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Europe

Europe

Yes darling, but is it art?

Creativity takes courage, that's for certain. It's one thing if you send your masterpiece to your friends and family, but it's another thing entirely if you bare yourself to the world. That being said, some of the best artists were laughed at in their early days, and now we spend millions to buy them and…

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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…

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Cycle, with meaning

Sorry, we meant Roughlee. Near Nelson, Lancashire, UK a refuge built in 1912 for mill workers to meet in nature is still open to cyclists for tea and leftwing sympathy. You can clearly see Clarion House from high up on the ridge between Barrowford and Roughlee. Not only because it stands alone on a green…

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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…

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Wales on rails

Wales, UK, is a place near and dear to our hearts, here at Matouring.  Often forgotten or misunderstood when compared to larger-than-life London, Manchester, Liverpool and Brighton as destinations, Wales offers a quieter side to the UK.  Green, lush with mountains and valleys that are second to none, if you haven't been to Wales, put…

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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…

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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…

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Ne skie pas

France is a many-splendoured thing;  the food, the wine, the scenery, the joie de vivre.  No matter how many times you visit the country, you always find something new or unexpected. And, anyone who loves winter sports knows that France has some of the best ski runs in the world.  But, alas, things are changing At the…

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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: …

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Go go Bansko!

When you think of skiing, chances are probably good that Bansko doesn't come to mind first.  And, now intrigued, you may even wonder what and where Bansko is. Don't be hard on yourself, as Bansko is one of Europe's best kept secrets.  If enjoying winter sports and saving money while doing so are on your list,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Free Grand Prix

History (and fun) can be found anywhere.  Sometimes you need to look, other times it lands in your lap when you least expect it. Here is an example of the latter.  On a relatively normal stretch of everyday road in Gueux, France, you will find yourself ready to rev your engines and don your helmet.  You're…

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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…

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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…

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Hamburg-er

There are so many swanky restaurants and cafes around the world, serving such things as sea foam and Peruvian gravel.  We are very fortunate to have such choices. But, sometimes, we want something simple, something free (so to speak.)  No frills, just honest food.  And what can be simpler than McDonalds.  With over 36,000 locations, you're…

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