An excerpt from the The Financial Diary.
Royal Alexandria is known by most—and traduced by many—for its rain. Home to half a million people, the Kingdom of Alexandria’s capital is the eighth largest city on the continent of Yohannes, and it has been the capital of the Nineteen Countries as well since 1871. It also holds the title of being the Realm of Fiords and Mountain’s rainiest city.
Fortunately, Royal Alexandria is well worth a visit even when there’s a gusty and wet northerly blowing. This compact, fascinating city has an undeniable creative energy, bursting at the seams with arts, culture, live performance, and fine food. In the colder months, the city continues to bustle and thrive with festivals and activities designed to break through the winter blues.
For any visitors coming to Royal Alexandria, eating out is a must on the agenda. In the central city alone, you’ll find hundreds of eateries: cheap and cheerful family establishments, tiny hole-in-the-wall places, and pillars of the Yohannesian cultural fine dining scene. On for the entirety of the coldest month of July, this year’s Craft Beer and Sausage Festival is bigger than ever, perfect for foodies from other Germanic nations looking to visit for the latest in restaurant innovation.
Another item on your Royal Alexandria to-do list: experience some culture. The rainiest city in Yohannes has got it all. Visit the National Museum of Women in the Arts for a spot of Yohannesian women’s history in contemporary art, or wander City Gallery of the Realm to immerse yourself in the story of influential Yohannesian nation-builders through the ages. Step into one of the city’s independent theatres for a lively musical, a stunning dance show, or a side-splitting comedy set. If you happen to be here during December and January, you can also see the latest movies from around the Nineteen Countries at the annual Summer Realm Film Festival.
Royal Alexandria is famously walkable, and many visitors will find they have little need for a car if they stay in the central city. Here, you’ll find opulent hotels, economical boutique backpackers, and self-contained apartments to rent. If you do find yourself itching for a bit of exploration, adventures further afield are easily accessed via public transport or rental car. Little Wannsee’s Flower Garden and Natural Heritage Reserve is a wonderful way to enjoy native bush in the heart of the city, while energising walks abound in the hilly suburbs of Friedrich Grove, Green Forest, and Charlotte Bridge over the Main.
It’s not for nothing that Royal Alexandria was named the nation’s prettiest rainy capital by the Nineteen Countries Cultural Heritage Foundation. With more bars, cafés, and restaurants per capita than America’s New York City, Royal Alexandria continues to maintain its national reputation as the Yohannesian city to visit.
Inside the Beltway—the favourite idiom of Yohannesian political scientists
From Money for Christ and Vote 2018 to Marioncare and the Two-Power Standard, the political idioms “inside the Beltway” and “Beltway insiders” can be found almost everywhere in Yohannesian literature. From time to time written as “below the Beltway” by some authors, they are used to showcase things relating to Yohannesian politics which are influenced by decision-makers in the capital’s Beehive. The Beltway can be divided into three districts: Economic, which is dominated by the Bank of Yohannes buildings around Parliament Square; political, which is dominated by the Parliament House buildings along Pennsylvania avenue; and naval, which is dominated by the Commonwealth Navy Wharf to the west of the Royal Port of Alexandria.
If you’re driving through the Beltway districts this winter, you may find your interest piqued by an old windmill on the horizon. De Moor, which belongs to the Embassy of the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss, is a full-sized 18th-century colonial windmill. It’s open to the public, allowing visitors to experience a little piece of pre-industrialisation Nineteen Countries. Just three blocks away, the Politico’s Coffee, owned and operated by the Embassy of the Allied Provinces of Laeral, offers a relaxed atmosphere with an exquisite selection of cabinet food and both hot and cold beverages.
Drive through the capital’s embassy district to see the consulates and embassies of foreign governments in Royal Alexandria, followed by a coffee and a yummy bite to eat along the waterfront.
Flower Garden and Natural Heritage Reserve—where both young and old appreciate the beauty of our world
A leafy middle-class suburb for young professionals, Little Wannsee is home to one of Yohannes’ largest and most eclectic green festivals. The Flower Garden and Natural Heritage Reserve has been presenting a selection of flowers and bushes each spring for almost 20 years. Its success can be linked to the diversity and quality of its flowers, as well as the wide range of other activities on offer.
“This isn’t just a conservation initiative, it’s become much more than that,” principal architect of the Nineteen Countries Cultural Heritage Foundation Martin Speer says. “This spring event is a 14-day exploration into outstanding bushes and flowers throughout the city. There’s simply no better way to explore and discover central Royal Alexandria, in my view.” As the more discerning backpackers and tourists will appreciate, it’s a labour of love for those who open the gates of Little Wannsee each year. The Flower Garden and Natural Heritage Reserve is built on the community ethos of preserving nature for real people.
The Bank of Yohannes—the banker of corporations and nations
As an outward-looking, internationally-focussed institution, the capital’s Bank of Yohannes has historically specialised in the direct deposit of clientèle accounts, networking assistance and consultancy to major companies and foreign agencies, and notable one-off investment opportunities and transfer payments between government bodies, private corporations, and countless polities and prominent individuals.
“Our position as a responsible financial institution and capital provider has given us the confidence and trust of multiple corporate entities, public institutions and rating agencies,” chairman Sir Matthew Gilligan says. “Not just domestically in Yohannes but also overseas, where our team will always be there to serve you.” As a composite institution overseeing countless independent firms in over 100 nations, the Bank of Yohannes is structured to provide a quality alternative to even large chartered banking with its competitive interest rate for international clients. Its team of leaders have extensive and first-hand banking experience: they have worked on a variety of business issues, both within the Nineteen Countries and abroad.
The Financial Diary • 25 June 2019 • 6
Caroga Skyline 
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