Amsterdam is commemorating the 400th anniversary of its iconic canals by selling souvenir sets of Amsterdam Canal Aqua. The four bottle set, which retails for €50, is filled from the Singel, Prinsengracht, Herengracht and Keizersgracht. Each bottle is labeled with a brief history of the canal and a QR-code which shows the precise spot where the water was retrieved. Obviously, the bottled water is for decorative purposes only and should not be drunk—duh.
San Franciscan Nate Bolt must have some influential friends at the New York Public Library. Either that, or he’s a real fast talker, because someone allowed him to fly a drone equipped with a GoPro camera around the iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building one recent night. Thoughtfully waiting until the library closed, the drone was flown on visits to Astor hall, the Map Division and the world-renowned Rose Main Reading Room.
On my recent visits to Paris, I noticed that the Metro was more crowded than ever.But it seemed that Parisians were relatively civil compared to subway riders in NYC, or even London. So, I was a bit surprised to see a new “rule book” for travelers published by RATP, the company that runs the Metro system.
The handbook, titled “An Etiquette manual for the Modern Traveler”, was created based on complaints from Metro riders. passengers submitted thousands of suggestions, which were pared down to 12 rules for riders.
Anyone who has traveled the Metro during warm weather months will appreciate rule #3: “On really hot days, even an emperor penguin needs to keep his arms close to his body, so grab the bottom of the post and not the top.”
The rule book, which is available on line here, is a follow-up to a poster campaign launched this summer by RAPT aimed at schooling Metro riders on civil behavior.
For some bibliophiles the humble bookmark is an essential reading companion. I have some fantastic examples—nearly all gifts of course—but as often as not I resort to bits of paper, folded post-it notes or random ephemera to mark my place.
But even negligent reader like me wouldn’t miss a chance to use these incredible bookmarks from Turkish illustrator and designer Ethem Onur Bilgiç. Created to celebrate and accompany iconic Penguin Classic editions, these canny bookmarks would charm any booklover—and never get separated from their matching titles either.
There’s never a dull moment when daredevils of Frenchies’ Flying Circus challenge all notions of what the circus can be. “From Spain to Scotland, Brussels to Brévent, traveling by air, land and sea, they hit the road tumbling, flying, gliding and sliding their way across Europe.”
Extreme filmmaker and photographer Seb Montaz documents the gravity-defying insanity of the fearless Frenchies in his wildly entertaining film “Petit Bus Rouge”. You too can experience a slice of the world of mad clowns, acrobats, highliners, and paragliders. And if you find that you crave more of their exhilarating shenanigans, visit their website and download the entire breathtaking film. But beware; it’s not for the fainthearted or acrophobic.
The Belgium-based international crew at Khuan+Ktron are gaining renown for their whimsical, colorful and eccentric work. They’ve built a solid reputation with off-beat typographics, books, posters, infographics, brochures, ad work and lots of magazine covers. This set of marvelous maps is just the ticket on a gloomy winter’s day to lift the traveler’s spirit.
Launched just about a year ago, Wildsam Field Guides travel series just released its new San Francisco edition. Joining Nashville and Austin editions, this terrific travel guidebook is rich in local lore, city heritage, wonderful illustrations—like artist Lisa Congdon‘s Golden Gate above—and marvelous hand-drawn maps.
Editor Taylor Bruce describes the books as a “new American travel series with a byegone sense of place.” With a decidedly retro, handmade (in the best sense) feel, the Wildsam Field Guides offer a refreshing take on the locally sourced travel guide with a literary vibe.
You can purchase the books individually, or in a handsome three guide—Nashville, Austin, San Francisco—card stock sleeve.
Overlooking the Tungurahua volcano near Banos de Agua Santa, about 90 miles from Quito, Ecuador, the “swing at the end of the world” is a tempting adventure for thrill seeking travelers, but not for me. Tethered to a rickety-looking wooden treehouse, the swing offers a breathtaking aerial panorama at more than 2,600 meters. By the way, Tungurahua, which means “throat of fire” in Quechua, last erupted in early November.
If you are a regular reader of Travel Between The Pages (and why wouldn’t you be), then you are well aware of my undying affection for vintage travel posters. I am always dazzled by the brilliant graphic design work, particularly the Deco posters that advertised all modes of mid-twentieth century transportation. I recently ran across these marvelous vintage posters that seem to be from the early twenties to the forties. Most are for Imperial Airways which was a predecessor of today’s British Airways. Wouldn’t you love to take an air voyage on one of these amazing flying boats?
Travel Between The Pages followers know by now that I suffer from a serious case of O.C.D.—Obsessive Coffee Dependence. Whenever I plan a trip finding the best coffehouses, artisanal roasters and cafes is an uppermost priority. My iPhone and iPad suffer from a glut of coffeeshop finding apps. So I’m a big fan of the London-based independent publisher Blue Cow Media. The firm is building an international reputation with brilliant apps—developed with local experts—and clever maps for locating coffee spots, craft beer brewers, bars and restaurants in London, LA, NYC, San Francisco and Paris.
Now the shrewd bunch has launched a set of coffee-centric maps for NYC, Paris and London. Printed on high quality, recycled paper, the no-frills maps get right to the nitty-gritty with locations for to coffeeshops serving beans from leading artisanal roasters. If you too suffer from Obsessive Coffee Dependence, or you know someone with the disorder, you can order the maps right here.
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