Gernika, Spain

By Patrick Scanlan

I hail from a Tipperary clan but I was born in Dublin. I own the only genuine Irish owned Pub in the Basque Country (Euskadi). Scanlan´s Tavern is nestled snugly in the market town of Gernika between Bilbao and San Sebastian. I have been here for 5 years and have planted my roots here with family.

We run Bespoke Premium Irish whiskey tastings for local groups and gourmet tour groups

Geography:

The Basque Country is a cultural region located in the western Pyrenees mountains. It extends along the border between Spain and France, stretching all the way down to the coast of the Bay of Biscay. The region matches up roughly with the homeland of the Basque people and language.

The Basque Country is a cross between Switzerland & Scotland terrain wise, and is Spain’s Gourmet Region.

Living Accommodation:

This area is home to the most expensive real estate in Spain.

Standard of Living:

The Basque Country is one of the wealthiest regions in Spain, it is the industrial/commercial heart of the country. The Basque Country offers a good lifestyle

Working:

Here there is everything from Banking to High Tech, to whatever.

Healthcare:

The region offers the best health care in all of Spain. There is free universal health care in Spain. To become insured you will need to have a social security number.

Education:

It also is home to the best schooling in Spain. Today Basque holds co-official language status in the Basque regions of Spain and education is provided in either in Spanish or Basque.

In Spain schools are free from the age 4 onwards. Enrollment for September generally starts in March. There are three types of schools, public, private, and mixed. Mixed means that the schools receives some government funding, and you will pay less than a private school would cost.

Personal Safety:

It is very safe here and family orientated. That said, as with all of large cities you will encounter problems with crime, so do be careful. Gernika is still safer than a lot of Spanish cities like Madrid or Seville.

Leisure and Culture:

Scanlan’s Tavern in Gernika is the centre of the Irish Community in Bizkaia, Euskadi. There is a small Community but it is more integrated than it would be in other parts of Spain.

Other tips and Thoughts:

Keep an open mind to the various cultures & custom’s that make up the Iberian Peninsula!!