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The race in favor of Euskera was part of the attractions provided by Basque clubs in Buenos Aires to thousands of neighbors and tourists that visited the Community Food Tasting on the Avenida de Mayo. Besides disseminating Euskera at the stands of Euskaltzaleak and Laurak Bat, there was also music, dancing and of course some great food choices. 

Buenos Aires, Argentina.   Even if the official start date of Korrika was yesterday, Thursday, in various parts of the Diaspora the festivities were pushed up a bit on the calendar with activities that served to preface the wonderful and multitudinous race that began yesterday in Urepele.

One of the cities that already held its Korrika 19 was Buenos Aires where the race was organized last Saturday March 14, as part of the Community Food Tasting that was organized by the local city government.  This event also served as a teaser for the “Buenos Aires Celebrates” festival that takes place all year long.

In 2015, and repeating the format of prior editions, the Basque community was represented at the event by Laurak Bat and the Basque Language School Euskaltzaleak.  Each of these had a booth as referents to the Basque culture for visitors with questions, but they also served as small Basque bars where visitors could also taste the rich flavors of traditional cuisine.

Encouraged by this first community outdoor activity, musicians and dantzaris from both clubs also joined in with song and dances and were followed enthusiastically by the public.

Korrika 19 in the Plaza de Mayo

Euskaltzaleak also incorporated their Korrika activity that began at 6pm on Saturday at the Plaza de Mayo.  It consisted of a tour around the plaza, led by the children and followed by nearly another 50 people, among which was a nice group of youth from the Basque Country with bibs and colorful clothing. 

“We wanted to join Korrika and pay tribute to Euskera in this place that is so significant to Argentineans, especially doing the same route that Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo do every Thursday.  Korrika was filmed and will be part of the Korrika 19 video in the Diaspora that is being coordinated by the Euskaldunak Basque club in Quebec,” Basque teacher Teresa de Zavaleta explained to EuskalKultura.com.