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Europe

Europe

IV drip trips

We're not sure if this is a trend, or a reaction, but we're seeing more and more wellness solutions appearing in the news and in our mailboxes. Why is this?  Are these jokes, snake-oil salespeople, misguided wellness gurus or . . . a real thing?  Something to think about when you click on a link or…

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The hills are alive…

... with the sound of savings! Chances are, when you think of visiting Europe, you might find yourself defaulting to the "classic" locations:  Italy, Spain, France etc.  And as much as we love those places, too, there are so many other countries that are "bubbling under" that deserve a little love from you. One of…

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The German village that got lost

Europe is a very organised place.  It has to be, with 27 different countries, almost as many languages and 447.7 million inhabitants, it's pretty big, too.  Of course, that's also what makes it such a fun place to visit.  Peaceful, prosperous, progressive and ever-changing, it's a travel destination that never gets boring. But, even with those…

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War is over (if you want)

It will be trite to say too much about how awful war is.  You would think that after all of these decades and thousands lost, humanity would get the point that war is not a solution.  And yet, war marches on. It is useful to look back and reflect (and perhaps learn) on all that has…

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Sleepwalk on the water

How often do you have a dream come true?  This one almost defies belief, and certainly exceeds expectations. Once a monastery, Argos in Cappadocia is an exclusive hotel featuring elegant rooms with elaborate stone carvings and antique furnishings. Some of the suites even have a private indoor pool, perfect for guests dreaming about a romantic…

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Sleeping village

This article will either make you shake with fright, long for your teenage years   . .  or both. Designers are clever, especially when it comes to transforming something simple and relaxing into the stuff of nightmares.  It doesn't take much, and our imaginations have a tendency to run away from reality, especially when you desire that. And,…

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RUN! HURRY! THE MATTERHORN IS MELTING!!

They keep warning us about global warming but, for some reason, we don't listen. The Matterhorn is global warming’s latest victim.  Researchers installed 50 movement sensors at 13,000 feet to monitor how the mountain is coping with rising temperatures and melting permafrost, the layer of frozen soil beneath the Earth’s surface. They found developing and expanding fissures…

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A walk around the block

Wide open spaces.  Free to roam. Fresh air. Peace and quiet. As quiet as a mouse.  “Listen to the silence. It has so much to say." But maybe not here.  Watch as Tim Traveller poses the question "Today this channel asks another vitally important question: where should I live if I want to have the largest…

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The town in Spain with two time zones

Even the church looks surprised. Rihonor de Castilla is a town in Castilla y León with just over 100 inhabitants. Despite its small size, it can boast of being the only town in Spain with two time zones. How is it possible? Because, in reality, it belongs to two countries, Spain and Portugal. The village is situated to…

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Rick Steves believes

We love to travel, and we've been to (or lived in) more than thirty five countries in our lives.  We hope that you'll keep us in mind when you look for travel options.  We focus on self-travel options, but also have excellent tour companies, too.  See G Adventures, below. But, if you're looking for something else…

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Here’s a thought . . . why not take it easy?

It will likely come as no surprise to you that Scandinavian countries are regularly ranked at the top of the healthiest and happiest countries in the world.  Why? The Scandinavian diet is focuses on reducing starchy carbohydrates and substituting those calories with generous servings of healthy proteins, such as locally-sourced, cold-water fish, and organic vegetables. Scandinavians also…

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Conversations with the trees

They can hear you, you know . . . The hippies never really went away, and that's a good thing.  What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?  But, the hippie movement has changed shape over the decades, especially since we now better understand that we must partner with Mother Nature rather than subdue her. Thankfully, there…

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ROAMania

If you're a walker, we have some good news for you, indeed. Romania is in the midst of building a 1,400km walking / hiking trail traversing the entire country. The Via Transilvanica will stretch from the country’s northern border all the way to the south and the Danube, at the crossroads of Central, Eastern and Southeastern…

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There’s a Python in your shrubbery

We love Monty Python.  At the age of 12 we rolled on the floor, in hysterics, wondering what they would do next.  Our Welsh father never got it, but we did. Times changed and so did Python.  They went their separate ways, almost all going on to further successes and fortunes. Michael Palin, however, branched off to…

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Monaco-habitation

You can have it all, but sometimes Mother Nature stops you.  Take Monaco, for example.  In case you're unaware, Monaco is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the most expensive and…

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Mudlarking

If you're a regular reader here at Matouring, you'll know how much we love London.  We lived there and explored nearly every nook and cranny of that most celebrated of cities.  And every time we return, we find new gems to squeal about. One activity that you may not think about when in The Smoke is…

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Less guilty pleasures

As we always say, there's no getting around getting around.  Sometimes you want to, sometimes you have no choice.  And, given the fragile state of Mother Earth at the time of this writing, we humans really need to think long and hard about where we go, when we go and why. With that in mind, sometimes…

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