Yesterday was the parade down the main drag in Elko and today
was the grand finale of the National Basque Festival beginning at 10 AM on the
Basque Clubhouse grounds. We arrived at
noon and then realized that we had missed the bread making competition. Shoot, I really wanted to see that one being
a brand new bread maker myself. But we
were in time for the rest: Dinner,
drinks, music, dancing and competitions.
I stood in the food line while Rob went and bought our
tickets. It was a bit of a wait but it
was worth it, believe me! The line went
way out into the grassy park but when you got to the door of the clubhouse, it
split into two around THE paella pan.
This was a real spectacle. The
paella pan is 7 feet in diameter! It was
full to the top with several meats, seafood, chopped vegetables, rice and
spices including saffron.
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| God-size paella pan! |
After the
fellow served the paella onto your plate you moved on to a long line of
additional dishes: goulash, beans,
tongue in a wonderful gravy, lamb, tri tip, salad and bread. There was one whole big table full of glasses
of red and white wine and another long table filled with various desserts. Outside, a beer and booze counter was set up. If you were to walk away hungry, blame it on
yourself!
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| Salad, bread |
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| Meat casseroles |
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| Desserts |
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| More meat casseroles and beans |
You carried your plates and drinks to long tables set up
in the park and you inevitably met all kinds of new people from everywhere. Music played, children danced, men did weight
lifting performances and then more dancing.
The fellows wear jingle bells on their calves and black or red berets and the
women wear aprons over their long pretty skirts and bloomers. All were decked out in the traditional
holiday outfits, even babies. It was
really a happy, gala event.  |
| Honorary Basque |
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| Dancing |
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| Note the jingle bells on their legs |
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About 5 layers of clothing. This lady
said she was roasting! |
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| More dancing by the little ones. |
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| Proud little Basque girl |
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Ryan Stewart lifting 345 pounds
|
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This fellow achieved his PR today:
315 pounds! Was he happy! |
I still have not achieved my goal of acquiring a t-shirt
I saw years ago, “Basque lives matter.”
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| The Basque Clubhouse in Elko |
Sounds like you’re having a great time! Thanks for sharing 🥰
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing another of your adventures.
ReplyDeleteNice.
F & L
Looks like so much fun! See you soon😘 B&A
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe the volume of food that was prepared. And, that paella pan!!!! Wow. bob k
ReplyDeleteMade me hungry
ReplyDeleteHow fun! Food looked and sounded amazing. Hope you find that t-shirt@ sharon b.
ReplyDelete