PRUDES: look away now. Inspiration comes from the most unusual places. You can never predict what an artist will do to make a statement or grab your attention. Art comes in all styles, from the Romans to the Renaissance the Impressionists and beyond. And so much of it has been saved for us by museums, collectors and, now, electronic media.…
If you’re a music fan, then you certainly must know of the Buena Vista Social Club, 1999 documentary film directed by Wim Wenders. The film follows renowned guitarist Ry Cooder and his son, Joachim, as they travel to Cuba and assemble a group of the country’s finest musicians to record an album. But, even if you know the film, you may…
You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers – especially to ones that you probably thought you’d never find yourself asking. Unless you’re bored, doing research or are an anorak. This particular peculiarity focuses on the urgent need to understand why airline captains sit on the left-hand side of the plane? You’ll find out here, but if you have any other ideas,…
Who doesn’t love Italy? We bet that only a few will raise their hands. Italy, for tourists, seems to bring out all that’s good in traveling. But, sadly, Italy’s official airline, Alitalia has had its troubles in the past and up until now, and, as a result, will be shutting its doors for good. Happily, out of the ashes comes…
Sometimes, we don’t realise how lucky we are. If you’re not familiar with this story, prepare to be amazed. Kowloon Walled City was an ungoverned and densely populated de jure Chinese enclave within the boundaries of Kowloon City, British Hong Kong. Originally a Chinese military fort, the walled city became an enclave after the New Territories were leased to the…
As if Rome isn’t fun enough – may we present to you Mama Shelter, Roma. Created by the owners of Club Med, Mama Shelter goes waaay beyond the normal. Just a short walk from the Vatican, and just 250m from the Cipro Metro station, everything is close and the nightlife is not far away. Treat yourself to some silly playfulness. …
Although the world is still very far away from inclusiveness, humans are making strides – and that includes new thinking in facilities for the disabled. Technology, of course, is leading the way, especially with new materials and ways of manufacturing. But, you will also find humans and companies really thinking hard about to make those who are less-abled feel freer.…
Ireland is one of the more hip, inclusive, free and charming places in Europe. When you meet an Irish human, you will inevitably strike up a natural and amiable conversation, no matter the situation. The Irish – the same as the Australians – are simply like that. Everyone tends to gravitate to Dublin and Belfast – naturally – but when…
AirBnB, constant bad press notwithstanding, has created a wonderful new model on how to travel. Almost everyone wins. VRBO, an Expedia company (and one of our valued affiliate friends,) have taken the model and successfully given AirBnB a run for their money: in some recent months, they have marched past AirBnB in bookings. But, this post is about something similar,…
This is a simple, but very important request. For those of us who are fortunate enough to travel, this should almost be mandatory. UNESCO has created the Sustainable Tourism Pledge. The pledge takes an industry-first approach to environmental and cultural protection, requiring hotel operators to introduce firm measures to eliminate single-use plastics and promote local culture. The intention is to…
We’re not sure if Sylvia Plath ever stayed at Sylvia’s Restaurant and Lounge in Vancouver, but we’re sure she would have felt at home. The Sylvia Hotel is a designated heritage building – there aren’t too many of those in Vancouver – ideally located on English Bay, beside Stanley Park and just 5 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Built in 1912,…
It’s hard to believe that (as of this writing) it has been two years since Notre Dame cathedral in Paris burst into flames. There were tears in our eyes as we watches – helplessly as the roof crumbled. It will still be a very long time for the restoration to be completed. Watch the video below to understand why: the…
We suspect that there are some football fans in our audience: in this instance we are talking about the football played around the world – you know, the round ball, black and white. Some football fans are beyond passionate: they get tattoos of their team, name their children after star players, relocate to cities where their favourite teams are located…
India is a wonderful place full of wonderful people and lots of surprises. Here’s one. Jatayu Earth Center, also known as Jatayu Nature Park or Jatayu Rock, is a park and tourism centre at Chadayamangalam in Kollam district of Kerala. It stands at an altitude of 350m above the mean sea level. Jatayu Nature Park holds the distinction of having…
How often does one get the chance to sleep in the same halls as royalty? Not often for most of us. But, you can at the Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski in Istanbul directly on the Bosphorus. A former home to Ottoman royalty, you will find yourself bathed in history, glamourous surroundings, sumptous spas and world-class restaurants. And, of course, you…
This post may be somewhat specific – it’s about Saab automobiles, so look away if you have no interest in that. But there is a reason why we’re writing this. However, if you do have an affection for the brand, your love of Saab is probably a long, happy and sad story. Created and manufactured in Sweden, Saab was bounced…
Venice in peril. If it’s ancient foundations crumbling, and literal hoards of tourists aren’t troubling enough, Venice is now being genuinely threatened by the gargantuan cruise ships that pull up to the ancient city. So much so, that UNESCO has put Venice on its endangered list unless Italy permanently banned cruise ships from docking in the world heritage site. And…
This sounds like fun, but, most importantly, has a very good intent at its heart. You can win two seats on one of the first Virgin Galactic flights to space. Sir Richard Branson is putting his money and his spaceship where his mouth is. Here’s what’s you can look forward to: Make history as you both live out your astronaut…
Do you sometimes feel like you want to go away and stay away? Well, you’ll be glad to know that, as always, we here at Matouring have solutions for you. Near or far, we have solutions at our fingertips and are eager to share them with you. May we present the Tash Rabat Caravanserai in Kyrgyzstan? If you’re not fully…
If you’ve spent any time reading about The Netherlands, you’ll know that the geniuses there have done amazing things in order for the country to keep its head above water. And that hasn’t been completely recent activity: they’ve been at it for centuries, and they’ve learned a lot in the process. The video below goes into some detail about all…
