Many spiritual teachers have emphasised the notion of being fully present ‘in the now’. Proponents of meditative practices of various sorts tout meditation as a way of immersing oneself fully in the present moment, and not attending to the past or future. The spiritual teachers (including prominent authors) and proponents of meditation typically point to…
History
Cienfuegos means one hundred fires. And that will surely be the number of flames that light your heart and your soul when you visit this most exquisite city in Cuba. Cienfuegos was founded in 1819, when French colonists settled in around the most spectacular and natural bay in Cuba. Bringing their elegant, classical architecture, wide,…
Here's a "cruise" that can literally take you everywhere. With the exciting splash into the Elbe, the HafenCity RiverBus becomes a ship and continues its journey up the Elbe. The unique amphibious city cruises through Hamburg's historic warehouse district, the sophisticated HafenCity and the authentic Rothenburgsort district. The "home port" is located at Brooktorkai 16…
What to do in a new world where travel is put on pause? For some, it meant perfecting the sourdough. Or perhaps tackling that 1000-piece puzzle you got years ago. But let’s be honest, it’s been the year of the screens. The year of the Netflix queue. The year of “let’s watch Harry Potter all…
Milan is a historic city known for its spectacular cathedral, but this classic city in Northern Italy offers tourists enough charming ancient buildings to keep you exploring for weeks.
A car rental in Milan, Italy is the ideal way to tour this historic locale - renowned for its fashion and thought of as a hub for…
Throwing yourself into a new culture can be one of the most daunting yet rewarding parts of travel. Here are some things to consider if you're about to check-in to a homestay and check out a place with a community-run operator. When traveling, it’s easy to just see the veneer of culture without really getting…
Christmas Day is a big day in many countries around the world. But, in many the following day, known as Boxing Day, can be just as exciting.
So, why not treat yourself and relax in a luxurious hotel Boxing Day savings with minimum 20% off!
Schedule in a little self-care. These hotels provide the perfect setting for…
In March 2020, Europeans started gathering on balconies and by windows to cheer, applaud and show gratitude to their healthcare workers providing life-saving services during the pandemic. The regular cheering and clapping became a symbol of hope: human solidarity triumphing over fear and enforced isolation. Contrast that scene with another. Following the remission of her…
The Czech Republic is an old and modern jewel just waiting to be discovered. Its capital, Prague is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Central Europe. It is a frontier of the modern West and the former Iron Curtain, hiding such beauty and elegance that you will be amazed.
Prague has a bit of…
One of the most beautiful and friendly countries in Europe, Lithuania is a hidden gem.
But that may soon not be the case, as the country is opening its doors for those looking for a new experience.
If you want a change, this is a wonderful opportunity. And the Lithuanian government makes it easy - they've created…
The Woolworth Building is an early American skyscraper designed by architect Cass Gilbert and located at 233 Broadway in Manhattan, New York City. It was the tallest building in the world from 1913 to 1930, with a height of 792 feet (241 m). More than a century after its construction, it remains one of the 100 tallest buildings in the United States.
The Woolworth Building is located in…
Erbil, also spelled Arbil, locally called Hewlêr by the Kurds, is the capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan and the most populated city in the Kurdish inhabited areas of Iraq. It is located approximately in the center of the Iraqi Kurdistan region and north of Iraq.
The Erbil Citadel, also known as Hawler Castle, is an artificial…
He founded Holiday Inns, and he made sure everyone knew that when they visited his gravesite. In 1996, Memphis businessman Kemmons Wilson published his autobiography, called Half Luck and Half Brains. But he was just being modest. It took an awful lot of brainpower to accomplish all that he did. He got his start in the…
Some people thought it would never happen but: the BER is finally complete. With a delay of almost 10 years, Berlin’s new airport has officially opened its gates to passengers. The BER was originally designed in 1998 by renowned architects GMP. But is their former vision of a modern airport still up to date? We’ll…
If ever we were challenged to name a country more diverse than India, we’d have a tough time. Few places, if any, rival the sheer amount of traditions, cuisines, landscapes, and religions found within India’s borders, from the high Himalayas in the north to the desert sands of the west to the palm tree-fringed rivers…
Attention avid travelers and readers! Matouring is pleased to announce our partnership with Blinkist. Blinkist, is a book-summarizing subscription service based in Berlin, Germany. All about them: "Almost none of us have the time to read everything we’d like to read. Yet we lose countless hours to activities that bring us little joy such as…
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…
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…
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…
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…