Eco-friendly cars connect to the best of Spain’s Basque Country

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.

Major sports events attract not only fans but also tourists interested in experiencing the atmosphere and culture of the host city. For example, the Olympic Games or the UEFA Champions League offer the perfect occasion for tourists to explore the host cities while enjoying the sporting excitement. Civitatis, the leading curated online marketplace for guided tours and activities for Spanish and Portuguese-speaking consumers, recommends that tour and activity companies make the most of this growing segment and suggests a few strategies to leverage the rise of sports tourism:

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.

Paris is expected to welcome 11.3 million visitors during the Olympic Games, significantly increasing its population density. This surge in visitors is spurring travel demand to international destinations, such as Italy and the United States, that harness this desire to leave crowds behind, also benefiting United Kingdom, Spain, and Greece, as well as farther destinations, such as Thailand or Japan.