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Tag Archives: Europe
Europe: An Economic History Of Iceland (Video)
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?
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.
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.
Walking Tour: ‘Cologne – Germany’ (4K UHD Video)
Cologne, a 2,000-year-old city spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, is the region’s cultural hub. A landmark of High Gothic architecture set amid reconstructed old town, the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral is also known for its gilded medieval reliquary and sweeping river views. The adjacent Museum Ludwig showcases 20th-century art, including many masterpieces by Picasso, and the Romano-Germanic Museum houses Roman antiquities.
Video Timeline Links: 00:00 – Cologne (Köln), Germany Walking Tour Intro 00:48 – Statue of Kaiser Wilhelm II 01:33 – Hohenzollern Bridge 04:58 – Ludwig Museum 08:46 – Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) 21:34 – Cologne Central Train Station 31:51 – Fish Market Square (Fischmarkt) 34:36 – Great St. Martin Church 37:55 – Old Market Square (Alter Markt) 38:51 – Historic Town Hall 41:31 – Haymarket Square (Heumarkt) 43:31 – Statue of Friedrich Wilhelm III 49:02 – Schildergasse Shopping Street 55:12 – New Square (Neumarkt) 58:22 – Basilica of the Holy Apostles 1:04:40 – Hahnen Gate (Hahnentor) 1:12:39 – Willy-Millowitsch Statue 1:21:32 – Minorite Monastery
Top Walks: ‘Cour Damoye’ & 11th Arrondissement In East Paris, France (Video)
The 11th arrondissement is a hip, diverse district that draws partygoers to lively bars around Rue Oberkampf and its surrounding streets. It’s also home to the Opéra Bastille, the city’s main opera house. Foodies and fashionistas flock to the boutiques and vogue restaurants around Rue de Charonne, part of the evolving shopping and dining scene in the cosmopolitan area between the République and Nation squares.
The cobblestone paved Cour Damoye is unlike any street you’ll find in Paris. Closed off to cars, the street is home to coffee brewers, independent designers, small business offices, and even art galleries. You’ll be totally charmed by this lovely passageway in the 11th.
Europe: ‘An Economic History Of Spain’ (Video)
The Spanish economy is one of extremes. At one point a focus of the eurozone crisis, at another the largest contributor of growth, and more recently, suffering the greatest economic hit of any Advanced Economy in 2020. Spain’s economic problems are often confused. In the years leading up to the Great Recession it posted consistent budget surpluses. However, a huge real estate bubble was lying in wait. The question… is why? Why did Spain go from a seemingly safe level of debt to one larger than it’s economy? How was the housing bubble encouraged? And since then, has Spain’s economy ever truly recovered? Or in what ways?
Travel: ‘Top Ten Places To Visit In Portugal’ (Video)
Portugal is one of the world’s most beautiful countries! From boating on the Algarve Coast to exploring the castles of Sintra, Portugal offers so much variety to experience and witness!
Portugal is a southern European country on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain. Its location on the Atlantic Ocean has influenced many aspects of its culture: salt cod and grilled sardines are national dishes, the Algarve’s beaches are a major destination and much of the nation’s architecture dates to the 1500s–1800s, when Portugal had a powerful maritime empire.
Walks: ‘Baden’ – A Spa Town Near Vienna, Austria (4K)
Baden bei Wien is a spa town southwest of Vienna, the Austrian capital. The focus of its main square is the Trinity Column plague memorial. Narrow surrounding streets are known for their 19th-century Biedermeier architecture. The leafy Kurpark features the Casino Baden, memorials to composers like Beethoven and Mozart, and trails leading to Kalvarienberg, a hill where the park transitions into the Vienna Woods.
French Estate Tour: ’12th Century Abbey Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (Video)
This beautiful former abbey has been restored to a high standard and comes with 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms served by a central stone spiral staircase. It also offers beautiful views, land and 2 stocked lakes. Located 100 kms from Bordeaux, 30 kms from Angouleme (TGV to Paris under 2 1/2 hrs), near Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (one of the prettiest villages in France) in a quiet location down a no through road.
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is a commune in the Charente department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southwestern France. It has been officially listed as “One of the most beautiful villages in France” since 1993. Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is also well known for its Church of Saint Jean, an underground, Monolithic Church.