Category Archives: Tourism

Middle Earth (travel to)

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Brian D. Butler
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Another Day in Middle Earth

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Back in 2012, Air New Zealand produced an amusing in-flight safety video called “An Unexpected Briefing” with help from Peter Jackson and the Hobbit gang. They recently followed up with a new promotional video titled “Just Another Day in Middle … Continue reading →

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Genuine London

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

London-based illustrator and designer Jack Noel has created an ongoing series of shrewdly observed, colorful prints that celebrate the distinct personality and character of London’s boroughs. The project wisely eschews most of tourist London for the genuine, quotidian city. You … Continue reading →

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All Aboard Starbucks ?

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

In my dotage, my last remaining vice is a serious coffee habit. And, while I try and patronize indie coffeeshops whenever possible, I’m still an unashamed fan of Starbucks. The global coffee colossus is now launching a felicitous collaboration with … Continue reading →

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Cycle City

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I freely admit that I’m a big hypocrite when it comes to using my bike for transportation rather than recreation, but I do admire the people of the Netherlands for their steadfast resolve to replace automobile travel with bicycling whenever … Continue reading →

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Nous Sommes Dangereux (vraiment)

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Here in the United States we are accustomed to overwrought travel warnings issued by our State Department on foreign travel. To be fair, most of the governmental travel alerts and notices are based on some reasonable concerns. Now I hear … Continue reading →

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Virtual Venice

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

When it’s overrun by cruise ship passengers and daytrippers, Venice can seem more like an Italian Disney World than the true gem that it is to those who love the city. But if you visit out of season, or just … Continue reading →

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Paris is so cliche

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Designed by Paris-based illustrator Simon Sek of the design collective LesAnimals, Cliché-sun-Seine is a very clever series of twenty graphic works based one common clichéd element for each Paris arrondissement. Native Parisians, or even regular visitors may quibble with Sek’s … Continue reading →

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Not Just Hapsburgs

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

This Spring, I made it back to Vienna (Wien) after a very long absence and immediately wondered why it took me so long to return. It’s a stunningly beautiful and historic city that is well worth a visit. Whether you’ve … Continue reading →

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Books Not Blogs

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

According to the World Travel Market 2013 Industry Report, British travelers still prefer old-school print travel guide books to online sources for trip planning and vacation research. The report, based on a survey of 1001 travelers, showed that 59% of … Continue reading →

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