It’s that magical time of the week now when the BNT team rounds up the very best travel related links from around the web.

Actually, this Best of the Week is a day late, but Ian is busy playing firefighter in Penascola, Florida and Tim is trying to find shelter from a pounding rainstorm on the beach in Uruguay, so please bear with us.

Catherine Bennet’s biting condemnation of holidays in war ravaged countries provoked a lively discussion in the pages of the Guardian.

The Traveler’s Notebook offers an intriguing guide that explains how to travel by cargo ship.

Promised Land Closed? Sign-spotter Doug Lansky counts down his 10 favorite weird and random signs from around the world in this Worldhum audio slideshow. HILARIOUS.

I won’t struggle to connect this awesome article about country music and environmentalism to travel. I’ll just suggest you read it.

Finally, here’s a quick note from a Mom who worried about her daughters going off to travel, but now recognizes the value of “their brave faith in the world”.

Have a great Sunday afternoon everyone!

BNT contributing editor Tim Patterson travels with a sleeping bag and pup tent strapped to the back of his folding bicycle. His articles and travel guides have appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, Get Lost Magazine, Tales Of Asia and Traverse Magazine. Check out his Matador profile.