, usually offered from father to son or as an honorary gift. Another example is the gourd, the zahato, made of goatskin, traditionally used by Basque and Navarrese shepherds. Mountain shepherds' equipment can be completed with the Basque knife, Bakunadar, a folding pocket knife with two nails traditionally used by Pyrenean shepherds.Very spicy flavors
We will bring back preserves of bonito del norte, pimientos del piquillo and pimientos de Ibarra (the famous guindillas found on all the tapas in the region). You can also fall for a string of dried Espelette chilli peppers, as tasty as they are decorative, or less bulky, powdered in jars. Bright red, the Espelette chilli pepper, or "Ezpeletako biperra" in Basque, is a true symbol of the Basque Country. We also don't forget to taste Basque cheeses, especially Ossau Iraty, an uncooked pressed cheese, matured for at least 80 days. Protected by a PDO label, it is made in accordance with very precise specifications. Sweeter is the Basque cake, filled with cream or black cherry jam. A few bottles of txakoli, a sparkling white wine made in the Basque Country from green grapes and ideal for dessert, and a bottle of patxaran, a liqueur made in Navarre from the maceration of wild sloe berries in aniseed-flavoured alcohol. Finally, we head off to Rioja to collect some of the excellent local wines, both red and white.
