Netherlands Overtakes US As Best Place To Do Business

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Netherlands Ranked #1 As Business Location

The ‘Economist Intelligence Unit’, a British based think-tank, released their latest business environment rankings.

The ranking indicates the attractiveness of operating conditions for companies in 60 countries and compares the likely environment for the coming 5 years with the previous 5 years.

The Netherlands has surpassed the United States as having the most favorable business climate.

Rankings
1. Netherlands
2. Canada
3. Finland
4. United Kingdom
5. United States
6. Zwitserland
7. Denmark
8. Singapore
9. Sweden
10. Hong Kong

The Netherlands’ stable macro-economic environment, highly developed financial sector, high-quality infrastructure, and a highly trained and educated workforce all contributed to the recent ranking.

Source: Netherlands Embassy

Gastronomy Andalucian Style

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In the area around Malaga, birthplace of Picasso, are villages scattered amongst the inland mountains referred to as the Aljapuras region.

Other specialties of this region include the famous snow-cured hams and the Costa wines, which are quite fine.

In Spain the main meal is served during the midday break, and can be quite extensive with lots of wine and brandy to wash the meal down. This of course calls for a typical siesta of two to three hours for recovery, before returning to work for the afternoon.

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Gazpacho From Andalaucia

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This is famous peasant fare, originating as a simple concoction made for the poor fieldworkers from local fresh ingredients. Gazpacho became a standard offering after the Spanish brought tomatoes back from the New World. Traditionally olive workers and farmers out in the fields all day would bring quite the spread of home made goodies along for lunch, and often the entire family was along during harvest season, so food was served al fresco, in the fields. Gazpacho is also quite easy to prepare, with everything mashed together in a mortar and pestle and left standing in a cool spot alongside the fields. Pour it into a bowl, smother it with garnish and munch your way through a refreshing lunch. Continue reading →

Grenada

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See Grenada Hotels!


The timeless Alhambra

Grenada is an industrialized region at the foot of the Sierra Nevadas. It’s crowded, noisy, polluted, but full of life! The main attraction to the area is the famous Alhambra, a moorish palace that still retains its awesome beauty after many centuries.

Grenada was founded in the 8th century by the Moors and was a major seat of power for Moorish Spain until 1492, when the Spanish conquest wrested the city away for the Moors. During the Moors rule the city was a major center for art, literature, science and trade.

Coffeeshop Rip-offs, Part 2: Shake & Sell!

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It seems making a huge markup on marijuana isn’t enough for the poor coffeeshop owners. Go ahead and ask to see a few varieties next time you’re in a coffeeshop. Look for those big buds dripping with white resin. Did you find them? If not, you’re the next victim in the big Coffeeshop rip-off – Shake & Sell!

Most growers and coffeeshop personnel nowadays have discovered the wonders of pollinator and isolator hash, which is the concentrated resin from the cannabis flower. It’s extremely pure and potent, and goes for a very high price, usually double or triple the price of imported hashish. The demand for this has grown as the Dutch preference for these forms of cannabis becomes more widespread.

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Zuiderkerk

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The Zuiderkerk (Southern Church), designed by the famous architect, Hendrick de Keyser, was finished in 1611, with the beautiful tower completed in 1614. It was the first Calvist church in Amsterdam. Major reconstruction was done during 1976-1979.

Nowadays the Zuiderkerk hosts the City of Amsterdam’s planning and housing information center. Here you can find out about city projects including housing, urban renewal, transportation and the environment. You can read about the many municipal regulations including the “‘bestemmingsplans”. It’s also a good place to get the lowdown on new housing being built for sale or rent in Amsterdam.

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