[raspirator]

Interesting. I had no idea there was a Basque enclave in the US. My wife is fascinated by the Basques, whose language is -- very oddly considering the location -- not of Indoeuropean origin. Sort of a dead end on the linguistic family tree.

We might have to check this out on or next trip West.

[GrottereewNus]

And I believe Montana, where there are lots of Basque shepards.

Decades ago, I worked with an American-Basque lady. Her brother was travelling through Europe, and when he traveled through the Basque region, he was treated like a king when people found out he was an American. When the found out he was of Basque descent, he was treated like an Emperor.

[colmedindustry]

About the language: I would guess (!), that it is of celtic origin, like gaelic? It´s funny though, and i wonder if the people you are with would take objection in it, how you say, the food is a mix of french and spanish food. Cause, as you probably know, there is quite a surge for independence among some basques (including terror-groups - the strike in Madrid 2004 (?) was first linked to them) and i guess some wouldnt like to have their culture (or parts of it) described as a mix of french and spanish. Not speaking for them, just wondering and guessing...

[Theariwinna]

oops - not my day today. you are right, dauphin. After looking it up, it indeed seems unique. How can a language evolve isolated like this, when it´s geography really isnt that isolated at all? I mean, i could understand it, if it was in some swiss mountain valley or an Island or somesuch...

[Hetgvwic]

Tell them, THEY were a mix of french and spanish.

Still, being the last remnant doesnt quite explain how they resisted assimilation for so long. Reminds me of ´Asterix´. Say, you couldnt tear out trees after that meal, could you?

[Shipsyspeepay]

Idahoans.

[finasteride]

Can a fading Californian bask in the glory of olive oil?

[eliniaguilefp7m]

Quite a few Basque live in San Francisco. Some of them participate in the tradition of selling seats at the table. In this you request an invitation to join the family at a meal in which you pay for the costs of the meal. I have done this, and everyone was very friendly although much more comfortable conversing in French than English. They had a family business making hand crafted iron work pieces that were quite expensive and very popular. This was in the '70s, so perhaps it is fading away. I don't know.