Category Archives: Tourism

Sunshine Express

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The new Florida intercity passenger rail system is called the Brightline, but I would have called it the Sunshine Express. Just my opinion, however I did live in the Sunshine State for most of my 20s and I just don’t get “Brightline”; it sounds like a … Continue reading →

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No Porn Involved

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

When I was in Amsterdam a few months ago, I got to spend some time in the rapidly evolving NDSM-werf section of Noord Amsterdam. Not long ago, this area, which once was home to an enormous shipbuilding and warehousing complex, … Continue reading →

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A Landmark Day For Landmarks

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

If you are the type of traveler who believes that visiting local historic sites offers unique and essential ways to experience and understand a place, then you will applaud this week’s announcement of the addition of twenty-four newly designated historic … Continue reading →

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No More Leftovers

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

On my most recent international trip I visited three countries that all used different currencies. By the time I got home, I had a baggie full of miscellaneous coins and bills that may never get used. Now, all of that … Continue reading →

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New York, New York

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

When Israeli director/animator/filmmaker Ynon Lan visited New York City for the first time, he recorded his impression in over 3,000 photographs. He then used 330 of the images of people, taxis, brownstones, and Starbucks to create a stop-motion film called Still … Continue reading →

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First Bedbugs, Now Germs

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Recently we have seen a spate of stories online and in travel publications about bedbugs in hotel rooms and filthy conditions in most airplanes. Some folks religiously clean their airline seats, arm rests, tray tables, and entertainment systems with anti-bacterial … Continue reading →

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Mini Metros

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Washington, D.C.-based graphic designer Peter Dovak has created a beautifully simplified series of transit maps for 220 metro and light rail systems from around the world. They might not help you get where you need to go, but they sure … Continue reading →

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Can Your E-Ticket Be Hacked

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

Can your e-ticket be hacked ? Sadly, the answer is yes. Recently, a team of hackers working with a group of German media organizations demonstrated just how simple it is to hack the six digit code on most airline e-tickets. … Continue reading →

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Airbnb : You know where, who knows when

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

During recent years, I’ve used a number of apartment and hotel booking services, but I get more questions from folks about Airbnb than any other company. A frequent question is how far in advance is it best to book a … Continue reading →

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If TripAdvisor Says So, It Must Be True

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

The travel company Thomson Holidays pulled data from TripAdvisor to create this infographic for the top tourist attractions around the world. We may have our personal doubts about the choices, but who are we to quibble with TripAdvisor users. Here’s … Continue reading →

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