Hey kids, Believe it or not, there was once a time, not too long ago, where you couldn't do whatever you darn well pleased like you can now. This post acts as a stark reminder that the Victorian era took a while to subside, and there was often a kerfuffle that ensued in the melee,…
History
The resurgence of interest in European Brutalism is a fascinating cultural shift. Once derided as "ugly" or "soul-crushing" during the 1980s and 90s, these concrete giants are now celebrated for their raw honesty and bold, graphic qualities. Why Brutalism is Popular Today The "Techno of Architecture": Modern fans often compare Brutalism to techno music—it…
We live in Vancouver, and it happens to be a pretty popular place. It typically welcomes between 8 and 11 million visitors annually. Not bad for a city that had been somewhat in the shadows until recently when tourism exploded. One of the features that we like and we use are the Harbour Air Seaplanes.…
Do you like a little history to go with your travel? Or, is it the other way around? We have it in this post. The long and short of it is that we'd like to shine a light on one of the world's oldest and, at times best airlines, British Airways. …
We're history buffs, here at Matouring. But when we see history - poorly chosen and implemented history - unfolding right in front our eyes over and over again, it gets tiring and aggravating. George Santayana’s quote "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." The other day, we were out with my…
For those of us who are travel hounds, sniffing out the best deals, we've often got it made. Sometimes, though, there are deals and incentives from lesser-known travel providers. Many of them might be right under your nose, but may fall in the shadows of the "big boys." One such company is…
Here we are again. Decades in, no power, food shortages, and the big omnipotent "stable genius of the USA calling the shots in a place that does not belong to them. Regular readers will have seen the posts that we've created over the years, extoling the wonders of this frankly wonderful country. Words can't express…
Watch more of this particular conundrum courtesy of the ever-interesting Jago Hazzard, above.
In the world of transit architecture, "over-designed" is a term often used by critics to describe spaces where the aesthetic ambition feels disproportionate to the simple act of catching a train. For the London Underground (the "Tube"), this phenomenon is usually a…
Nowadays, most of us take such technology breakthroughs for granted. We learn, we admire and we continue with our day. It's always a good idea, though, to look back and see just how we've come. One such miracle is Europe's Eurostar. When it opened (Eurostar services officially began running on 14 November…
That's what my father would say when the kettle didn't boil for his tea. Were he with us today, he would be staring at the TV screen, thinking that he was in a dream. He was born in Wales, which was not the richest of countries in the 1940's. So, when we…
You world travelers out there who make a point of seeing everywhere, we salute you. Its big and its wide and there are a lot of moving parts to your journeys. So, if your eyes are set on Barcelona, sit back, relax, jump on the top deck if you can and then watch the world…
In our recent trip to Chile, I was surprised an the sheer number of churches that were scattered around the country. It's sometimes difficult to get a gauge about how and where religion still factors in a country. As it happens, in 2026, Chile is in the midst of a profound and…
As scary as they can look, the Māori are actually rather nice people. The perception of Māori as intimidating or "scary" is largely rooted in their traditional warrior culture, designed specifically to intimidate enemies, demonstrate strength, and showcase ferocity. This aesthetic is heavily influenced by the haka (war dance) and moko (facial tattooing).
Here are the key factors that…
It's one of the most narcotic places that you ever may encounter. You visit, you visit again and again, but you can't stop. Yes, this is Venice that we're talking about. It may change, but ever so slightly. The crowds are still there, heaving, pushing and shoving, but you always find…
Like us, we're sure you're always looking for the next new travel horizon. Visiting Mindelo is known as an "interesting adventure" because it is a place that feels simultaneously stuck in time and vibrantly alive. Known as the cultural capital of Cape Verde, it offers a blend of soulful music, colorful colonial history, and…
It's been a long time coming, but The Grand Egyptian Museum and Giza Pyramids museum is now open and, wow, is it amazing. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) took approximately 20 years to complete from the start of construction to its final opening. While the concept was first proposed in 1992, the actual…
This post might ostensibly appear to be a discussion on religion, but it's not. There is an element of that, but we will leave it to you to decide. We recently returned from Chile (which was absolutely amazing.) The country is as modern as it is old, and as vast. We…
We've been running this website for quite a while: since 2018, as a matter of fact. Others come and go, but we try to keep our mantra now as it was when we first started. Matouring stands for mature touring, and we mean it. We're not "influencers or web celebrities: we're…
... that's when the fun begins. Do you ever sit back, take a breath and realise what our blue planet offers to us each and every day? It's only then when you don't need to venture too far from your home sweet home to leap off of the sofa, hop in the car…
Hong Kong grapples with keeping its colonial past.
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The phrase "History is written by the winners" (often attributed to Winston Churchill, though its origins are likely older) suggests that the version of the past we accept as "fact" is essentially the narrative that serves the interests of those who came out on…