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Montreal, Quebec.  The Euskaldunak Basque club took its annual trip on the second weekend of the month, when club members visited various places in the interior of Quebec.  The tradition of taking an annual trip began in 2010, with an excursion to New York to visit the exhibit on the Basques inaugurated at Ellis Island, as well as to get to know the local Basque club.  Last year Euskaldunak was immersed in the organization of its 15^th anniversary and so that year’s trip was postponed. 

That is why this trip was organized with special enthusiasm and the members wanted to take the opportunity to learn more about places in larger Quebec.  The trip started on Saturday morning with a visit to the Saint Anne waterfall, four hours from Quebec.  Next, the group went to the Ile aux Coudres, where they spent the night.  On Sunday morning, they visited the island and bought cider, a local specialty, and then the members went on to the Basque farmhouse Charlevoix. 

[Some of Euskaldunak’s members on the bridge in front of the Saint-Anne waterfall, including an ikurriña (photo JLafourcade)]

The farmhouse is run by the couple Isabelle and Jean-Jacques Etcheberrigaray, along with their daughters Izar and Alaia.  Isabelle, whose maiden name is Mihura, was born in Paris, daughter of parents from Baztan, and Jean-Jacques is from Lapurdi with Zuberoan lineage, and is very fond of the traditional Basque singing.  Both lived an urban lifestyle in the city of Quebec when they decided to change their scenery and established themselves at the farmhouse and engage in the production of foie gras and other traditional products.

The owners were delighted to greet the group from Euskalduna and offered them an aperitif.  “Following, we enjoyed a picnic of Basque products and visited the farm,” Adelaide Daraspe explained to EuskalKultura.com.  “The atmosphere was as warm as the weather outside and we all returned to Montreal very content with our trip.” 

[Members of Euskaldunak having an aperitif at the Basque Farmhouse Charlevoix (photo JLafourcade)]