Category Archives: Europe

I met a traveller from an antique land

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Ozymandias, 2017 by Alasdair Gray (1934-2019)  

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Making of an Icon

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Kafka: Making of an Icon is an exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of Franz Kafka’s death and celebrating not only Kafka’s achievements and creativity, but also his continuing inspiration for new literary, theatrical and artistic creations around the world. After … Continue reading →

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Magic Lantern

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

These days Prague is another victim of European over-tourism, but 30 years ago it still was a place of history and mystery. I recently saw the marvelous 1993 documentary below that has had me waxing nostalgic for the Prague that … Continue reading →

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Railway Parable

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Erich Kästner, Das Eisenbahngleichnis, 1931  

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Sharing is caring

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Have you ever wondered how those ubiquitous little black Moleskine notebooks got to be so popular ? Are you one of the many millions of devotees who carry one in your pocket or backpack at all times ? Well click … Continue reading →

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No fierljeppen for me

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I was lucky enough to spent quite a bit of time in the Netherlands and I constantly marveled at how they managed to engineer a nation with so much of the country below sea level. Many of their farmers needed a … Continue reading →

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Leave the gun, take the cannoli

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

The historic southern Sicilian city of Agrigento is preparing to be Italy’s 2025 Capital of Culture and has taken a controversial stance against its infamous Mafia past. In a bid to reclaim its cultural identity, the city has banned the … Continue reading →

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une vie dans le fromage

Posted on September 3, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

The first Cheese Museum in France opened its doors in June in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. Located in the heart of the capital on Île Saint-Louis, the new museum was designed by the company Paroles de Fromagers to celebrate … Continue reading →

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Bookstore Tourism : Kyiv

Posted on September 2, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Launched this winter, “Sense Bookstore on Khreshchatyk is special since it is located in the very heart of the capital and combines books, coffee, and a permanent event space for creating new senses. Unlike our first Sense Bookstore on Arsenalna … Continue reading →

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A short description of European people

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

The chart below was created in Germany in the 18th century to describe the character traits of the various European peoples. Hardly insulting at all.

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