Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Hashtag Tourism

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The always inventive urban transit cartographer Jug Cerovic has teamed up with graphic designer Andrea Rohner and software engineer David Goldwich to create a new travel website featuring metropolitan transit maps labeled with popular Instagram hashtags rather than subway stations. … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Maps, Museums, Public Transport, Restaurants, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Be Like These Tourists (Warning: Intense Images)

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Many years ago, I chose to cut short my visit to the Terezín Concentration Camp in the Czech Republic due to the obnoxious behavior of groups of adolescents who laughed, joked, and generally clowned around with total disregard for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History, Museums, Photography, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Intellectual Raves

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Beginning tonight and running through the early hours of Monday morning, the Institut Français will be hosting a series of all-night marathon “intellectual raves” in dozens of cities around the world. The 2017 La Nuit des Idées or Night of Philosophy and … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, Film, Libraries, Museums, Music, Tech, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Here Comes The Bloom

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

This week the Netherlands celebrated their annual Nationale Tulpendag, or Tulip Day. Every year, flower growers set up temporary gardens around the country and invite everyone to come and pick bags of tulips. The Tulpenpluktuin in Amsterdam’s Damrak Square offered … Continue reading →

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Taking It to the Streets

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Most tourists who visit Paris take some sort of souvenir home. Many choose the cliché mini Eiffel Tower or even spring for some gourmet treats from Fauchon. Now travelers truly smitten with France’s capital can own an actual piece of … Continue reading →

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Gimme Some Truth

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

In this new bizarro world of “alternative facts” John Lennon is more relevant than ever. I’m sick and tired of hearing things from Uptight short sided narrow minded hypocritics All I want is the truth, just give me some truth … Continue reading →

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Here Comes The Boom

Posted on January 22, 2017 by Brian D. Butler
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Down With Big Brother

Posted on January 21, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

As millions of enraged U.S. citizens and supporters around the world take to the streets today—including me—to protest the ascension to the Presidency of the illegitimately elected tumefied, orange klepocrat, we are also ironically noting the anniversary of the death … Continue reading →

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Dear World, We Are Sorry

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Illustrator Robert Sikoryak has been trying to cope with our national tragedy by transforming Donald Trump quotes into cartoons in the style of famous comic books and graphic novels on his blog Unquotable Trump. The rest of us are just … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Freedom of Speech, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Europe on $5 a Day

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The notion of traveling around Europe on $5 a day seems preposterous in 2017, but back in 1957 it was a reality for frugal savvy travelers. This year the guidebook, which came before Let’s Go Europe, Lonely Planet, or Rick Steves Guides, is celebrating … Continue reading →

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