Category Archives: Europe

Switzerland with the stars

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I am a huge fan of the Swiss railway network and Switzerland itself. So, I love the promotional video below that stars the brilliant comedian Trevor Noah and the tennis superstar Roger Federer in a grand tour of the country … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Film, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Life While You Wait

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

LIFE WHILE-YOU-WAIT by Wisława Szymborska Life While-You-Wait. Performance without rehearsal. Body without alterations. Head without premeditation. I know nothing of the role I play. I only know it’s mine. I can’t exchange it. I have to guess on the spot … Continue reading →

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Life in Mesoamerica

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I have been fortunate enough to visit some amazing archeological sites in Mexico, but know very little about life in pre-Colonial Mesoamerica. A recently released digital version of an early Spanish codex from 16th century Mexico offers a window into … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, History, Libraries, Museums, South America | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

10 years, 3.5 million photos, in 4 minutes

Posted on November 18, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Photographer Jack Fisher is a globe-trotting photographer who created the amazing time-lapse video below which covers ten years of work in just four minues. Fisher says, “I called it Sequences because I try to create stories, or scenes in my timelapse photography, … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Asia, Europe, Film, Photography, Public Transport, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Wonder is where it starts

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

“Wonder is where it starts, and though wonder is also where it ends, this is no futile path. Whether admiring a patch of moss, a crystal, flower, or golden beetle, a sky full of clouds, a sea with the serene, … Continue reading →

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Cheap Flights

Posted on November 12, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

This hilarious video is not new, but I just discovered it and had to share it for a laugh.  

Posted in Air Travel, Europe, Film, Music, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Books for Cooks

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

We have dozens of cookbooks collected over the years, but rarely open them these days. Instead we just Google recipes like Philistines. Still, I’d love to stop in at Books for Cooks the next time that I’m in London. In … Continue reading →

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Everybody loves a booktree

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

London’s St. Pancras Station has inaugurated the 2023 holiday season with a wonderful Christmas booktree. Created in collaboration with Hatchards  the 12 meter tall installation is not just a festive centrepiece; it’s a literary wonderland inspired by British authors. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Signs, Signs, Everywhere A Sign

Posted on November 5, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Before my recent trip to the Portuguese island of São Miguel, I checked out what typres of road signs I could expect to encounter. Still, I was surprised and confused by some of the traffic signs along the islands windy, … Continue reading →

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Sweden not Switzerland

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

​ Sweden Launches Campaign to Stop Tourists Confusing It With Switzerland – A funny video from Sweden’s tourist board to help people distinguish between the two countries. Yes, it’s hard to believe that people confuse the two European countries, but it’s … Continue reading →

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