Category Archives: Tourism

Worth the price of admission

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

The City of Paris has offered residents and visitors alike free access to 435 public toilet facilities, but today it is officially opening a public lavatory that charges a 2€ admission fee. From what I have seen so far, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Europe, History, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Translate can save the day

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

When I was preparing for a trip to Russia a few years ago, I made a serious effort to learn the Russian alphabet and some basic vocabulary. But from the moment we arrived at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg it … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, Tech, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Going Underground in NYC

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Both sides of my family emigrated to New York City shortly before the city’s subway system was inaugurated in 1904. So, I literally rode New York’s underground trains before I was born. Like most residents of the world’s greatest city … Continue reading →

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Tourisme Bouquiniste: Rabat

Posted on February 8, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I have been seeing photographs of this tiny bookshop for years, but they never identified the bookstore or the bookseller. Recently, I finally found a story that provided a narrative to go with the images. The shop is called Bouquiniste … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Tourism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Literature vs Traffic

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Regular visitors to TBTP are likely aware of my enormous regard for the brilliant installations from the Madrid-based street art collective Luzinterruptus. Somehow I missed their most project titled Literature vs Traffic that they created in one of my favorite cities, Utrecht, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Film, Libraries, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Around the world in just 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

On this day in 1890, New York City police cleared a path through a cheering throng for reporter Nellie Bly as she stepped off a train just 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds after setting sail east … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Public Transport, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Not That Orient Express

Posted on January 21, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I am not a cruiseship kind of traveler, but I might make an exception for the sleek new vessel from the Orient Express train people. The new cruiseship, Silenseas, is a luxury ship modeled after historic 19th century vessels. Renowned for … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Public Transport, Tech, Tourism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

What’s That Smell: Europe’s Olfactory Heritage

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

It is commonly accepted that our sense of smell is linked directly to our emotions and our memories. The year-old project Odeuropa is applying state-of-the-art AI techniques to historical texts and image datasets that span four centuries of European history, … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History, Maps, Museums, Tech, Tourism | 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

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