Category Archives: Europe

London to Cairo in 7 Days by Train

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Throughout the 20th century European railway companies often incorporated route maps on their advertising posters. Due to size and design limitations, the cartographers involved in the map production often created distorted and geographically confusing maps. Still, the posters were attractive … Continue reading →

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Light Up The New Year

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Amsterdam’s annual Festival of Lights is welcoming the New Year and banishing winter blahs with 36 illuminated installations around the city. This year’s theme “Existential” was interpreted by artists from a dozen countries, including the beloved human rights activist artist … Continue reading →

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Every Book Is An Adventure

Posted on December 30, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The brilliant folks from Poland’s WowWow Studio street art collective recently completed a wonderful mural across from an elementary school in the historic town of Srem near Poznan in western Poland. The work is designed to encourage children to read.Works … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Mind The Gap

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The Château la Coste is a renowned vineyard located near Aix-en-Provence in the south of France. Along with fine wines, the vineyard is also known for its art. The Renzo Piano-designed gallery is currently hosting an installation from everyone’s favorite … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, Museums | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Mapping the Past

Posted on December 27, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

In one of my frequent sojourns down the rabbit-hole of the internet, I stumbled on these wonderful 19th century railway maps. The map above was created by Joseph Beers in 1884 to depict the railroads of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His … Continue reading →

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Choose Love

Posted on December 25, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

As many of you enjoy the festive season and celebrate the story of the birth of the world’s most famous refugee child, please take a moment to consider the plight of millions of displaced children around the world. Iranian animator … Continue reading →

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World’s Smallest Bookshop

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The world’s tiniest bookshop launched this week in Malmö Sweden. The diminutive bookstore, called Frankie & Benjys Böcker, was created by an anonymous street art collective appropriately named AnonyMouse. Their mouse-sized mini-bookshop joins the group’s previous projects, Il Topolino, a miniature restaurant, and Noix de Vie, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Theater, Tourism | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

We Remember

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Brian D. Butler
Posted in Books, Europe | Tagged | 1 Comment

Winter Is Coming

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Tomorrow marks the  winter solstice —the shortest day and longest night of the year. In the northern hemisphere, the solstice also marks the official start of winter. Here on the east coast of the U.S., the solstice will be happen at … Continue reading →

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Imagine Peace

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The Imagine Peace Tower is a dramatic and moving memorial to John Lennon that was built by Yoko Ono on Viðey Island just off Reykjavik, Iceland. The monument consists of a round stone base with the words “Imagine Peace” inscribed in 24 … Continue reading →

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