Monthly Archives: July 2013

Free Beer in Europe

The recently revived tourism campaign I Am Canadian wasn’t created by Tourism Canada, but instead is the work of Molson Brewery, Canada’s oldest beer maker ( and second oldest business after the famed Hudson Bay Company). Molson’s clever, but self-promotional, … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Europe, Film, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Fly Happy

When it comes to researching airline tickets, most travelers focus on ticket cost and flight schedule. Now we can also discover how to “fly happy” instead. The new website (and iOS app) Routehappy is a database and flight search engine … Continue reading

Posted in apps, Tech, Tourism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

I Want An eBag Tag Too

This month British Airways is introducing their innovative Electronic Bag Tag that will do away with the need for paper luggage tags for each flight. Created in partnership with Designworks UK , the smart tag will allow flyers to update … Continue reading

Posted in apps, Tech, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

I’d Miss My Train

Rail travelers will never be short of reading material if they pass through the main train station in Haarlem, Netherlands. Two years ago de Bibliotheek op hef Station opened with 2,000 books and an interesting model. The collection is displayed … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Europe, Libraries | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

A London Peculiar

I’ve been a fan of the slightly wacky, very British, Smoke-A London Peculiar for years. It was originally an old-school print zine that was packed with all manner of London-focused short fiction, essays, photos, off-beat travel pieces, artwork and bit … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Europe, Photography, Tourism, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Why Don’t We Do It In The Road

As a life-long Beatles fan, I loved this short meditation on the celebrated Abbey Road zebra crossing. The film, directed by Chris Purcell, celebrates the tens of thousands of visitors who flock to the site each year to recreate the … Continue reading

Posted in Europe, Film, Music, Photography, Tourism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Philadelphia’s Literary Legacy

Philadelphia is widely known for it’s treasure-trove of historical sites and it’s rich architectural heritage. And of course, it’s the mural arts capital of the world. But less attention has been focused on the area’s splendid literary legacy. Opened just … Continue reading

Posted in Books, History, Libraries, Tourism, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Taksim Square Book Club

After weeks of demonstrations and clashes between protesters and police across Turkey, a new type of civil disobedience has emerged—the Standing Protest. Turkish performance artist Erdem Gunduz started it off by standing with his hands in his pockets facing the … Continue reading

Posted in Asia, Books, Europe, Freedom of Speech, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Paris Unfolding Self

Gabriel Aguirre was born in Mexico, educated in the United States, and lives in Paris. He’s an IT profession by trade, but a highly skilled photographer, too. His wonderful series—Dépliage Du Soi, or Unfolding Self—is a thought-provoking riff on identity … Continue reading

Posted in Europe, Photography | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How Important Are Online Reviews

The online reputation management company TrustYou has just released this neat infographic  (see below) that examines the impact of web reviews and social media on travel booking decisions. Would you book a hotel that had no online reviews? Well 49% … Continue reading

Posted in Tech, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment