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Design and Art

Design and Art

No fun Kofun

Japan is a glorious place, with charming people and an endless supply of things to see and do. But, one of the most intriguing are the Mozu / Kofu burial tombs just outside of Osaka.  The only problem is that you can't actually see much of these marvels.  (Still worth visiting, though.) Although the iconic Mozu Tombs…

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Moscow, now

Russia, in particular Moscow, has so many magnificent buildings, structures and the accompanying history that goes with them, that it should definitely be on your "must see" list if it isn't already. One thing that the Russians should be proud of is their capacity to rehabilitate forlorn structures into the original magnificence that they once had. The…

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The party’s over

Like all of us, eventually we need to retire.  And so do ships (and planes.) We have all likely been on at least one cruise, and you'll comprehend the scope and size of those behemoths of the seas.  But, have you given any thought when it's time for the ship to be put to pasture? It's a…

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In the zone

The EU (European Union) is a powerful and rather marvelous thing to behold.  In addition to corralling 27 disparate countries into a unified and progressive force, they also respect and hold true the values that all countries should aspire to. So, it is both a joy to see that the EU will be including Croatia under…

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BRB!

We here at Matouring are of the opinion that our lovely readers are of the fun, adventurous and curious types.  You like the "new" and are always craving something different. With that in mind, here we'd like to tell you about our affilate friends BRB (Be Right Back) who feature a fun twist on travel:…

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Take your time

There are so many wonderful family-run hotels and inns around the world.  You'll do well to stay there, rather than anonymous hotels. We're featuring The Barachois Inn here for a number of reasons, but one particularly caught our eye:  you know that a place means what it says about its values when it endeavours to…

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Supper’s ready

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused pandemonium everywhere, especially when it comes to the world of tourism. As you'll know, Leonardo DaVinci's Last Supper is one of the most visited and admired tourist attractions in the world.  It did not escape the travel drought, either.   But, happily, it is now open again for you to visit. The Santa…

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“Ancient” technology?

We often tend to give short shrift to ancient technologies.  We can see the lineage in our modern world, but often assume that everything was more-or-less created in the past hundred years or so. A hundred and twenty years ago, divers discovered a shipwreck off the island of Antikythera in Greece. What they found changed our…

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VRtigo

Although the world is starting to open up again, from the Covid-19 pandemic, it can still be a bit of a dicey proposition:  you never know when someone won't be "cooperating" with the efforts to quell the pandemic.  And, there is always the chance that your flight will be surreptitiously cancelled. Well, if you're still clamouring…

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Weekly . . perhaps, weakly

The week is the most artificial and recent of our time counts yet it’s impossible to imagine our shared lives without it. Among many collective discoveries during the pandemic confinement of 2020, Americans learned just how attached we are to our seven weekdays. As complaints about temporal disorientation mounted that April, we focused not on the clock…

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The fifteen minute city

The world is certainly not getting any smaller, that's for sure.  And its capacity to hold us all is starting to become a strain on the planet.  But, as ever, there are clever humans who have ideas. The 15-minute city urban theory received the 2021 Obel Prize in recognition of the concept's value for creating sustainable…

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NYC . . . thin on the ground

As if encountering wafer-thin fashion models as they strut down Fifth Avenue in New York City  isn't enough to discombobulate your sense of self, now the high-rise apartments are getting into the act. New York has always been home to some of the world’s tallest towers, but in the last 10 years the city has seen…

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Och aye the noo

Och aye the noo = An archetypal example of an overt Scotticism is "Och aye the noo", which translates as "Oh yes, just now". But, it doesn't stray too far from its roots.  And, luckily for us, we are learning more and more about history - Scottish in this case.  Read more here courtesy of NationalGeoraphic.co.uk Booking.com AutoEurope…

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The oldest buildings in Canada

We have to chuckle a bit at this article - the oldest buildings in Canada .  We lived in London where we almost rented a house that was built in the 1400's, so considering that one of the oldest places in Vancouver is from 1921, it's not much of a comparison. But, fair is fair and Canada…

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Light, cameras, action!

If you find yourself hang-gliding through enemy airspace, you'll want to have the best camera to capture the evidence. This also applies if you like taking pictures of bunnies, or raindeer, or Big Foot.  Having the right kit makes all the difference in the world. Read here about some nice, but not expensive, cameras to take into…

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Say what? A virgin adults-only cruise?

Virgin and adult?  Yes, you heard that right.  Make no mistake about it.  It's the real deal.  Step right up. This is far from your ordinary cruising experience. Virgin Voyages provides a sanctuary at sea with their superyacht-inspired vessels, modern take on staterooms, and array of exciting offerings. And our affiliate friends at Avoya have…

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Walk with the Pharoahs

Praise the Pharoahs!  At last, the miracle mile is cleared for us mortals. Egyptian authorities have unveiled a renovated ancient promenade in the city of Luxor that dates back 3,000 years. It's the latest government project undertaken to highlight the country's archaeological treasures. Read more here courtesy of ABC.net.au KLM fly to Cairo. Click above, Booking.com

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Where is Ultraman when you need him?

It is so nice to see when something actually means something to the people around it, and that they treasure it and preserve it. Especially when it is larger than life. Sendai Daikannon, officially known as the Sendai Tendou Byakue Daikannon, is a large statue of Byakue Kannon bearing a gem in her hand located…

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Watch for low-flying planes

Wanna get high? Dubai has turned breaking world records into something of an art form over the years, and the emirate now has yet another to add to its list. The world's first and highest 360-degree infinity pool has just opened at the Palm Tower, a hotel and residential building from developer Nakheel that offers showstopping views…

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