Filed under: Know Your Flags | Tags: basque, bilbao, biscay, flag, france, franco, gernika, guernica, ikurrina, soccer, spain
This week’s installment of Know Your Flags represents a region spanning two countries and hundreds of thousands of emigrants across the world. The Ikurriña is the official flag of the Basque Country Autonomous Community of Spain and the unofficial national symbol of the wider Basque Country that spans north-central Spain and southwestern France.
Santo Tomás 2008
Banned for nearly 40 years, the Ikurriña was designed by the founders of Basque nationalism, Luis and Sabino Arana. The Basque separatist group ETA began displaying it in public places as an act of defiance. Much like the Basque language, the only safe haven for the Ikurriña during Franco’s reign were soccer stadiums.
Ikkuriña at San Mamés, home of Athletic Bilbao
Almost identical in design to the Union Jack, The red bottom symbolizes the Biscayan people; the green represents the Oak of Guernica; and the white cross, Basque Catholicism.
Ikkuriña balkoian
Filed under: Camino, Destinations | Tags: Camino, camino de santiago, espana, hike, pilgrim, pilgrimage, santiago, spain, travel, trek
Random photos of the Camino de Santiago. Spend a half hour of your life at the Camino de Santiago flickr group.
Filed under: Camino, Destinations | Tags: Camino, compostela, hike, pilgramage, pilgrim, santiago, spain, travel, trek
This week’s destination takes us to Iberia where we will go plus ultra (further beyond) the popular spots of Madrid and Barcelona to focus on a thousand-year old Christian pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago.
The pilgrimage has several established routes that all lead to Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of Saint James are supposedly buried. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times but declined in importance over the centuries. The end of Francoist rule and Spain’s entry into the European Community contributed to a resurgent Camino, attracting pilgrims for spiritual and non-spiritual reasons. It was listed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
I will continue to highlight the Way of St. James until the end of March in a new series, Camino, documenting my preparation as I will make my penance, walking over 500 miles of the Camino del Norte route this spring.
What to look for in the coming weeks:
- Articles on the history and culture of the Camino de Santiago
- Regional highlights of the Camino
- Flickr and YouTube collections from pilgrims
- My preparations, i.e. reading list, packing list, etc., for my 500-mile walk (see map below)
View Larger Map
Filed under: Concierge | Tags: backpacking, budget travel, frugal traveler, travel, travel advice, trip planning
In these troubling economic times even the unpaid travel blogger has to outsource.
The New York Times‘ Frugal Traveler ha a great article a few days ago about budget-friendly credit cards. Don’t forget to skim the readers’ comments – there’s a wealth of great advice from your everyday explorer.
Filed under: Destinations, South America | Tags: brasil, brazil, copa mundial, football, futbol, maracana, rio de janeiro, soccer, South America, travel, world cup
A great way to enhance your trip is to build it around one or two cultural events. A month in Mexico centered around the Day of the Dead celebration in Oaxaca; two-weeks in Pamplona running from bulls during San Fermín; celebrating the Chinese New Year with locals – all great ways to make your trip much more memorable.
So, what could be better than packing your flip-flops and beach towel for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil? The English invented it, the Brazilians perfected it.
Filed under: Connections | Tags: backp, backpack, backpacking, budget, flags, greece, independent, kayak, nebraska, omaha, Peru, restauarants, seth, South America, travel, YouTube
Redesigned! One of my recent YouTube uploads said we’d be back on-line in January 2009 – better late than never.
I created this blog to document my second trip to South America last year. Does this mean another trip is on the horizon? Patience is the companion of wisdom.
Meanwhile, I’ll be blogging about travel-related items to keep up on my favorite hobby. Not forgetting that there are great escapes just outside my front door, I’ll also be highlighting Midwestern attractions (the world’s largest popcorn ball is a short drive away).
Here are some things to note:
- Do you Know Your Flags? I know my flags fairly well and I’ll be posting a new one each week. Click on the flag to learn its history.
- Check out the “Blogroll” and assorted links. If you have a site you like send it my way and I’ll add it to the list. Travelindependent.info is the best travel site I’ve found. Kayak usually provides the cheapest airfare on the Internet.
- Note the two illustrations, Seth from Greece and Seth from Peru, illustrated by Mike Sgier. The images in the illustrations are taken directly from my own photos. Mike has a couple other illustrations in the works – keep an eye out. Browse Mike’s site for the other great work he does.
- If you live in or near Omaha, visit Brown on the Towne where Homer and Jordan explore Omaha’s fine ethnic restaurants.
