. . . on route 66. Somewhere in the mists of our minds, that phrase must still dwell. Of course, it is a remnant of a USA that existed long ago in a time when things were not as complex as they are now for that country. The song and the promise…
History
Bob Marley once said "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." But, even better, it can take you to the highest heights. And, speaking of the highest heights, ever-clever Germany has risen to the occasion to combine music with commerce and cultural enlightenment in its new concert…
In 2013, a boat traveled from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, with a timelapse camera installed 30 meters high.
For many, Shanghai still has an aura of the unusual, the murky, the mysterious. So many books and films have promoted this "legend." And, like any huge city, Shanghai does harbour its secrets, its mysteries and its "hard to explains." But, what you see when you fully open your eyes you'll discover…
The title of this post pretty much sums up me, your Matouring Admin. Our children shake their heads in shame / utter dispair when they're presented with the next history "adventure" by the parents. But, many youth today can't identify a record turntable, or a wall phone, or a slide show or even…
We love to discover and feature places that may not be "getting the love" when it comes to being on the list of "places to be." Peruse our site and you'll see loads of places, things and activities that will surprise and delight you. One of these is Socotra. So, where is…
When we're young, and in school, we learn some of the basics of history, of life and some topics that may completely slip our mind. One such topic is plate tectonics. It's there - and always has been - right under our feet, with us blithely never thinking about it, even though, over millennia,…
Mexico is often up and down in the parade of travel destinations. One "off" story in the news can derail the country's reputation and, therefore, it's fortunes. There are any number of reasons why this happens, and many of the reasons are political and not always in Mexico's hands, and not in its…
When most people think of India, it's usually wide-eyed visions of the Taj Mahal, or the organised chaos of Delhi. And when most people think of the Indian people, the words clever, hard-working, charming and welcoming spring to mind. The word warrior does not bubble to the top. But, if you have…
Some of us never really grow up. And why should we? That is just a prelude to growing older. So, we laud those who continue to chase their dreams, no matter where they might go. And here we have an extreme of a man, now 89 years old, who still follows that…
Once again, we discuss a country that may not be in the forefront of your mind, but should be. Today, it's El Salvador. Despite being the smallest country in Central America, El Salvador boasts breathtaking natural beauty. It is known as the "Land of Volcanoes" due to its impressive volcanic landscape. Visitors can…
After 12 hours, smashed into a seat on a plane, with still more hours to go before you have any hope of landing, you'll know that this is not the luxury travel that you'd always hoped for. And, even worse, you still have to face disembarking, finding your bags and maneuvering your way to…
The wonderful thing about this day and age is that almost everything is there, at our fingertips. Some of us may remember having to physically go to a library just to find out about the latest info on whatever we were currently infatuated with. Newspapers went some of the way to quench our…
America (like many places, we guess) has its ups and downs, and they're usually significant. The US is a (if not the) monster presence in almost everyone's lives, no matter where they live. From the lowest of low (war) to the highest of high (endless variety) it's a place that has a pull…
Thanks to social media, the world can sometimes get smaller as it swells in size. Instantaneous communications is the norm now, and it's a luxury that so many can still afford, no matter their station. Many of us will remember a time where using the post, a telephone or, if we were lucky,…
We don't know if it's just us, but does it feel like, in the past few years, there has been an exponential growth of very visible billionaires? When we were growing up, or even just a few years ago, you could count them on one hand. But, now they're everywhere. Of course,…
Let's start right off and say that Turkey is one of the most historic, diverse and complex places on the planet. Stradling the line between east and west, it has always been pivotal in human history. While some of its religious and social aspects are traditionally associated with Western Asia, it is culturally…
Those of you who know of the Isle of Man, raise your hands. Hmmm, just a few. And why is that? There could be any number of reasons, but it's not one of those places that spends millions promoting itself. But, that doesn't mean that it's not worth your time. …
Leave it to the Japanese (as ever) to create an efficient process, but then to add a layer of fun on top. Sure, in this case it's mainly for making commuting more efficient. About 800,000 people take the trains daily and their network now extends to numerous cities, covering over 2,400 km. Specifically, you may…