Every notable city has its standard "halo" locations: those places that, for better or worse, define the city it most peoples' eyes and minds. Paris has the Eiffel Tower, London has Big Ben, Peru has Machu Pichu and, here, the USA has San Francisco and it's Transamerica edifice. Like it or not, they're the eye-catchers,…
Food and Drink
Whenever you visit Paris, you want to stuff as much activity as you can into each moment. And, of course, there are probably just too many things to do in Paris that you might find yourself getting distracted - I know I do. But, here's a place that will make your life a little easier: …
Quiz: how much do you know about Wisconsin, USA? The honest answer is "probably not much." It's one of those states "in the middle" of the country that has always had a low profile, except for periodic victories in American football or baseball. It is big on dairy farming, cheesemaking, ethnic festivals, polka and the…
Here we go again - Matouring waxing on with dreamy eyes about the world's state-of-the-art rail systems. Today it's - no surprise! - Japan. Like most of Asia (and Europe as well) they realise the complete 360º view of what train travel brings to exploring the earth - or even just getting to work and…
It's not easy being important. Above and beyond all of your daily duties, you have even more activities that fill up the rest of the day. And that day often turns into night, since you're so busy.
But some important people just can't get a break.
Pity poor Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish Prime Minister. Smart, young, handsome…
Imagine living in one of the most desired travel destinations in the world. Friends are jealous when you visit there, especially when they haven't (yet.) You visit there often, but are still bamboozled with all of the places you haven't seen. And Covid has set your travel plans back at least two years.
Welcome to the…
Don't get us wrong: we love David Lynch and all of his idiosyncracies. The fact that Hollywood has permitted this unusual man to create one bizarre product after another says it all. He's paved the way for dozens of other "auteurs," most of which pale in comparison to the master.
But, Mr. Lynch doesn't just sit…
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…
One thing that can be said about the USA is that it has Hawaii. The islands are a place where almost everyone wil agree that it is a "destination" for them. Spectacular ocean waters, beaches, mountains and on average, 240 sunny days per year, you're almost guaranteed a good time. But, of all the islands,…
Much of the developed world is rethinking how it eats. Less meat, more vegetables, more water, less junk.
One popular food that is booming is milk substitutes (we really like Chobani) as some of us can't (or won't) drink milk from an animal. Some of us are simply looking for a more sensible alternative to help…
You've likely heard of Zanzibar, especially if you're a fan of 1960's movies: the country was everywhere, such as "West of Zanzibar", "Africa: Blood and Guts" and more. Zanzibar is a place where you should focus your attention on when you're looking for your next go-to destination. You’ll enjoy clear, turquoise-blue water; shallow sandbars perfect…
One word: Stroopwafels.* People are a real mixed bag. Some of us like to talk to your seatmate on a plane, while others prefer to bury their nose in a book. Some people like a window seat, while others insist on the aisle. But you know what everyone is into on the plane? Snacks! The…
"One man's junk is another man's treasure" as they say. Do you like stuff? If you find yourself in the southern United States (North Carolina in this instance,) head over to The Raleigh Market . Prepare to spend the day, as the market has more than 500 vendors with vintage items, collectibles and more. The…
Pull up some sand and wait for the customers to arrive - in this case, they're octopuses, moray eels, turtles and more. In a nightly event, at Dharavandhoo’s harbour in the Maldives, the sea creatures come in an orderly fashion to dine on the delights of the deep. From May to November, Dharavandhoo is the…
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…
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…
We don't know about you, but sometimes we pause and marvel at what amazing machines we are, we humans. How many automobiles or airplanes live past sixty years? How many of our fellow creatures on this earth drive those cars or fly those jets? Makes you think, doesn't it? And why do we live so…
In addition to its other many allures, Canada cannot escape the universal tagging of poutine. (In case you're not up to date, poutine is a sumptuous Canadian concoction made of french fries, gravy and cheese curds. It's addictive) Not that we Candians complain, but c'mon now, there is more to the country than just that.
For…
It never fails. Finally, we're able to travel again, but it doesn't always coincide with our bank balances. And, of course, the travel companies have sales galore, and yet we're still up the creek without a paddle. What to do? Well, like it or not, some travel companies feel our pain and look for ways…
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…