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Design and Art

Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink Fun History Nature & the Environment Partytime Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Sing a song of Shetland

We would expect that many of you have watched the excellent and riveting police drama, Shetland, on Netflix (or other providers.)  Unlike many police series, Shetland seems to have a base in genuine kindness and thoughts of well-being for others, rather than just a hail of bullets like so many other shows. Shetland itself is an…
2022-01-210Comments

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Africa Design and Art History Inspiration Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Partytime Rest of World Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

$700,000,000 homes and ten car garages.

If you think you know Africa, think again.  The country - and its entrepreneurs are not getting left behind.  Brains and guts exist in every country, and Africa on that list. The Real Wakanda is where oil magnates, textile queenpins, and construction autocrats come home to gargantuan mansions. Africa is home to 1.2 billion inhabitants, and has…
2022-01-200Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only History Inspiration Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Why? Because we’re the VatiCAN!

If you haven't visited the Vatican in Rome, please be sure to add it to your list.  Not only are the Vatican buildings, themselves, incredible, but the Vatican museum will blow your mind. As you may know, the Vatican itself is an independent city-state and enclave located within Rome, Italy and it is a distinct…
2022-01-200Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History Meditation Mindfulness Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

The hiding boneyard appears

We love Italy, in all of its manic, passionate, explosive, colourful and diverse personality.  Everyday living there almost pushes the best of everyone into living life to the fullest, if not the extreme. And, it has always been this way - for thousands of years.  And, so we are fortunate to live in a day…
2022-01-170Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Nature & the Environment North America Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

OMG . . LA is so HOLLOW

Los Angeles is often painted as being a vain and vapid place.  All looks and no substance.  Bring your alibis.  (We rather like the place.) But, to be honest, some of LA is, indeed hollow and in some places, shallow.  Some of its buildings, in fact. And they hide an interesting and still relevant and…
2022-01-150Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Nature & the Environment Oceania Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Yes you can Canberra

Sydney is a hard act to follow, when it comes to being in the league of World's Best Cities.  If you've been, you'll never forget it.  If you haven't been, well what are you waiting for? But, Sydney is not the only notable city in Oz.   Meet Canberra – Purpose built as Australia’s capital city, Canberra…
2022-01-150Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Only the hard, only the strong

Unlike other great cities of ancient fame such as Rome, Athens or Jerusalem, Sparta seems to have disappeared off the map. What remains of the legendary town? A name? An archaeological site? A historical memory? That memory, if it exists at all, is often of a city-state with a mania for martial valour and athleticism, a…
2022-01-140Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Caribbean Design and Art Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Oceania Partytime Romance Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo

Why U?

Why u?  This is not your father's cruise ship. Designed as the first river cruise catering to a more trendy audience, U River Cruises features more experiential itineraries that allow passengers to connect with the cities the boats visit and the people who live there. The ships themselves look nothing like what you might expect: …
2022-01-130Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History Special Interest Sustainability The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Nyet, da, Nyet

Once a German city before World War Two and physically unrelated from the remainder of Russia, Kaliningrad is still an enigma to many mainland Russians and their European next-door neighbours. Still, how does a 50-year-old unfinished building inform the complicated history of the Kaliningrad and inspire the restoration of other nearby dilapidated crumbling buildings? Watch the video…
2022-01-130Comments

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Activity Adventure Central & South America Design and Art Do Something Different For Women Only History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Partytime Relaxation Romance The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Hola, Ilha Bay

Who can resist the allure of Brasil?  So diverse, and rich in adventure. A legacy of history that goes back hundreds of years.  And a people who love life and aren't afraid to show it. When most people think of Brasil, they think of Rio, and rightly so.  But, if you're not most people, you might…
2022-01-130Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Knights of Sin(tra)

In case you've not yet been (and you should!) Sintra is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera.  Known for its spectacularly coloured buildings, it also has a long history with the legendary Knights Templar. One of the most fascinating features of Sintra is it's so-called Inverted…
2022-01-120Comments

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Africa Design and Art Do Something Different Food and Drink Inspiration Life of Luxury Middle East Partytime Relaxation Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Take a tour of the Emirates

Surprise!  This is actually a tour of the sumptuous Emirates Airbus A380, and will be worth every minute of your time. These yachts of the airwaves were almost put out to pasture with the Covid-19 pandemic.  With 400+ seats and breathtaking style and luxury, the A380 was almost anathema, when no-one was flying.  The Boeing 747…
2022-01-110Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

The Cromlech Manoeuver

We humans may think of ourselves as very smart, but those who know that they don't know much at all are, honestly, the smartest.  But, at least they try. One enduring pursuit of knowledge about humanity's past is the drive and passion to understand the past.  We can literally touch so many historical artifacts, and may…
2022-01-110Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Wiki peeks

We sometimes forget about Wikipedia.  It's always there, constantly refreshing itself, bedazzling us with the world's collective knowledge -  and it's free.  (They operate on donations.  We donate, do you?) One of the marvelous aspects of Wikipedia is the depth and breadth of their offering.  One of which is the annual "Wiki Loves Monuments" competion. Every participating…
2022-01-110Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History Life of Luxury Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

The hotel that isn’t

There are few things more intoxicating than being able to stay in a luxurious, lauded and visually stunning hotel.  Europe is full of them. But there is one hotel that is a hotel, but actually it's not a hotel.  Luckily, you can explore it anyway.  We're talking about the Hotel Solvay in Belgium.  Listed as a UNESCO…
2022-01-060Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History Life of Luxury Partytime Relaxation Special Offers / Deals The Thinking Traveller World Culture

M’lord, m’lady

Have you seen the world?  Have you been there, done that?  Do you want more?  Well, as always, Matouring comes to the rescue with something more. Fit for a king or queen—or your whole royal family—these castles located in delightful destinations around Europe invite you and your kin or friends for an unforgettable stay in…
2022-01-060Comments

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Adventure Africa Design and Art Europe Fun History Middle East Nature & the Environment Outdoors Rest of World Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Get Hippodrome

As ever, the world is swirled and twirled by events, people and time itself.  Even the most powerful must take our last breaths. And where would this addage be more appropriate than in the lands where kings, queens, power, priviledge and treachery were business-as-usual. Of course, we're talking about ancient history (as we do,) and in this…
2021-12-310Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Europe History Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Plane train

Despite covid and all of the fistfights we hear about nowadays, air travel is still a marvelous thing.  Spectacular locations matched to state-of--the art-aircraft are still the thing of dreams.   Wouldn't it be nice if we could go forward and and backward at the same time?   If you're one of those romantic types, read on here... courtesy…
2021-12-290Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History LGBTQ Partytime Relaxation Romance Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

No tell Motel

It always seems like "what goes around, comes around."  The new new. The latest and greatest are not really the latest.  They've been around the block before.  Been there, done that. But, sometimes that's not a bad thing, especially if the old new is new old, if you know what we mean. In this case, our subject…
2021-12-290Comments

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