Category Archives: Europe

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 →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, History, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in Art, Europe, History, Tech | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The price of popularity

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The Shore by Rob A. Mackenzie It’s why the tourists arrive and why Time Out called Leith “one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods”; why the sky is permanently blue and the sun flaunts the burnished stonework; why a red light area … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Europe, Restaurants, Tourism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

To Airbnb or not Airbnb

Posted on January 8, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Like millions of other travelers, I have used the accommodation service with mostly positive results. Lately though, it seems that most stories about Airbnb range from negative to nightmarish. Still, Airbnb remains the most popular rental service in most markets. … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, Europe, Hotels, Maps, Tech, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

On this day in 1960, Albert Camus, French author, philospopher and journalist, died in an automobile accident at age 46. In his coat pocket lay an unused train ticket. Camus had intense Motorphobia (fear of automobiles), and thus avoided riding … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Public Transport, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Mystery of the Big Book

Posted on December 30, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Over the years, the photograph above has appeared on numerous blogs and websites, usually captioned as “man with large book at Prague Castle, 1940s” or “c. 1940s: Man with books.” However, bibliophiles and antiquarians have long questioned the image’s description … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books, Europe, History, Libraries, Museums, Photography, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Breaking the Dickens Code

Posted on December 29, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

An international campaign to decipher the complex code that Charles Dickens used to write his notes has won a Times Higher Education Award, one of the most prestigious prizes in UK Higher Education. The University of Leicester, in collaboration with … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Libraries, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Keep Books Alive In Ukraine

Posted on December 26, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

A group of writers and booksellers (Carolyn Forche, Mitchell Kaplan, Christopher Merrill, Askold Melnyczuk, and Jane Unrue) have partnered with the Coral Gables Foundation to raise funds for direct support to booksellers, editors, printers, warehouse workers, libraries and librarians, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Libraries, Museums, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment