Category Archives: Tourism

Apologies in advance

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Apologies in advance for what may be a flurry of random posts about my recent experiences while traveling in Japan. I had so many wonderful experiences and also moments of recognition involving random things that I stumbled upon. In that … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, History, Tech, Tourism, Writing | 1 Comment

A Tale of Two Cities

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I have always been intrigued by the many cities within cities in Europe that hide traces of their early Roman incarnations. Over the years when I’ve visited London I have sought out those barely hidden remnants of ancient Londinium . … Continue reading →

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Dickensian Celebration

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

To celebrate the exact 155th anniversary of Charles Dickens‘s death and the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Charles Dickens Museum in London, the museum will be free of charge to all visitors on June 9 when it will … Continue reading →

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Minding Your Manners

Posted on June 1, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve just returned from an amazing three-week trip to Japan and was delighted and overwhelmed by so much that I encountered, including the fabulous graphic design work everywhere. Passing through Kyoto Station I spotted a clever ad campaign while heading … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Art, Asia, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

I can’t believe that NYC is #17

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

To paraphrase Tolstoy’s famous opening line: All happy cities are alike; each unhappy city is unhappy in its own way. Maybe that’s too clunky a way to introduce the 2025 Happy City Index, but I’m seriously jetlagged so it will … Continue reading →

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The Citizen and the Traveller

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

“The Citizen and the Traveller,” a short fable from Robert Louis Stevenson  

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Tourists get blamed for everything now

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Japan is selling off its national emergency rice reserve for the first time since 1995 because prices have doubled, and they are blaming tourist visitors for eating too much rice. France 24 reports that record numbers of visitors are partly to … Continue reading →

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Last Frontier

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve only visited Alaska one time, but the memories of that two week trip remain vivid. It’s impossible to describe the vastness and majesty of Alaska, however the short tilt-shift video below offers a taste of the state’s beauty and … Continue reading →

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Tokyo: Thin is in

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Looking for hotels in Tokyo, I ran across the 9-story Rakuragu hotel which squeezes in an ultra-narrow site in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. Located near the iconic Tokyo Station, the skinny hotel has just 14 rooms, its design prioritizes outdoor … Continue reading →

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More Indie Bookstore Celebrations

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Canadian independent booksellers are celebrating Independent Bookstore Day, a tradition that began in 2018 with the first Canadian Independent Bookstore Day that has aligned with the U.S. version since then. CIBD developed from Authors for Indies Day, which began in … Continue reading →

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