Category Archives: Tourism

More Than Half of The London Underground Is Above Ground

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Many years ago, I wrote a travel guidebook for London, so I like to think of myself as fairly knowledgeable when it comes to the British capital. But I was surprised by some of the bits of information in this … Continue reading →

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Perfect Travel Photos

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I long ago gave up on the notion that I could take great travel photographs. In fact, now I generally leave the camera home and shoot random pics with my iPhone. Still, these travel photography hints from Ampersand Travel may … Continue reading →

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Taming the Pippi Savage

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Paris can be a glorious city, but sometimes the streets reek of urine from pippi savage (wild peeing). Now a team of entrepreneurs has developed a clever solution to this urban menace. The Uritrottoir (the name combines the words for urinal and pavement) is … Continue reading →

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Tourists Go Home

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Last week, the city of Barcelona finally said enough to uncontrolled tourism. The municipal government voted to impose the most sweeping ban on tourist accommodations seen anywhere in Europe, along with added measures to regain control of the city from … Continue reading →

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Kafka : On The Cheap

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

During the summer of 1911, Franz Kafka and his friend Max Brod took a railway journey through Switzerland and France. While they were hanging out in Lugano, Switzerland, Kafka hit on a novel notion for “reforming” the traditional staid travel … Continue reading →

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Hashtag Tourism

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The always inventive urban transit cartographer Jug Cerovic has teamed up with graphic designer Andrea Rohner and software engineer David Goldwich to create a new travel website featuring metropolitan transit maps labeled with popular Instagram hashtags rather than subway stations. … Continue reading →

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Don’t Be Like These Tourists (Warning: Intense Images)

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Many years ago, I chose to cut short my visit to the Terezín Concentration Camp in the Czech Republic due to the obnoxious behavior of groups of adolescents who laughed, joked, and generally clowned around with total disregard for the … Continue reading →

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Taking It to the Streets

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Most tourists who visit Paris take some sort of souvenir home. Many choose the cliché mini Eiffel Tower or even spring for some gourmet treats from Fauchon. Now travelers truly smitten with France’s capital can own an actual piece of … Continue reading →

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Europe on $5 a Day

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The notion of traveling around Europe on $5 a day seems preposterous in 2017, but back in 1957 it was a reality for frugal savvy travelers. This year the guidebook, which came before Let’s Go Europe, Lonely Planet, or Rick Steves Guides, is celebrating … Continue reading →

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Pure Aesthetic Enjoyment

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I have only visited Alaska during the early days of autumn, but after seeing this stunning video I’m reconsidering a winter time trip. Filmed by London-based cinematographer Tom Welsh during a week long visit this New Year by train, plane, … Continue reading →

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