A floating church has moored in East London. The work of locally-based architecture studio Denizen Works, this innovative project brings together architecture and boat building, religious, community spaces and practice, and contemporary design. The project was spearheaded by the Diocese of London for the St Columba East London community, and has been created in close collaboration with Turks Shipyard and…
There is something evocatively beautiful about an old, rusted car. In your mind’s eye, you can see the majesty they once were. And perhaps in some cases, with a few patches to cover where holes now gape, they could return to their original glory. For others, the dilapidation becomes part of the tableau, tall weeds defying usual patterns by growing…
In Persian, the word often translated into English as ‘manners’ or ‘etiquette’ is adab. However, adab is about far more than politeness or ethics even. It means proper social and aesthetic form and, across Persianate culture, form conveyed substance and, by extension, meaning. From the 13th to the mid-19th century, Persian was the language of learning, culture and power for hundreds of millions of…
Before I go into the best national heritage Hotels of Spain, I thought it might be interesting to know a little background on this wonderful initiative. It was in 1910 that the government entrusted Marqués de la Vega Inclán the project of creating a hotel network, practically non-existent in the country at the time, which would provide accommodation for tourists…
It was a historic throne speech. On Sept. 16, Her Excellency Gov. Gen. Dame Sandra Mason told the world Barbados was removing Queen Elizabeth as its head of state. “Having obtained independence half a century ago, our country can be in no doubt about its capacity for self-governance,” Mason said. The small island nation in the Caribbean was one of…
Absinthe is historically described as a distilled, highly alcoholic beverage. It is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from botanicals, including the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium, together with green anise, sweet fennel, and other medicinal and culinary herbs. In Paris, during the 1920’s, it became the favourite beverage of choice for artists, musicians, debutantes and gadabouts. Famously strong, it was…
The Wuppertaler Schwebebahn (Wuppertal Suspension Railway) is a suspension railway in Wuppertal, Germany. Its original name is Einschienige Hängebahn System Eugen Langen. It is the oldest electric elevated railway with hanging cars in the world and is a unique system in Germany. Designed by Eugen Langen and offered first to the cities of Berlin, Breslau and Munich who all turned it down,[2] the installation with elevated stations was built in Barmen, Elberfeld and Vohwinkel between 1897 and 1903; the…
By this point in 2020, I’m sure we’re all ready to just blast off this planet — or at least I am. Not to mention, after recent news broke that potential life has been detected on Venus, I wouldn’t mind poking around up there. I guess the main dilemma is that I wouldn’t really have anywhere to stay. Fortunately, travel booking…
With almost 20 million visitors per year, Amsterdam is a city people never get tired of, and rightly so. Despite being a compact metropolis, it has a lot of personality, with something new around every corner. We’re here to make sure you pack in all the good bits in a short amount of time, so you can make this first…
Known as the “El Marco” bridge, it links the Spanish municipality of La Codosera with the Portuguese Arronches. With beautiful, natural scenery, you might want to further explore La Codosera and its surroundings. Funded by the European Union, the tiny wooden piece of infrastructure was built in the first decade of the 21st century by labourers from both the Spain…
Munich may be without Oktoberfest — but it’s still a lot of fun Munich’s Oktoberfest was canceled this year due to the coronavirus. But the city has come up with alternative events that could also benefit tourists from abroad in the future.Christin spent the summer under palm trees, enjoying the feeling of sand between her toes — right in the…
You think you’re busy? Spaniard Michael Ferreri gained the record for the most consecutive overhead juggling catches with seven objects. He managed 71 juggling catches after spending four months perfecting the speed. With that dizzying task in mind, here are the 2021 Guinness Book of World Records winners. Read more courtesy of inews.co.uk
We often feature Spain here at Matouring, because it has so many things to offer. One of which is that it is an ideal place to retire: sun, sea, mountains, excellent healthcare, incredible food and really good €3.00 bottles of red wine – we are not joking. This article out lines how to gain your residency in Spain – and…
LOVE the beach, but hate crowds? Seeking small-community life, but don’t want to have to pass up on hearing the waves crash outside your window, or wandering down to the sands to catch the rays in summer? Firstly, there’s a peculiarity about some of Spain’s best-loved coasts: Medium-sized and small towns which aren’t on the package resort trail (but would…
Game of Thrones took the world by storm. If you’re a fan of the show and planning a trip to Europe, you’ll already know that the many of the Seven Kingdoms are actually influenced by real destinations over there. Here’s how to get to some of the most famous Game of Thrones filming locations in Croatia, Spain and Ireland –…
There are slim pickings nowadays when it comes to international travel for U.S. citizens, but the short list of countries allowing them entry is steadily growing. While the European Union still maintains its travel ban on Americans, a few member states — like Croatia — have made an exception. In the case of Malta, that exception comes in the form of…
This is about a lovely place in Canada, that was once populated by the adventurous French in habitats of Brittany. On the northern tip of Nova Scotia sits an island that locals describe as a little slice of heaven. A mix of oceans, mountains, lakes, and rolling highlands, Cape Breton Island is also a mix of cultures. It is home…
Chile is famous for its varied landscapes, from the cracked, dry sands of the Atacama Desert to the snow-capped peaks and turquoise lakes of Patagonia. But it’s off the lanky country’s southern coast (and just a short two-hour flight from Santiago) that you’ll find a true secret respite, charmingly quaint and ripe for exploration by intrepid travelers: Chiloé Island. The largest…
Six students from De Montfort University have created a stellar 3D representation of 17th century London, as it existed before The Great Fire of 1666. The three-minute video provides a realistic animation of Tudor London, and particularly a section called Pudding Lane where the fire started. As Londonist notes, “Although most of the buildings are conjectural, the students used a…
Xmas Markets by Eurostar – Departures from Dec 2020 – Includes Return travel by Eurostar – 3 nights in a 4* hotel – Visit Lille’s Christmas Markets & explore the Old Town – A traditional dinner in a French brasserie – Day trip to the medieval city of Bruges – 4 Days From £659 From our partner Travelsphere, Lille &…
