Category Archives: Europe

“what I said was that writing makes everything clearer and worse.”

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

“Not His Best” by Joy Williams from 99 Stories of God Franz Kafka once called his writing a form of prayer. He also reprimanded the long-suffering Felice Bauer in a letter: “I did not say that writing ought to make everything … Continue reading →

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Around the world in just 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

On this day in 1890, New York City police cleared a path through a cheering throng for reporter Nellie Bly as she stepped off a train just 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds after setting sail east … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Public Transport, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Who reads what where

Posted on January 23, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I’m a sucker for a clever infographic, especially if it pertains to books or reading. The graphic above shows which reading genres are most popular in 36 countries around the world. To collect the data, the folks at Study In … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Books, ebooks, Europe, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Historic Peregrinations

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Shifting Borders: A Journey to the Centre of our World(s) at the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery in Leeds, England, focuses on the world of travel, guidebooks, and historic maps as well as contemporary artists’ books. For my money the … Continue reading →

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

Not That Orient Express

Posted on January 21, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I am not a cruiseship kind of traveler, but I might make an exception for the sleek new vessel from the Orient Express train people. The new cruiseship, Silenseas, is a luxury ship modeled after historic 19th century vessels. Renowned for … Continue reading →

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

What’s That Smell: Europe’s Olfactory Heritage

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

It is commonly accepted that our sense of smell is linked directly to our emotions and our memories. The year-old project Odeuropa is applying state-of-the-art AI techniques to historical texts and image datasets that span four centuries of European history, … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History, Maps, Museums, Tech, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Archives of the Planet

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

In 1908, French financier Albert Kahn created a project that aimed to photograph the diversity of humanity across the planet. He hired 12 photographers to capture images of everyday life and culture around the globe. His staff traveled to 50 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Asia, Europe, History, Middle East, Museums, Photography, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Lost At Sea

Posted on January 15, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

On its maiden voyage en route from Southampton to New York, the RMS Titanic sank after colliding with an iceberg. Among those who died at sea were American book collector and Grolier Club member Harry Elkins Widener who at 27 had already amassed an … Continue reading →

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History is made of maps

Posted on January 14, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

History Maps uses a combination of interactive maps, videos, illustrations and Wikipedia content to explain and guide the user through an impressive collection of historical events. Beware, it’s easy to fall down this rabbit hole and spend an unplanned hour … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Art, Asia, Canada, Europe, Film, History, Maps, Middle East, Museums, South America, USA | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

United For Ukraine

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

One of the largest creative agencies in the UK has launched an advertising campaign supporting the rebuilding of Ukraine through  #united24  The Pablo Agency, has created retro-style tourist posters that invite you to Ukraine. They show historical buildings and tourist … Continue reading →

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