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Design and Art

Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Life of Luxury Oceania Partytime Relaxation Special Offers / Deals The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo

Right, said Fred again

We've featured Fred. Olsen cruises here -  they're one of our affiliate friends.  One of the reasons we like them is that they seem to come from a different angle than other cruise lines - a little playful, a little artistic. They also travel to places that are not frequented by other cruise lines.  And, in…
2021-11-130Comments

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Alternative Lifestyle Caribbean Design and Art Do Something Different For Women Only Fun Inspiration Life of Luxury Lifestyle Relaxation Special Offers / Deals

Just itching to go

If you're a regular of our site, you'll know that we're fans of Sir Richard Branson, he of the Virgin empire.  Yes, he's wealthy, but we feel like his heart (and wallet) are in the right place. Well, hold your breath and have a look at Moskito Island.  Sir Richard owns the entire island, near Virgin…
2021-11-130Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Health Life of Luxury Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Places Special Interest Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Here’s looking at Loo, kid

Loo =  toilet (UK) Public works are often joyless, utilitarian, just-get-it-done affairs.  Whether it's a road, or a bridge or even public restrooms, it makes you wonder why a little je ne sais quoi can't be in the building specifications. Happily, though, that's not always the case.  And here are some fine examples of where good taste…
2021-11-120Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Fun Nature & the Environment North America Outdoors Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual

Aria of the desert

Isn't it a delight when you run across something so unusual, so unexpected and somewhat puzzling, as well?  We here at Matouring love that kind of thing - it gives us faith that not is all normal all of the time. Here is an example: Marta Becket's Amargosa Opera House.  Located on a barren junction of…
2021-11-110Comments

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Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink Fun LGBTQ Life of Luxury Lifestyle Partytime Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo Unusual World Culture

Even the building is McChic

Who doesn't love Paris?  The home of art, style, fashion, history and style. Especially the latter.  Paris is SO chic that even its McDonalds is skinny. Close to Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris, it is located in a timberframe building and extremely narrow. The interior of this restaurant is very special too. Decorations in the same…
2021-11-100Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only History Nature & the Environment North America Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo Unusual World Culture

Stave awake

Talk about accuracy.  Have you heard of Stave churches?  When the Viking finally converted to Christianity (11th to 12th century) they certainly did it in style. The churches themselves are made entirely of wood, often without even nails or screws. Their name comes from the unique post-and-lintel system used in construction—thick wooden posts known as…
2021-11-100Comments

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Activity Caribbean Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual

Message in a bottle

Sending out an SOS . .  Some things are just not meant to be. The beautiful island of Montserrat is known for many things - breathtaking - almost otherworldly - scenery, surrounded by glorious seas, world-class architecture and, at one point, one of the top recording studios in the world. George Martin (probably the fifth…
2021-11-100Comments

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

Prosaic mosaic

As we humans (supposedly) get smarter, we should also do smart things.  That's not always the case, but here it is.  In 2010, workers encountered an especially impressive mosaic while digging the foundation for a new hotel in Antakya, Turkey. They found an ancient mosaic measuring 9,000 square feet, making it the largest intact mosaic ever…
2021-11-060Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Fun Inspiration Middle East Special Interest Spend Wisely Sponsorship Sustainability The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Miles of tiles

Many specialist skills, those creating and molding incredible pieces over the decades, have long since disappeared into our overall void of mass-manufactured sameness.  But, fortunately, there are those who still carry the torch of the artisan.  Saied Hussain has been hand making tiles out of cement for over 50 years. He says he’s one of the…
2021-11-020Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Life of Luxury Romance Special Interest The Thinking Traveller

Like, how much actual money is there in the world?

If you added up all the money from all the countries in the world, how much would it amount to?  The short answer is, probably a lot. All jokes aside, to make this question answerable, let's start by asking, "How much money is there in actual United States dollars?" Since the statistics for the U.S. are…
2021-11-020Comments

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

Distinctive and immediately recognizable

The architecture of Japan is one of the things that sets the country apart from others. It's very distinctive and immediately recognizable, and something whose charm beckons out to many tourists. While in cities like Tokyo, where landscapes change continuously as older buildings give way to new and modern ones, there are areas where you can take a look…
2021-11-020Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History Lifestyle Partytime Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Uh . . . coffee-flavoured coffee?

Nearly every expat or regular visitor can remember their first words in Spanish. They may not be the first you were taught, or learned from a self-teaching course pack, but the ones that most stuck in your head, or the first sentence you were able to pronounce without hesitating. But did you know that there's more…
2021-11-010Comments

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

Wonders worth searching for

Many of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World collapsed into rubble a long time ago. The Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria, both of which were destroyed by earthquakes. Some of these wonders perhaps never existed at all, like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. We are going to take a look at…
2021-10-310Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun Health Life of Luxury Outdoors Relaxation Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Liechtenswhere?

One of the only two doubly landlocked nations in the world, the ‘Principality of Liechtenstein’ is unquestionably a European country worth exploring. As of July 2010, the nation accommodates a meagre population of 35,002. It is widely acknowledged as a tax haven and was accused of assisting wealthy Germans in tax evasions involving millions of Euros. Liechtenstein…
2021-10-300Comments

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Adventure Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History Nature & the Environment North America Outdoors Partytime Places Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Dome sweet dome

As we travel the world, not only do we become familiar with the unfamiliar, but we also, over time, see past the obvious and start to focus on the unremarkable or the unusual.  Sometimes it's a reflex action, other times it just drifts into our conciousness. One of those times is when you start to…
2021-10-280Comments

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Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Inspiration Life of Luxury Lifestyle Places Special Interest Spend Wisely Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Never too small

There's a wonderful series on YouTube called Never Too Small.  It's short videos created by clever (usually young) people who, by choice or by necessity have taken an often tiny space and turned it into a comfortable and sensible dwelling. What we like about this channel is that, although the individuals have likely been forced…
2021-10-280Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Lelijk!

We love Europe - that's no surprise to anyone who visits our site.  The variety, the history, the diversity and the beauty.   But not always the latter.  Even stylish Europe has its exceptions.  In this case, Belgium is the culprit.  You might see a Belgian house and scratch your head and mumble "why?" Well, someone has risen…
2021-10-270Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

Harvey, get serious!

For those of you who are vaguely aware of Harvey Nichols (Harvey Nick's) in London, you might recall them as being targeted toward a more upper-crust audience.  Perhaps a bit dry. But, if you haven't had a look lately, you're in for a treat, especially if you're the playful type, no matter what your age.…
2021-10-250Comments

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