Category Archives: Europe

Urban Safari

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

The always cutting-edge French multimedia artist Julien Nonnon has created a marvelous new video-mapping street show in Paris. Called “Safari Urbain”, the pop-up projections of animals dressed as hipster poseurs is a wonderful, tongue in cheek commentary on both the … Continue reading →

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Be not inhospitable to strangers

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

For book lovers around the world, Shakespeare and Company in the heart of Paris is emblematic of the ideal independent bookshop. Even bibliophiles who have never been to Paris feel as though they know Shakespeare and Company. After all, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Restaurants, Tourism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Van Gogh on parade

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

The folks in Zundert, Netherlands are crazy about flowers, Vincent Van Gogh and parades. On the first Sunday of every September they put on a wildly colorful festival to celebrate all three. The event honors the region’s horticultural industry, which specializes … Continue reading →

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Everything Except The Castles

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Driving around Iceland this Summer, I was struck by how much wide swaths of the country that reminded me of the stark beauty of the Scottish Highlands. The stunning video below of a recent journey through Scotland shows just how much … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Film, Photography, Tourism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Apocalypse Now (London)

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Visible just twice daily at low tides, artist Jason deCaires Taylor’s sculptures of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse aim to raise awareness about climate change. Titled “The Rising Tide”, the installation is located near London’s Vauxhall Bridge. The heads … Continue reading →

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Lire Les Signes

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

When we visit Paris, most of us are captivated by the grand monuments, amazing architecture and fantastic museums. But some of us can’t walk a block without stopping to gawk at the beautiful signage. It’s not necessary to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Books, Europe, Photography, Public Transport | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

An Airport For Booklovers

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Bibliophiles may want to consider a stop-over at Tallinn International Airport just to visit the wonderful free library for flyers. Opened two years ago, the library runs entirely on the honor system. There’s no membership requirement, no library card, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Libraries, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

It’s A Small World

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

When I was a child one of my most treasured possessions was a small globe. Of course it was an inexpensive, mass produced model, nothing like the beautiful, handcrafted globe above from Bellerby & Co. Globemakers. Founded in 2008 in … Continue reading →

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City Reading

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Since 2009, StadtLesen—or City Reading—has been bringing book-focused experiences each summer to select cities around Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and northern Italy. This year the project created a very neat reading lounge on historic Mozartplatz in the heart of Salzburg’s Altstadt. Residents … Continue reading →

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A Booklover’s Dream

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

It’s not unusual for bibliophiles to daydream about chucking it all and opening their own bookshop. Now, Airbnb, Scotland’s National Book Town, and The Open Book bookstore are making it possible—if only for a week. Situated in the southwest Scottish … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Tourism, Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment