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

Only the hard, only the strong

Unlike other great cities of ancient fame such as Rome, Athens or Jerusalem, Sparta seems to have disappeared off the map. What remains of the legendary town? A name? An archaeological site? A historical memory? That memory, if it exists at all, is often of a city-state with a mania for martial valour and athleticism, a…
2022-01-140Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History Special Interest Sustainability The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Nyet, da, Nyet

Once a German city before World War Two and physically unrelated from the remainder of Russia, Kaliningrad is still an enigma to many mainland Russians and their European next-door neighbours. Still, how does a 50-year-old unfinished building inform the complicated history of the Kaliningrad and inspire the restoration of other nearby dilapidated crumbling buildings? Watch the video…
2022-01-130Comments

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Activity Adventure Central & South America Design and Art Do Something Different For Women Only History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Partytime Relaxation Romance The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Hola, Ilha Bay

Who can resist the allure of Brasil?  So diverse, and rich in adventure. A legacy of history that goes back hundreds of years.  And a people who love life and aren't afraid to show it. When most people think of Brasil, they think of Rio, and rightly so.  But, if you're not most people, you might…
2022-01-130Comments

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

Knights of Sin(tra)

In case you've not yet been (and you should!) Sintra is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera.  Known for its spectacularly coloured buildings, it also has a long history with the legendary Knights Templar. One of the most fascinating features of Sintra is it's so-called Inverted…
2022-01-120Comments

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Asia Do Something Different For Women Only Fun History Partytime Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Oiran Dochu

Oiran (花魁) is a word used to refer to the high-class prostitutes that worked in the Yoshiwara red-light district (Yoshiwara-Yukaku) during the Edo period. The Ichiyo Sakura Matsuri started in 2003 to preserve this piece of Edo history. It takes place along a 500m or so stretch of road with members in full Edo period dress…
2022-01-120Comments

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

The Cromlech Manoeuver

We humans may think of ourselves as very smart, but those who know that they don't know much at all are, honestly, the smartest.  But, at least they try. One enduring pursuit of knowledge about humanity's past is the drive and passion to understand the past.  We can literally touch so many historical artifacts, and may…
2022-01-110Comments

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

Wiki peeks

We sometimes forget about Wikipedia.  It's always there, constantly refreshing itself, bedazzling us with the world's collective knowledge -  and it's free.  (They operate on donations.  We donate, do you?) One of the marvelous aspects of Wikipedia is the depth and breadth of their offering.  One of which is the annual "Wiki Loves Monuments" competion. Every participating…
2022-01-110Comments

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

Free Grand Prix

History (and fun) can be found anywhere.  Sometimes you need to look, other times it lands in your lap when you least expect it. Here is an example of the latter.  On a relatively normal stretch of everyday road in Gueux, France, you will find yourself ready to rev your engines and don your helmet.  You're…
2022-01-090Comments

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Activity Central & South America Do Something Different Health History Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Relaxation Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely Switching The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Head south

If you've not been to Latin America, or haven't been in a while, it's time to head south.  As is everywhere in the world, Latin America is bang up-to-date, too.  Above and beyond the incredible scenery and the genuinely warm people, Latin America offers itself as a tempting and wise place to settle down, too.  The…
2022-01-080Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History Life of Luxury Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

The hotel that isn’t

There are few things more intoxicating than being able to stay in a luxurious, lauded and visually stunning hotel.  Europe is full of them. But there is one hotel that is a hotel, but actually it's not a hotel.  Luckily, you can explore it anyway.  We're talking about the Hotel Solvay in Belgium.  Listed as a UNESCO…
2022-01-060Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History Life of Luxury Partytime Relaxation Special Offers / Deals The Thinking Traveller World Culture

M’lord, m’lady

Have you seen the world?  Have you been there, done that?  Do you want more?  Well, as always, Matouring comes to the rescue with something more. Fit for a king or queen—or your whole royal family—these castles located in delightful destinations around Europe invite you and your kin or friends for an unforgettable stay in…
2022-01-060Comments

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Adventure Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink Fun History Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual

Hamburg-er

There are so many swanky restaurants and cafes around the world, serving such things as sea foam and Peruvian gravel.  We are very fortunate to have such choices. But, sometimes, we want something simple, something free (so to speak.)  No frills, just honest food.  And what can be simpler than McDonalds.  With over 36,000 locations, you're…
2022-01-050Comments

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Adventure Africa Design and Art Europe Fun History Middle East Nature & the Environment Outdoors Rest of World Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Get Hippodrome

As ever, the world is swirled and twirled by events, people and time itself.  Even the most powerful must take our last breaths. And where would this addage be more appropriate than in the lands where kings, queens, power, priviledge and treachery were business-as-usual. Of course, we're talking about ancient history (as we do,) and in this…
2021-12-310Comments

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

Make lunch, not war

Even better than the real thing. The annual festival of Els Enfarinats (Valencian pronunciation: [elz amfaɾiˈnats]) takes place in the town of Ibi in Alicante, Spain on December 28,[1] as part of celebrations related to the Day of the Innocents. Els enfarinats comes from the Valencian word for "breading", and roughly translate to "the breaded ones" or "the floured ones". In the day-long festival, participants known…
2021-12-300Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different History North America Special Interest Unusual World Culture

What’s love got to do with it?

 Shakespeare could have a field-day with this. This abandoned house looms a salt marsh, its pale pink paint looking like a mirror of the colorful sunsets that so often streak the sky.  It’s a celebrated local landmark, one with a definite air of mystery and romance. But the picturesque house’s story is not at all romantic. A local…
2021-12-300Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Europe History Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Plane train

Despite covid and all of the fistfights we hear about nowadays, air travel is still a marvelous thing.  Spectacular locations matched to state-of--the art-aircraft are still the thing of dreams.   Wouldn't it be nice if we could go forward and and backward at the same time?   If you're one of those romantic types, read on here... courtesy…
2021-12-290Comments

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