If you have trouble standing on a chair to clean the curtains, then look away now. There is a "stairway to heaven" made of steel cables and it is the highlight of a climbing tour of the Donnerkogel, in Austria's Salzkammergut resort area. The 43-meter long sky high ladder is stretched over an abyss some…
Europe
There are few cities that are as appealing (and to some, daunting) as Moscow. It's history and "reputation" precede the city itself. But it would be a big mistake to miss it. Moscow is bound to be a special one. From the multicolored spires of St. Basil’s Cathedral to the sturdy red walls of the…
We love camping, and we love campervans even more, especially when they're the smart new models - good on petrol, good on space, good on the environment. We're also really happy to welcome our new affiliate friends, CamperDays.com Their portfolio includes up to 20,000 rental vehicles that can be booked directly in 24 countries on…
... just to tear it down, and mess it around? The Italian city that destroys itself: Here it was – the Catholic guilt. My fear of judgment, which had lain dormant for years since my schoolgirl days, now rose in my throat as I waited for the priest to exit the Church of Santo Gemine…
Some need that little extra push, or perhaps a bit of "what for." If you know someone who would benefit from some sharp-as-a-tack, quick-as-a-whip, stiff upper lip education, there can be no better place than in London. Home of stern educators such as Mary Poppins, Martin Chuzzlewit, Mr. Tomkinley, Melissa Wackles . . . the…
Well, not exactly, but we wonder if this will become a thing as airlines start to react to the climate situation. "Lufthansa is scrapping its shortest route, replacing the service with a bus. The route between Munich and Nuremberg is just 86 miles (138 km) as the crow flies. Lufthansa operates many domestic services across…
Oh, we go Ouigo! As if European rail wasn't as appealing as it is now, they've made it even better. High-speed train travel between Spain's most beautiful cities has no more reason to cost the earth, with Rail Europe opening ticket sales for OUIGO, Spain's new affordable train network. Prices can be as low as…
If you're into technology, or even futuristic films, you will no doubt be longing for the day when we can all have flying cars (I guess to go along with our floating apartments.) There have been many attempts at this kind of tech, but they never seem to go anywhere, pun intended. As you can…
INTERPOL. EUROPOL. SURVEILLANCE. EYE IN THE SKY. In early May 2021, a Belgian farmer hit international news when he moved a stone out of the way of his tractor, and accidentally shifted the French-Belgian border 2.3m into France. Or did he? Is it actually possible to move a border just by moving a stone? And…
We periodically write about Wales, in the UK. Most tourists think of England or Scotland as destinations in the UK, but you should really also give Wales a try if you haven't already. Why? Well, first of all, the countryside itself is lush and untouched. Wales has been able to avoid some of the creeping…
At the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains in northwest Azerbaijan, lies Parigala, one of the world’s most impressive archeological mysteries. The Azerbaijani name, Pəriqala, literally means Fairy Castle Carved into the nearly vertical face of a rock cliff, the centuries-old structure remains a mystery that hardly anyone knows anything about. The site consists of a…
Actually - this is what we meant by getting high. (Photo: Alberto Pinto)
With big success comes big responsibility - and big toys. The Boeing 747 BBJ is the world’s largest private jet. With only a handful of examples in the world, it’s a rare bird. Even rarer is the Parisian design house Alberto Pinto-designed…
...and pink champagne on ice? We are all just prisoners here . . . oh wait, wrong references. Being one of the oldest civilisations on Earth, Europeans have a lot to show for it. Even beyond the splendors of Rome or Athens, there were generations and generations of forbearers who walked - and as it…
This is astounding. It almost defies belief, but the Chinese are behind it, so it could very well happen. Their abilities are legend. China wants to build a $200 billion underwater train to the United States. The China-Russia-Canada-America line would be the most expensive megaproject in history and take years to complete. The biggest engineering…
Free as a bird. The sky's the limit. 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky. It's a mackerel sky. Reach for the sky. Out of a clear blue sky. Sky high. Sky dive. Lucy in the sky. Sky rocket. Vanilla sky. Make a beeline for the treeline. You can see the forest for the trees. …
If this story doesn't describe the European zeitgeist, then very few will. As you likely know, Pablo Picasso had an insatiable appetite for life. And he painted a bit, too. But now, a canvas bequeathed to Greece by Pablo Picasso will return on display at the freshly updated Greek National Gallery in Athens after its…
Europe is a well-known and well-traversed part of the world. We love it and can't get enough of it. But, there are some places that are still bubbling under, just waiting for (or hiding from) the crowds. One such place is Georgia - in particular, Vardzia. Vardzia-Khertvisi, comprising a vast territory in the upper reaches…
We're happy to announce that Matouring is now an affiliate of Fred Olsen cruises. One of the things we like about Fred Olsen is the playful approach they have to cruises and touring. They're a not the biggest name in the cruise industry, but being family-run, they can do things the way they want, and…
We're very excited to welcome a new affiliate friend, one who has always been a favourite of not only much of Europe, but also of the smarter half of the Matouring.com team.
We are, of course, talking about Desigual. As they say themselves, "In reality, Desigual isn’t a brand. It’s a group of people who believe…
British blood flows through the veins for some of us here at Matouring.com, so we are super chuffed* to add British Airways as one of our valued affiliates. Our love of the airline started in 1959 when we made our first BOAC flight as a wee tot.* Since then, we've always looked forward to the…