euskalkultura.eus

The hotel Euskaldunberri is located in the Argentine city of San Martin de los Andes in the southern mountains, surrounded by a rural green landscape that combines snow covered peaks with the intense blue of the Lacar River and the beige of its welcoming beaches. Gustavo Iturralde, a Basque-Argentine with Navarrese great-grandparents and grandparents that left their country at the end of the 19^th century, owns the place.

Joseba Etxarri.  The Andes evoke a Nordic fairy tale image in this area of the Argentine province of Neuquen.  Situated two or three hours from Bariloche, at 1,575 kilometers from Buenos Aires and 120 from Pucon, Chile, San Martin de los Andes grows on the banks of the Lacar, a glacial lake. The town was found a century years ago, “welcoming families of German, Irish, Spanish and Basque origin,” explains our interviewee Gustavo Iturralde, whose great grandparents Domingo Iturralde and Polonia Jaka emigrated from Betelu, Navarre, at the end of the 19^th century.

-What is San Martin de los Andes like?

-It is precious, a city between the mountains that is worth visiting.  I was born in Alberdi, in the Province of Buenos Aires, and I used to come here on vacation.  A few years ago I decided to change my scenery and I think I chose San Martin because of its beauty.  I start to think how I would imagine paradise and I see that reflected here.  It reminds me a lot of the Basque Country, the surroundings, the mountains…we don’t have an ocean, like the Basque coast, but we do have lakes.  This attracts a lot of tourists from different countries.  We have a special microclimate characteristic of what they call rainforest that is very favorable.   

-What is life in San Martin like?

-You breathe clean air.  I am 48 years old and I spent nearly my first four decades in the Province of Buenos Aires.  It was a small town, in the country, where everyone knew each other, our virtues and our defects.  A large part of the population was also Basque and we had a very important social and community life together, and paid attention to the town’s needs.  In San Martin, tourism runs the economy and there is a high standard of living, linked to the ski resort.  July, August and September (winter in Argentina) are the best months for skiing.  Later in summer, January, February, march until Holy Week, are also great tourist months.  The natural environment is the highlight, the colors of nature, for example in spring, when the city and its surroundings are precious; it’s beautiful to see the mountains covered in flowers.

-The city was recently founded.

-Its origin is linked to a military regiment on the borders that was founded in 1898 which was followed by families of German, Irish, Spanish and Basque descent settling in the area. 

-You opened the Euskaldunberri Hotel in San Martin.

-Certainly I am proud of my Basque origin (smile).  At the end of the 19^th century, our great grandmother, Polonia Jaka, crossed the Pyrenees from her hometown of Betelu to board a ship in Bordeaux for Argentina.  Those were hard times and she wanted to avoid that her six sons would have to fight in the War with Cuba (1898).  That is how she and our great grandfather came to this country.  My great grandparents settled in Alberdi, where they opened the Euskalduna Hotel in 1906.  In honor of our great grandparents, as well as to my grandfather Diego, and our family, when we opened the cabins and the hotel we decided to name it after that first hotel, so we made the name Euskaldunberri, “new Euskalduna” in Basque and we have adopted the colors and shape of the Basque flag in our logo.

-That’s not a usual name.  I imagine it surprises many.

-The normal visitor doesn’t identify it, or identify the part of Euskaldun, or they think that berri has something to do with red fruits or berries in English.  The Basques – who also come from the Basque Country or Argentina – are very surprised.  Especially when they come in and see the effort that we have put forth not only in the name and logo: the decorations includes Basque Country themes, objects, sports posters, Basque crafts, and maps of the country…finding all of this in the middle of the Andes does catch their attention. 

-Less than four months ago a group of people made a call to form a Basque club in San Martin de los Andes.

-That is still recent, but we are hopeful that it will be well-received by the people.  We are not lacking enthusiasm.  We want to gather every one of Basque origin, or those who are interested in sharing the culture and Basque social life.  A dance group has formed, that have been practicing every week at the Lions Club.  They meet every Saturday, directed by two young people Mariana and Virginia.  Anyone wishing to contact them can do so by email: mvirnuno@hotmail.com.  The hotel also has a website and Basques and non-Basques, everyone is welcome, with the best treatment.   It is very simple, and we learned that from our Basque family: treat others as you want to be treated.