Category Archives: Europe

A Visit To Narnia (with guest star)

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Incomprehensible

Posted on June 7, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Over the years I have had the opportunity to visit the UK many times and on every trip I find myself baffled by the overwhelming variety of accents and dialects. Patrick Foote of Name Explain investigated why the UK, a … Continue reading →

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A Tale of Two Cities

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I have always been intrigued by the many cities within cities in Europe that hide traces of their early Roman incarnations. Over the years when I’ve visited London I have sought out those barely hidden remnants of ancient Londinium . … Continue reading →

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Dickensian Celebration

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

To celebrate the exact 155th anniversary of Charles Dickens‘s death and the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Charles Dickens Museum in London, the museum will be free of charge to all visitors on June 9 when it will … Continue reading →

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Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Grossing the highest box-office of any British film in the US when released in 1975, this “cult classic” comedy from the Monty Python team loosely follows the legend of King Arthur (Graham Chapman), along with his squire (Terry Gilliam) and … Continue reading →

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I can’t believe that NYC is #17

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

To paraphrase Tolstoy’s famous opening line: All happy cities are alike; each unhappy city is unhappy in its own way. Maybe that’s too clunky a way to introduce the 2025 Happy City Index, but I’m seriously jetlagged so it will … Continue reading →

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It’s going as planned

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Passenger train networks: United States vs Europe.

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In my dreams the world would come alive

Posted on May 24, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

In my dreams the world would come alive, becoming so captivatingly majestic, free and ethereal, that afterwards it would be oppressive to breathe the dust of this painted life. But then I have long since grown accustomed to the thought … Continue reading →

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Watching the Detectives

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

“Detective Novel” by Robert Walser translated by Tom Whalen HE PRETENDED to possess technical expertise. Anyway, the title seemed quite brilliant. I resolved to learn more and started reading him, but he left much to be desired. Both he and … Continue reading →

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Travel Cats

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I love cats and I love train stations, so the silly, but fun website BahnhofsKatzen is just my cup of coffee. This site is a well-maintained resource documenting stray cats at train stations around the world, but primarily in mainland … Continue reading →

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