“The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.” In winding my way through the process of writing content for our site, it usually appears either in an almost dreamy, fully-formed shape, or it's something that I find myself scratching my head for hours just to try…
Adventure
Is this typical European efficiency or someone's idea of a joke. Or both? The Netherlands and Belgium share a 450 km border, which is notable for its complexity, particularly in the town of Baarle. This border is part of the Schengen Area, meaning there are no regular passport checks. The border's intricacies stem from historical treaties and land swaps, resulting…
Solid as a rock. You get what it says on the tin. With a name like Concrete, you can be sure that its solid as a rock. No fancy pantsy mumbo jumbo. Real. By now, we're pretty sure that you're confused with this post. What on earth does concrete have…
Kids these days, for the most part, have no idea of what the past was like, especially the 1960's and 1970's. They may have a parent or grandparent who can fill them in. The 1960s were a crucial, tumultuous decade defined by massive social, political, and cultural shifts, including the Civil Rights Movement, the rise…
That's history, sometimes. Especially if "the victors" win. And they usually do. The rest of us usually only find out much, much later. A good example is Chungking Mansions. Ring a bell? Likely not. Things like the subject matter here often submerge into anonymity, never to be referenced or…
When we hear the word UNESCO, it always gives us the feeling that the world, despite its fires, and bombs and hatred, we humans will do the right thing - which means turn things around as they are now - and come to our senses. It is a long uphill struggle, but one day,…
What makes Monaco such an exhilarating experience? Is it the wealth, or the history or even the views. It's all of that and more. But when you want to scale the height of heights and you can't quite find your way into the exalted gambling dens, lush restaurants and the sheer aroma of…
As of 2008, there are 6.831 billion of us on the planet. And that number is growing. We want all people to have a place to live and to have a good life. But how can we accommodate all of this growth? Build up is one option, but the height of…
The pull of the Danube River is indeed a powerful mix of romance and history, stemming from its unique role as a cultural artery that has shaped the heart of Central and Eastern Europe for millennia. Its appeal is rooted in a combination of its grand scale, its physical beauty, and its function as a…
Yes, Yucan Yucatan! Or loads of other fabulous locations, too. You won't run out of things to do! The Yucatán Peninsula is an exciting and out-of-the-ordinary place for a holiday due to its unique combination of ancient history, natural wonders, and vibrant modern culture. It offers experiences far beyond a typical beach getaway.…
We're back on our never-ending sojourn about why leaving the car behind is such a good idea. There are numerous statistics from government and research bodies that show why trains and buses are often a much better choice than driving a car, particularly in terms of safety, environmental impact, and cost. Here are a…
We history buffs sure have it good. In "olden times" discovery of impressive historical finds was a crap shoot at best, or a defeating adventure where the curious ended up with nothing in hand. Still, we tip our hats to those adventurers of yore who piqued our interest of history and gave…
Hoo boy, we've got to tread lightly with this post. It can be a slippery slope. But at least it's not us this time making a stink. When you gotta go, you gotta go. You would think that when you're on a cruise ship, surrounded by water and other passengers who…
Now and Zen. We're always pleased to be asked to join compatible travel companies to share their wares to our readers. We look at that as a "thumbs up" . . . that we're doing an OK job with Matouring. It can be a moving target: there is so much variety…
As a species, we've done pretty well, if you can ignore wars, debauchery and outright badness. But what is it that makes us do bad things to others, even when there is no viable reason for it. Not like it's a new thing: we've been doing it since we rose up from…
Who here doesn't love technology? Who doesn't love science fiction. Same. And who doesn't love London? If that's you, then you've come to the right post. Ever-inquisitive Japanese traveler, Kuga gets around. A lot We've featured him before. His videos are always a laugh and, even more, they're useful.…
We can't help it. If it's rail, we're there. Those of you who have stuck with us over the years know what we're talking about: rail travel. Do a search and you'll find dozens of posts here about this most intelligent mode of travel. A few years back, we featured…
Sometimes, taking a holiday can be a real drag. Either there is too much to do (most of which doesn't appeal to you, or its so ridiculously expensive that it's just not worth the price.) It's only a room, isn't it? Well, time to trust the Swedes. Home furnishings stalwarts, IKEA,…
Or have they? We love YouTube. Not only for what it offers, but also how it opens doors to the planet. Your editor is of an age where history is a big feature and, also, a reminder. The other day, a video popped up (above) showing Iran in the 1940s. (see above.) …
Tip-toe through the tulips. We're feeling a bit frisky for this post, hence the title. We suppose that it could remain the play on words in the title, and we're sure that most of you know what Encanta means, given that it is all over Disney products. But, we're not here to…