This is a two-part travel series on a weeklong journey to the new European capital of culture, San Sebastian, Spain, and through the heart of the country’s capital, Madrid. – Ed.SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain -- Located a mere stone’s throw away from the Spain-France border in the Northern Basque country hugging the Bay of Biscay is the quaint, gastronomy mecca coastal city of San Sebastian, Spain. Well on its way to becoming one of the hottest European vacation-spot destinations of the year, San Sebastia

Cantonese gala dinner at Millennium Seoul Hilton　Millennium Seoul Hilton’s Chinese restaurant Taipan is hosting a “Gourmet Circle” gala dinner on April 22 to showcase the restaurant’s new, Cantonese cuisine-focused menu.　The dinner will commence at 7 p.m. with Chinese traditional tea and Tsingtao beer. Appetizers will include Peking duck and suckling pig stuffed with shrimp paste. The dinner proper will feature an array of delectable dishes such as a Chinese barbecue and cold dish combination, d

Nabak kimchi is a type of water kimchi that’s made with thinly sliced radish squares and other vegetables. It’s easy to make, yet deliciously refreshing.　Nabak kimchi is commonly enjoyed in the springtime when the kimchi made in the fall gets old. It’s also a traditional holiday kimchi. Growing up, we always had nabak kimchi with tteokguk (rice cake soup). They are delicious together. Nabak kimchi (water kimchi) (Korean Bapsang)　It’s a mild, clean tasting kimchi, so nabak kimchi doesn’t call for

Taean Tulip Festival　Scenic ride on Mungyeong Rail Bike　One scenic activity tourists will want to enjoy in the upcoming season is a ride on the Mungyeong Rail Bike, which runs along tracks winding through the pastoral landscape of Jinnam Gyoban, North Gyeongsang Province.  　The area used to be home to the country’s second largest coal mines back in the days of the coal industry’s boom.　Now, though the trains have ceased to run, the tracks have been repurposed to carry rail bikes, which carry up

Beef straight from auction house to grill at Samjung Hanu Pub

Seoul city will increase the number of real estate agencies for foreigners to 220, the city government announced Friday. Currently there are 175 real estate agencies in Seoul that are tested and certified by the city as “Global.” Among these, 131 are speak English, 29 Japanese, eight speak both English and Japanese and five speak Chinese. (123RF)These agencies are mainly clustered around Yongsan, Gangnam, Seocho, Songpa and Mapo areas, where the city’s foreign population tends to be denser. The

The organizing committee of the Busan International Architectural Culture Festival is holding a design competition to revamp a deserted bunker from the early 1900s Japanese colonial era into a new tourist attraction in Busan. 　The Busan Metropolitan Government has allotted some 100 billion won ($86.5 million) in redeveloping the long-neglected site and its surrounding areas in the district of Yeonje-gu in the city. 　The application is open to Korean and foreign professional architects and studen

Barbie doll maker Mattel’s latest attempt at embracing diversity, curvy Barbies, will exclusively go on sale at Toys R Us stores in Korea on Thursday, prior to the line’s official launch in the country in July.  (Mattel)This is the first time the new Fashionista Barbies have been introduced in Asia, according to Lotte Mart, the Korean handler of Toys R Us.There are seven different curvy Fashionista Barbies. Only 600 are to be sold this time, through four Toys R Us shops here -- Jamsil, Gimpo, Gu

Writer says nomination will be “source of strength” in writing

Brazil’s modernist architecture may be better known, but the country's distinctive midcentury modern furniture is getting new international attention.　Sensuous curves, tropical woods, woven leathers and traditional techniques like caning and netting were all part of a style that developed from the 1940s to the 1970s called Brazil Modern.　“When it all comes together, it’s like the music of Gilberto Gil,” said Juliet Kinchin, curator of modern design in the department of architecture and design at

VERONA (AFP) - As he swirls a glass of yellowy green wine made from the trendy pecorino grape, Fabio Centini purrs with enthusiasm.　“I hadn't even heard of this grape 15 years ago,” the Italian-born chef-restaurateur from Calgary, Canada tells AFP between slurps at a tasting of top pecorinos from the Offida area of the Marche region.　“But it is exactly what my customers want. People are looking for new varietals, new experiences.” A man walks past a column of wine bottles on April 10 during the

Lotte Department Store will host a giant flea market at Icheon, Gyeonggi Province’s Lotte Premium Outlet on Saturday and Sunday, coinciding with its “Black Shopping Day” sales.According to LDS, this will be the biggest flea market to be organized by a corporation to date in terms of area and the number of participants -- 300 sellers in a 5,000-square-meter space.(Lotte Department Store)Apart from popular local foods and individual collections and handcrafted art, belongings of hallyu stars such