Tag Archives: Spain

How Cool Is This

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

If you have ever visited southern Spain during warm weather months, you are well aware that the sun can be brutal and keeping cool can be a real challenge. Well, the pretty town of Alhaurin de la Torre near Torremolinos … Continue reading →

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Flamboyant Gothic Meets Street Art

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I love it when historical and modern art forms come together, so of course this amazing project caught my attention. To celebrate the 800th anniversary of the groundbreaking for the Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Santa María de Burgos … Continue reading →

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Art House

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

The Spanish street artist known as Okuda San Miguel recently brought his signature style to a blighted neighborhood in Fort Smith, Arkansas . His project, “The Rainbow Embassy,” was organized by  Justkids for the Unexpected , a group trying to revitalize economically … Continue reading →

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No Losers In This War

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

In 1981 the Spanish town of Ibi revived the 200 year-old tradition of the Els Enfarinats Festival. On December 28th each year a mock war takes place around the town hall. A group of local married men, called “els Enfarinats,” … Continue reading →

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Bookstore Cat

Posted on December 7, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Old Books with Cat, Barcelona, Photo by Francesc Català-Roca, 1953 Homage to Catalonia    

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All Roads Lead To Rome (eventually)

Posted on March 16, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Once again, Chicago-based cartographer and artist Sasha Trubetskoy has created an amazing transit-themed map based on the ancient Roman road network. This terrific example, Roman Roads of Iberia, is based on historic sources and covers the period of the First Century BC … Continue reading →

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Tilting At Windmills

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Don Quixote of the Mancha re-told by Judge Parry Illustrated by Walter Crane London Blackie & Son Limited 1900 First Edition thus  

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Confusion of Confusions

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

With all of the recent maddening gyrations in the world’s stock markets, maybe the capitalist nabobs pulling the strings could benefit from perusing this 17th century financial guide recently up for auction by Sotheby’s Rare Book and Manuscript auctioneers. The … Continue reading →

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Books for Fighters

Posted on September 16, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

The sign in the photo taken in Barcelona in 1938 reads “give books to fighters”. The campaign collected reading material for anti-Fascist volunteers in the Spanish Civil War.

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Blue Mondays

Posted on August 27, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

This is what Monday morning looks like when you arrive to find the bookstore closed.

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