Category Archives: Europe

The Last Bookshop

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

The Last Bookshop is a charming short film that imagines a future time when physical books have disappeared. One day, a young boy’s digital entertainment fails, so he decides to explore abandoned areas of his town. On his wanderings, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, movies, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Comment Dites-Vous Pickpocket

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Paris police have begun patrolling the Louvre in force following a day-long walk-out by museum staff in protest of aggressive gangs of violent pickpockets. Directeur de l’Office de Tourisme de Paris Paul Roll responded to concerns about museum visitor safety … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

You can be a professional sleeper

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Hotel Finn is a newly renovated “budget” hotel centrally located in a historic Helsinki building next to the famous Stockmann department store. To promote the hotel’s re-launch, the Hotel Finn is searching for a “professional guest” to stay in each … Continue reading →

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Book Bloc !

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

The contemporary use of the book bloc began in Rome in 2010 when students protesting drastic educational funding cuts used oversized, handmade book covers as both shields and political commentary. The concept quickly spread to the UK, the rest of Europe … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Freedom of Speech, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Frommer is back

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Budget travel guidebook godfather Arthur Frommer has announced that he has reacquired his iconic brand from Google and that he plans to resume publishing the famed guidebook series. Last year, Google bought the Frommer brand from publisher Wiley for a … Continue reading →

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Paris in Winter

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Andrew Julian photographed and edited this lovely little film The Quiet City: Winter in Paris. It demonstrates just how different the experience of a city can be based on season. My trips to Paris have always been in the early … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Film, Music, Photography, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Books: What a great way to travel

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

In honor of International Children’s Book Day and the anniversary of author Hans Christian Andersen‘s birth, the British travel site Cheapflights™ put together this marvelous infographic. Books: the next best thing to actually being there.

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

Our Kind of Pub

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

London’s bibliophiles now have their very own literary wateringhole on a quiet Marylebone street between the Baker Street and Marylebone Stations. The Swan & Edgar —named for a former Piccadilly Circus department store—is a book lover’s dream pub. The cozy … Continue reading →

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

Looking at a gift horse

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

One of the perks of running this little travel/book/art blog is that I receive lots of free books. Some are advance reader copies, some are uncorrected proofs and others are just pre-release copies. I’ve been sent novels, memoirs, reference books, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Books, Canada, Europe, Middle East, South America, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How do you say moose in Suomi

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

There are lots of reasons to envy the lucky citizens of Finland—gorgeous landscapes, crystal clear air and water, the midnight sun all summer-long—and now there’s one more. Finland’s new, updated passports double as an amusing animated flip-book. This Youtube video … Continue reading →

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