Iceland’s Economy had a banking debt ten times larger than its GDP. Iceland was that one Economy which went left when everybody else went right. Whilst most thought the banks were too big to fail, Iceland thought they were too big to save. It let its largest banks go bankrupt and threw dozens of bankers in jail. And yet despite its unusual approach, its Economy recovered. Going on to enjoy a decade of unbroken economic growth and high standard of living. But why did an island just outside the arctic circle have a financial crisis? What strategies did it deploy to rack up such monumental debts? How did it recover? And does its future rely on impressive tourist growth and crypto currencies?
All posts by She Seeks Serene
Walks: ‘Tübingen’ In Southwest Germany
Tübingen is a city in southwest Germany and home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. In the old town, Stiftskirche St. Georg is a late-Gothic church with stained-glass windows and city views from its tower. The ornately painted 15th-century City Hall is topped with a functioning astronomical clock. Hilltop Hohentübingen Castle is home to the Museum of Ancient Cultures, with Greek, Roman and Egyptian artifacts.
Aerial Views: ‘Sacramento – California’ (4K Video)
Sacramento, capital of the U.S. state of California, lies at the confluence of the Sacramento River and American River. The district of Old Sacramento harkens back to the city’s Gold Rush era, with wooden sidewalks and wagon rides. One of several museums in Old Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum depicts the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, one of the country’s earliest technological feats.
Innovation: Diamonds Made From CO2 Emissions
A UK company named Skydiamond hopes to revolutionize the traditional diamond mining industry by using carbon capture technology to do just that. The company calls it a ‘zero-impact diamond’ because the process pulls carbon dioxide right out of the air.
Although, a diamond traps only a modest amount of carbon — one carat contains just 200 milligrams. Pure carbon can take many forms — it all depends on how the atoms are arranged. Graphite is arranged into multiple layers, graphene in a single layer, and if it’s rolled-up, it forms carbon nanotubes. But when each carbon forms 4 strong bonds in a tetrahedral structure, it becomes a diamond.
Most natural diamonds were formed over a billion years ago, more than 120 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface. This is where intense temperature and pressure cause carbon atoms to strongly bond together and arrange into crystal structures. Volcanic eruptions bring these crystals embedded in magma to the surface. When the magma cools, it hardens in long vertical shafts called kimberlite pipes. And these pipes are what’s sought after in the mining industry.
Travel & Culture: ‘Chá Gorreana’ Tea Plantation, The Azores, Portugal
There are few parts of Europe that produce tea. The Azores, a Portuguese archipelago, are one of them. Here, tea is cultivated and processed without the use of chemicals. Chá Gorreana, located on the largest of the islands, is Europe’s oldest tea plantation. The family-run business has been producing black and green tea since 1883. DW reporter Hendrik Welling visited the plantation to learn about the fine art of producing Azores tea.
World News Podcast: Headlines From London, Paris & Vienna (Jan 30)
The weekend’s biggest discussion topics: Simon Brooke on the day’s newspapers, Monocle’s editor in chief Andrew Tuck’s column and a look at ‘Alexander’, a new digital storytelling platform.
Caribbean Island Views: ‘Belmond La Samanna’ Resort, St. Martin (Video)
Perched beside one of the most spectacular private beaches in the French West Indies, La Samanna is as dazzling as the crystal clear waters that lap the sand. Sink into a chic suite, designed to reflect the hypnotic shapes and colours of sea life. Then dress to impress and sample the world-class restaurants, before diving into the island’s vibrant social scene.
Views: ‘Top 3 Places To Visit In The Dolomites, Italy’
The Dolomites are without a doubt one of my favorite places ever! I’ve been there twice and made a drone video showing you my favorite top 3 must visit spots!
First place: Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm
Second place: Cadini di Misurina & Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Third place: Lago di Braies/Pragser wildsee even though it’s always crowded, even at sunrise this place will always be magical
Political News: ‘Brooks & Capehart’ On Biden’s Executive Actions (Video)
New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week in politics, including President Biden’s use of executive actions, Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief package, and the state of the Republican Party after former President Trump.
Views: ‘Tomo, Fukuyama’ – Hiroshima, Japan (4K Video)
Tomonoura, formerly known as Tomonotsu, is a port in the Tomo ward of Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. It stands on the southern point of the Numakuma Peninsula, 14 kilometers south of Fukuyama Station. Tomonoura has been a prosperous port since ancient times.
Fukuyama is a city on Japan’s Ashida River. Myōō-in Temple has an ornate 5-story pagoda built in the 1300s. The grounds of Fukuyama Castle feature cherry blossoms in spring and colorful foliage in fall. The Hiroshima Prefectural Historical Museum displays the ruins of Kusado Sengen, the area’s medieval port. South, Tomonoura is a port town known for its Edo-era buildings and the stone Jōyatō Lighthouse.
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