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Category Archives: Europe
there are precedents for mystical encounters of various kinds
“A man breaking his journey between one place and another at a third place of no name, character, population or significance, sees a unicorn cross his path and disappear. That in itself is startling, but there are precedents for mystical … Continue reading
Top Secret
The 1984 action comedy Top Secret! contains an odd sequence set in a Swedish bookstore. Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge, and Peter Cushing acted the entire scene backward, and the filmmakers then reversed this performance to produce a dreamlike atmosphere in which … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Film, Uncategorized
Tagged Bookstores on film, Cinema, Peter Cushing
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Sometimes in a pickle is where to be
Over the years, I’ve discovered hundreds of used, secondhand and antiquarian bookshops, but none as unique as New York City’s Sweet Pickle Books. The founder and owner Leigh Altshuler had always dreamed of opening her own bookstore, but the time never … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, USA
Tagged Jewish food, New York City, pickles, used books
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Denmark is saving bookshops and inspiring readers
I was recently shocked to see many news stories about the dramatic decline in literacy in Denmark. Surveys have shown that reading skills of the nation’s children were in a steep decline. According to the New York Times, the Denmark’s … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged Bookselling, Denmark, literacy, Reading, Scandinavia
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How 19th century literature can help survive autocracy
I must admit that I was never a big reader of 19th century French literature, other than Jules Verne. And, I somehow didn’t read Stendahl’s The Charterhouse of Parma. However, I was intrigued by a New York Times article that suggested … Continue reading
How Amsterdam Was Built
I have visited hundreds of cities over the decades, but Amsterdam is the one place that I have returned to over and over. If you have been there, it’s probably one of your favorite cities too. And, if you haven’t … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Europe, Film, Uncategorized
Tagged Amsterdam, Netherlands, urban planning
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Wish You Were Here
I recently discovered the dubious concept of Beforehand Postcards. The conceit behind Beforehand Postcards was that, if you were going on vacation to Europe, you could buy your postcards from them beforehand. Then you could address the cards, and maybe even write … Continue reading
The Poet Anticipated the Shortcomings of AI
The author Rainer Maria Rilke anticipated the inevitable shortcomings in the use of AI in the arts. He articulated the essential conditions for creativity in his only novel, reflecting on what it takes to compose a great poem, but also … Continue reading
Incomprehensible
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
Posted in Europe, History, Maps, Tourism
Tagged England, Great Britain, Scotland, United Kingdom, Wales
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Travel Between The Pages 