Category Archives: Europe

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 →

Posted in Art, Europe | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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

A Day Without Cars

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

On September 27,2015, Paris is going car-free (sort of) for one day. Une Journée Sans Voitures , sponsored by the Paris municipal government, will temporarily pedestrianize streets and boulevards in the 1st through 7th and the 10th,11th and 16th arrondissements. … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Tourism | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Harry Potter Underground

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Diehard fans of the Wizarding World now have an actual London Underground map detailing the landmarks from JK Rowling’s books with fictional Tube stations—except for King’s Cross and Paddington of course.

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Not so secret, but worth a look anyway

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Love Home Swap, a popular home exchange website, analyzed more than 700,000 travel tips from 70,000 site members to create a list of travel recommendations. here’s the result in their “Top 150 Secret Destinations” infographic. Maybe not so secret, but … Continue reading →

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