Tag Archives: Paris

Not a scientific survey

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

“An Italian, speaking English, rating croissants on YouTube, in Paris, while the French people are doing a massive strike. That’s the magic of Europe in one video!” Over the last week or so, I’ve run across the wonderful short video … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Amélie the spy

Posted on March 23, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

In my humble opinion no film in the last 50 years has done more for Paris tourism than Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s charming Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain. Best know in the U.S. as simply Amélie, the 2001 movie stars Audrey Tautou … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Film | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

“Mourir auprès de toi”

Posted on March 18, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Directed by the inimitable Spike Jonze the short film “Mourir auprès de toi” (“To Die by Your Side”), which takes its title from one of the emotionally wrenching Smiths’ song, is a love story for booklovers, set in Paris’ beloved … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Art, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Film | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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 , | 4 Comments

Archives of the Planet

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

In 1908, French financier Albert Kahn created a project that aimed to photograph the diversity of humanity across the planet. He hired 12 photographers to capture images of everyday life and culture around the globe. His staff traveled to 50 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Asia, Europe, History, Middle East, Museums, Photography, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

To Airbnb or not Airbnb

Posted on January 8, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Like millions of other travelers, I have used the accommodation service with mostly positive results. Lately though, it seems that most stories about Airbnb range from negative to nightmarish. Still, Airbnb remains the most popular rental service in most markets. … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, Europe, Hotels, Maps, Tech, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

“The truth is that even big collections of ordinary books distort space, as can readily be proved by anyone who has been around a really old-fashioned secondhand bookshop, one that looks as though they were designed by M. Escher on … Continue reading →

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

Recognition At Last

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Each day, nearly 12 million French consumers visit a bakery and leave with an iconic loaf of bread. Each year, French bakeries produce more than 6 billion baguettes. It is an international symbol recognized as part of the daily life … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Down and Out in Paris and London

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Regular visitors to this humble blog are aware of my deep appreciation for George Orwell’s writing. I was chuffed to discover a new Orwell project set to launch this week. The Orwell Daily is a newletter which will offer tranches … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

write the truest sentence you know

Posted on October 7, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

“Sometimes when I was starting a new story and I could not get it going, I would sit in front of the fire and squeeze the peel of the little oranges into the edge of the flame and watch the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment