Category Archives: Tourism

Travel Stress

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I recently found a fascinating project that examined which rail stations around the world were most stressful. Obviously commuters have different issues with the stations that they need to access on a regular basis than travelers, but there’s always some … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Europe, Maps, Public Transport, South America, Tourism, USA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

You couldn’t pay me to go there

Posted on March 2, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

After years of civil war and terrorist conflict that reduced its cultural treasures to rubble, Syria is taking steps to breathe new life into its tourism industry. The nation is focusing on restoring its rich heritage, aiming to attract history … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Asia, History, Middle East, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

More Than the Mona Lisa

Posted on March 1, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

In January, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a significant renovation plan for the Louvre, following concerns from the museum’s director about the building’s deteriorating condition. The project includes the creation of a new grand entrance and broader refurbishments across the historic site. Like most … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Europe, Film, History, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Book this Book Hotel

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The good news in planning an upcoming trip to Tokyo was that I managed to snag a cushy hotel in Shinjuku for five nights entirely free with reward points. However, the bad news is that I won’t be staying at … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Hotels, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

come si dice?

Posted on February 23, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

James Trimble’s European word translator generates maps of Europe showing the word of your choice in the most common languages for each nation. It gets the job done nicely, though it only works for English words. This page was inspired by … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Maps, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Everyone Must Go

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

New Zealand’s tourism board might have been hoping to inspire a rush of visitors, but its latest slogan has inspired more groans than getaways. The campaign, titled Everyone Must Go, was launched with a budget of NZ$500,000 (US$285,000) aiming to draw … Continue reading →

Posted in Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fifty Years of Travel Tips

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

You’ve probably run across the popular annual compendiums of long time blogger Kevin Kelly. His year-end posts seem to get widespread coverage which reflects both his sage wisdom and a bit of clever promotion. Kelly is also a serious traveler … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Public Transport, Restaurants, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA, Writing | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Taste of London

Posted on February 15, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

A team of four highly skilled photographers has created a mesmerizing flow motion timelapse of London, deploying novel techniques to tell the story of the U.K. capital. A Taste of London is the fifth installment of FilmSpektakel’s long-running A Taste of series  … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Film, Photography, Tech, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Going In Style

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I finally managed to see Wim Wender’s superb film Perfect Days. This truly moving and heartfelt movie centers on a Tokyo resident who is employed cleaning a set of special public toilets in the Shibuya City district. If you haven’t seen it, … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Film, movies, Tourism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

First there is a mountain…

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is Taranaki Maunga, or Mount Taranaki, has peaked to sentience—at least in a legal sense. … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Tourism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment