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

Paintings on the ceilings

...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…
2021-07-040Comments

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Activity Adventure Asia Do Something Different Europe Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment North America Outdoors Spend Wisely Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual Wilderness World Culture

Take the last train to Wales

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…
2021-07-030Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Health Nature & the Environment Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual Wilderness World Culture

‘scuse me while I kiss the sky

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. …
2021-07-030Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Europe For Women Only Fun History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Relaxation Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

Picasso between the sheets

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…
2021-07-030Comments

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Adventure Do Something Different Europe History Nature & the Environment Outdoors Rest of World Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Georgia on my . . . mined

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…
2021-07-010Comments

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Activity Caribbean Central & South America Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health LGBTQ Life of Luxury Lifestyle Oceania Outdoors Pacific Partytime Relaxation The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

Right, said Fred

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…
2021-06-300Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun LGBTQ Life of Luxury Partytime Special Offers / Deals The Thinking Traveller

¿desigual?

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…
2021-06-290Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Lifestyle Mindfulness Partytime Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Italy: back in black

You may not think of Italy as a particularly diverse country, but its history includes a Black Roman emperor, Septimus Severus, and, in the 19thcentury, colonies in the North African countries now known as Eritrea and Ethiopia (from where Italians’ beloved caffè originates). I arrived here from New York two years ago, and have found…
2021-06-270Comments

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Activity Design and Art Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Relaxation Sustainability The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Brescia refresher

Raise your hands, those of you who have visited Brescia, Italy. If you haven't, let us assist you in exploring this rich and varied place. Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo. With a…
2021-06-260Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History Outdoors Partytime Romance The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Come and see a’ the hypogea

Ah, Roma.  No matter how many times you visit, something pulls you back again and again. The Italians are never shy in sharing their singular country and its thousands of splendors.  But, one sight-seeing treat has - mysteriously - always been off limits:  the "basement, or the hypogea of the Colosseum as it's correctly known.…
2021-06-260Comments

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Activity Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History LGBTQ Lifestyle Outdoors Partytime Special Interest World Culture

Gimme Shelter Hall

For those who haven't visited Britain's city of Brighton, be sure to put it on your list. Arguably the second most groovy city it England (behind London, of course) Brighton harkens back not only to its Royal past, but it is also one of the most open and friendly cities on the planet.  Boasting a…
2021-06-250Comments

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Activity Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun LGBTQ Partytime Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual

God’s Own Junkyard

Art is always something that should be celebrated, especially if it breaks new ground, or reinvents itself.  Or maybe, in this case, it is art that accumulates purely from the artist's love of art. God's Own Junkyard is the baby of Chris Bracey, who has  been the Neon Man for 37 years creating iconic art…
2021-06-250Comments

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Activity Do Something Different Europe History Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman walk into a bar….

....The Englishman wanted to go so they all had to leave. Yes, we're talking about the UK's Brexit again.  As of this the time of this article, this week marks five years since the Brexit referendum shocked Europe. Despite forecasts that Britain’s withdrawal would trigger other departures by countries with similar Eurosceptic urges, the response from member…
2021-06-230Comments

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

Antiquarian comics

You don't need to schmoke a pancake to enjoy this place.  (But it won't hurt.) Since its opening in 1968, the Amsterdam comics store Lambiek has played an important role in giving comics public attention and appreciation, not just in the Netherlands, but on an international scale. Historically important as the oldest comics store in…
2021-06-220Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun LGBTQ Partytime Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Virtual

Oscar de la Rental

We're excited to announce that we've become affiliated with The Leading Hotels of the World group, a marketing organization, representing more than 400 hotels in over 80 countries. And a key attribute is that they feature some of the most luxurious and exclusive properties around the world.  In addition to booking through our existing affiliates,…
2021-06-220Comments

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Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Health History Inspiration LGBTQ Mindfulness Relaxation Sustainability The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Equal rights, equal wrongs

Most of us live in social worlds that are profoundly unequal, where small elites have vastly more power and wealth than everyone else. Very few of the have-nots find this congenial. As experimental economists have shown, we tend to enter social situations prepared to take a chance and cooperate in collective activities. But if others…
2021-06-190Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink History Middle East Relaxation Romance Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Mardin’s gardens

Mardin is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for the Artuqid architecture of its old city, and for its strategic location on a rocky hill near the Tigris River that rises steeply over the flat plains. * OK, now that we have that somewhat dry description of the…
2021-06-190Comments

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Activity Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink Fun Health History Nature & the Environment Outdoors Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

A walk and a cheeky pint

One of the many joys of the United Kingdom is an afternoon walk.  Much of the UK's land has been set aside for the public to use freely for walking.  And, it is a tradition that families do that, usually on a Sunday, and perhaps after a rather over-generous lunch. The paths are always well-marked,…
2021-06-180Comments

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Activity Alternative Lifestyle Do Something Different Europe Fun Health LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Outdoors Partytime Relaxation Special Interest Unusual

You can leave your hat on

So a pickpocket went to a nudist beach... He hated it.... We would imagine that there are some people who, after being held captive in their homes due to the pandemic, are looking for a way to break free.  Even if it simply means walking outside without a mask. Likely though, there are those who want…
2021-06-170Comments

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