This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tenille Clarke , founder of the Caribbean-based public relations company Chambers Media Solutions . Clarke was born and raised in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago.
01.08.2024 - 19:14 / lonelyplanet.com
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Aug 1, 2024 • 8 min read
Green and blue as far as the eye can see – the dramatic beauty of Basque Country is the stuff of legends (not to mention the backdrop for shows like Game of Thrones). A road trip through the region allows you to explore beyond the gorgeous capitals of Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz and San Sebastián, where the hidden jewels of this region lie.
As long as you’re driving, grab an eco-friendly electric vehicle (EV). We are in a moment of transition for road trips as more electric vehicles populate the roads. In 2021, Basque Country created the e-Basque Route, designed to organize and promote resources for electric drivers and provide easy access to charging stations. Driving in an EV, you reduce your environmental impact by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and save money on fuel. Roll down the windows and you’ll be connected with the sound of life, wind and waves without the rumble of a combustion engine or the smell of gas.
For this trip, start in San Sebastián and cruise your way along the coast. There are plenty of opportune stops for perfect panoramas and pintxos (small snacks) along the way to Bilbao before routing through the countryside to Vitoria-Gasteiz. You’ll appreciate not just the sights and culture but also knowing that you’ve left this pristine region just as you found it.
Donostia / San Sebastián is the ideal starting point, a Basque coastal capital with a wealth of gorgeous landscapes and even better food. Start the day with one of Europe’s most captivating views, the iconic Playa de la Concha. There are several reasons it is named one of the best beaches in the world – the gorgeous city skyline, perfect for promenading; the old Tudor-style palace that presides over it all so picturesquely; and the lovely Santa Clara Island, ideal for swimming out to during low tide. Tucked away in the port on the eastern side of La Concha is Kofradia, a restaurant that maintains a close link to local fishermen. Attend one of their product tastings and meet the people who provide the restaurant with sustainably fished seafood, or just enjoy the menu with views over the city’s port.
Spend the afternoon on the city’s surf-oriented beach, the Playa de la Zurriola, where you can rent a surfboard if the waves are sound. Then, work up an appetite by strolling west to the quaint cable car on Monte Igueldo, which zips you up to the amusement park at the top of the mountain. Finish the evening at Rekondo, whose traditional farmhouse hides one of the continent’s most spectacular wine cellars, including the most extensive collection of Vega Sicilia worldwide.
The Drive: Today, you’re in San Sebastián, but if you have a bit of extra time, drive the car along the mountain road before dinner
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tenille Clarke , founder of the Caribbean-based public relations company Chambers Media Solutions . Clarke was born and raised in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago.
When my husband and I decided to retire, we devised a plan. We wanted to rent out our home in California and visit the UNESCO World Heritage city of Guanajuato.
The tonka bean, a wizened-looking South American seed, is beloved for its complex almond-vanilla scent, often appearing as an ingredient in perfumes. Outside the United States, it has also long been utilized by chefs, but studies have indicated that coumarin, a chemical compound in the plant, can cause liver damage in animals, and the Food and Drug Administration banned the bean in commercial foods in 1954. Now, with reports that the minuscule amounts used to impart big flavor are harmless (and the F.D.A. seemingly not particularly interested in enforcing the ban in recent years), tonka is showing up on dessert menus here. Thea Gould, 30, the pastry chef at the daytime luncheonette La Cantine and evening wine bar Sunsets in Bushwick, Brooklyn, was introduced to tonka after the restaurant’s owner received a jar from France, where it’s a widely used ingredient. Gould says the bean is an ideal stand-in for nuts — a common allergen — and infuses it into panna cotta, whipped cream and Pavlova. Ana Castro, 35, the chef and owner of the New Orleans seafood restaurant Acamaya, discovered tonka as a young line cook at Betony, the now-closed Midtown Manhattan restaurant. Entranced by the ingredient’s grassy, stone fruit-like notes, she’s used it to flavor a custardy corn nicuatole, steeped it into roasted candy squash purée and grated it fresh over a lush tres leches cake. And at the Musket Room in New York’s NoLIta, the pastry chef Camari Mick, 30, balances tonka’s richness with acidic citrus like satsuma and bergamot. Over the past year, she’s incorporated it into a silky lemon bavarois and a candy cap mushroom pot de crème and whipped it into ganache for a poached pear belle Hélène. “Some people ask our staff, ‘Isn’t tonka illegal?’” she says. Their answer: Our pastry chef’s got a guy. —
At the age of 63, I was bankrupt and in foreclosure. I had less than nothing because I owed money to a friend. All I had were my pensions. I knew I could never afford to retire in the US.
It was eight in the morning, and the prickly July humidity had already seeped through my skin as I hopped out of the cab in Singapore’s Little India. Greeted by the bustle of vendors setting up, I was transported back to my childhood, to days spent wandering the neighborhood with my grandmother. The aroma of fresh coriander from vibrant spice stalls spurred memories of her tangy coconut prawn curry. The musky fragrance of jasmine adorning colorful flower stalls reminded me of how she’d woven them into my braids. She never would again.
Since our American family moved from South Carolina to Madrid, I've been slowly adapting to all things Spain.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Charissa Enget, a content creator and cybersecurity architect who gained her graduate degree in Thailand. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Aug 2, 2024 • 8 min read
The war between the Greens and the Blacks has gotten off to a brutal start throughout House of the Dragon season two, resulting in tragic deaths, gruesome injuries, and an awful lot of scheming. The series, which sees the reign of Westeros heir Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) threatened by her half-brother King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), has brought its battles to the shores of Cornwall, the forest of Bourne Wood, and the streets of Cáceres, Spain. Like its predecessor Game of Thrones, the fantastical HBO series has built its vast world using a combination of sets and real-world locations—with the help of CGI, of course.
Understanding the preferences and behaviours of Mexican travellers has become crucial for maximising tourism revenue. Civitatis, the leading platform in online distribution of guided tours, activities, and excursions in Spanish language across 160 countries worldwide, emphasises the significant economic impact of Spanish-speaking tourists on local economies and the immense potential for growth when Mexican travellers adopt digital payment methods.
Barcelona is getting ready to host an outstanding global event, similar in scale and style to their magnificent running of the 1992 Olympic Games. The beautiful Port Vell will be thronged by boats of all shapes and sizes from August 22nd through September and October 2024 in Barcelona.
Getting the right to live and work in another country can be a long and difficult process. But that’s not always the case for those with money to spend.