Category Archives: Europe

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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Geography Is Always In Fashion

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

We have featured diverse and miscellaneous maps and cartographic forms, but this is probably the most fashionable use of maps to date. London-based artist and designer Elisabeth Lecourt painstakingly created her marvelous series titled “Les robes géographiques” from prints of historical … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Europe, History, Maps, Middle East | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Low Fares and High-Speed

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

One week from today, the French national railway SCNF is scheduled to launch a new low fare, high-speed passenger service between the Paris region and southeastern France. With fares starting as low as €10 ( €5 for children ), the … Continue reading →

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Start Saving Your Pennies

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

VeryFirstTo is a British upscale product and experience website whose motto is “Be the very first to know about and have newly launching luxury products and experiences”. Now they are offering the world’s most expensive vacation package: a £990,000, two-year … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Architecture, Art, Asia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, South America, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

All Aboard

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Okay, I admit it, I’m just a big old train geek. I love to ride them, to watch films of iconic train jouneys and to read about them too. But you don’t have to be a diehard trainspotter to enjoy … Continue reading →

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Finding Neverwhere

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I first discovered Neil Gaiman‘s work through his collaboration with the great Terry Pratchett on the novel Good Omens. Then I found a copy of his novelization of his TV series Neverwhere on a trip to the UK. I’ve been a proselytizing … Continue reading →

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