Category Archives: Tourism

After 140 years it’s finished (almost)

Posted on May 13, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve visited hundreds of Roman Catholic cathedrals, basilicas, chapels, and churches in Europe, but Sagrada Familia in Barcelona isn’t just any old church; it’s an extraordinary edifice with a remarkable history. It also has a fantastic design, complete with soaring … Continue reading →

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The next best thing to being there

Posted on May 9, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Yesterday, The Portal, a public technology sculpture arrived in New York City and Dublin. Serving as a virtual bridge, the installation will transmit a real-time unfiltered live stream of both cities, transcending physical barriers and putting New Yorkers and Dubliners instantly in … Continue reading →

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Bookstore Tourism : Iceland

Posted on May 1, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

About seven ago while visiting Iceland’s underappreciated northern town Akureyri, I stumbled across a charming used bookshop called Fróði fornbókabúð. The owner at the time told me that the name meant something like “learned bookstore”. The shop was a bit … Continue reading →

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Books and Roses Day

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Barcelona is all about roses, books and lovers on April 23rd each year. In Catalonia World Book Day also becomes an especially romantic festival. People celebrate the day of their patron saint, Sant Jordi (Saint George), with a curious tradition. … Continue reading →

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Waiting to Work

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I was recently surprised to discover a glass enclosure about the size of a large shipping container with mummy-like figures peering out. The installation is situated in Philadelphia’s  Independence Historic National Park, at Market Street between 5th and 6th, near the … Continue reading →

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New York City is the best movie set in the world

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Texas-born filmmaker Jordan Studdard grew up with dreams of living in New York City. Now that he’s been there for seven years, he created an homage to his adopted hometown with a wall-sized map of the city, dotted with tiny … Continue reading →

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Go To A Happy Place

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

One Minute Park: I really, really enjoy this pure dead simple website.  One Minute Park couldn’t be more basic – click the link and you get transported to a  full-screen video, in landscape, which lasts for exactly 60 seconds and … Continue reading →

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Smoke Signals

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

 Mt.Etna‘s Southeast Crater has begun emitting countless graceful vapor rings (“volcanic vortex rings”), a phenomenon never seen like this before. Someone said “maybe because we receive so much bad news lately, Etna has decided to do something simply beautiful”.  

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Bookstore Tourism: A bit of France in NYC

Posted on April 7, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

La Joie de Vivre, a bookstore and café selling titles in French and English, has opened in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Forbes reported that the shop, located at 145 W. 27th St., “offers a quick getaway to France. 50% of books sold in the … Continue reading →

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Around The World

Posted on April 5, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I am a complete sucker for the rediscovered and digitally enhanced old films and travelogues from the late 19th century. The YouTube channel Lost in Time has taken footage from the renowned Lumière brothers that was shot in 1896, then enhanced and … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Europe, Film, History, Middle East, movies, Photography, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments