Newsweek recently came out with their "World's Best Countries" rankings and once again, most of the top ten are in Northern Europe. The rankings were based on the following categories: Education, Health, Quality of Life, Economic Dynamism and Political Environment. What's most interesting is that these thriving countries spend most the year in the dark! Despite their long, dreary winters, I have always experienced Scandinavians to be very positive and content. They seem to know that they have a good life with low crime rates, wide access to health care, subsidized education and a healthy work-life balance. Forbe's "World's Happiest Countries" rankings also put Denmark, Finland and Norway at the top of their European list. Statistics like these certainly make these countries that much more appealing to visit.
If you're interested in learning more about what makes a country thrive, consider reading The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner. It's a witty account of a self-confessed "grump" as he journeys across an unusual assortment of countries (including the Netherlands, Iceland, Qatar, Moldova and Bhutan among others) and tries to figure out what makes people happy. Frankly, Eric's chapter on Iceland single-handedly made me want to visit the country. Since reading it, I have become very interested in Icelandic geology (Did you know that Iceland's volcanoes have erupted a third of the total global lava output?) and planned a 10-day Ring Road odyssey so I can meet these fascinating people.
For more information about happiness in Scandanavia, check out this recent article: "BBC Travel: Why are Finns so Happy?"
If you're interested in learning more about what makes a country thrive, consider reading The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner. It's a witty account of a self-confessed "grump" as he journeys across an unusual assortment of countries (including the Netherlands, Iceland, Qatar, Moldova and Bhutan among others) and tries to figure out what makes people happy. Frankly, Eric's chapter on Iceland single-handedly made me want to visit the country. Since reading it, I have become very interested in Icelandic geology (Did you know that Iceland's volcanoes have erupted a third of the total global lava output?) and planned a 10-day Ring Road odyssey so I can meet these fascinating people.
For more information about happiness in Scandanavia, check out this recent article: "BBC Travel: Why are Finns so Happy?"
Hi Alexa
ReplyDeleteIceland is a truly magical place - make sure you time your trip to see the Northern Lights. And let me know when you go, can hook you up with some of the natives who will probably want to take you into the wilderness and force home made vodka down you until next week... There isn't a lot to do when the sun doesn't come up for 4 months!
Dean