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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

It’s 1984 again . . and again

We here at Matouring.com are of an age when we've seen (and even experienced first-hand) some of the half-baked ideas and horrific outcomes on the world stage and in world politics.  It feels like we're there yet again, but, unlike before, we have the power to collectively act and make a difference. George Orwell (with his books…

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All the way the paper bag was on my knee

The bile-high club. As we write this, in this time in space of humankind, we're seeing all sorts of odd and bizarre performances from people when it comes to travel.  Opening doors of moving jets (and jumping from them) punching air attendants, being duct-taped to seats.  The list goes on-and-on - and we hope it stops…

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Be a better traveler

By default, just because you're reading this (and have visited our site,) we can assume that you're a smart, aware, thoughtful, curious and fun human being.  But, we always have room for improvement, it's safe to say.  The choices we make on the road can have a big impact on the people and places we encounter…

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Weekly . . perhaps, weakly

The week is the most artificial and recent of our time counts yet it’s impossible to imagine our shared lives without it. Among many collective discoveries during the pandemic confinement of 2020, Americans learned just how attached we are to our seven weekdays. As complaints about temporal disorientation mounted that April, we focused not on the clock…

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Close to the edge

Close to the edge, down by the river.  Down at the end, round by the corner. Seasons will pass you by. There are few places as mystical and magical as Iceland.  Still relatively untouched, the landscape shapes its people, and they respond in kind by returning the favour. You've all seen images of Iceland's volcanoes, but have…

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Och aye the noo

Och aye the noo = An archetypal example of an overt Scotticism is "Och aye the noo", which translates as "Oh yes, just now". But, it doesn't stray too far from its roots.  And, luckily for us, we are learning more and more about history - Scottish in this case.  Read more here courtesy of NationalGeoraphic.co.uk Booking.com AutoEurope…

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Get in line

As you'll know, the skies are full of aircraft, flying here and there.  If you live near an airport, your knowledge is supreme. But do you know which are the busiest routes in the air?   This knowledge could help you plan more efficiently the next time you travel. Read more here courtesy of SimpleFlying.com.   With that many flights,…

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A flock of Airbus

In this day and age of diminishing everything, it's good to know that the clever people are still trying to do their best to make a better world. For example, Airbus has demonstrated how formation flying can aid sustainability with two of its test A350s flying across the Atlantic Ocean. Dubbed the quote-unquote “final demonstration,” Airbus is…

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Think Cadillac

Here's another heart-warming story of people looking out for each other. In the late 1970s, former Heritage board member Leroy Looper (1924-2011) and his wife Kathy turned the rundown Cadillac Hotel in the heart of the Tenderloin district in San Francisco into a national model for the potential of single-room occupancy hotels. The Tenderloin Museum opened on…

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I’m afraid that is not possible

In certain markets, airlines compete directly with train operating companies. This is a common phenomenon in Europe, where countries like France and Germany have extensive high-speed rail networks. However, in some instances, airlines choose not to compete for various reasons. easyJet (an affiliate friend of ours)  is one such carrier, and Simple Flying recently learned why. And while…

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El Prado……corrado

If you have been to Madrid and have not visited the Prado Museum, then shame on you / you're really missing out. Without question, in the top five museums in the world, Prado has the ability to overwhelm you with the depth, breadth and sheer quality of its holdings.  Give yourself at least two full days…

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How many points should you get when there’s an active shooter at your hotel?

This is not something that we thought we would ever have to consider, let alone write about.  To us, there is something peculiar about the whole thing, but maybe it's just modern living. A few months back, at Mexico's Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun, several active shooters landed on the resort’s beach. Two of the shooters…

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So says the National Geographic

If ever there was a venerable institution (especially in the USA) it would be The National Geographic (affiliate friends of ours.)  Decades old, the organisation has always been known for its global approach:  it makes no distinctions nor proffers favouritism in its activities.  In the past, it has opened doors to worlds that many people…

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We come in peace

Here is hoping that you never have experienced wartime.  The wounds take a long time to heal, if ever. But, a new exhibit reveals the wondrous sights service members found away from the trenches.  The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, USA have opened  a new exhibit featuring 300 images captured by…

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Here’s looking at Loo, kid

Loo =  toilet (UK) Public works are often joyless, utilitarian, just-get-it-done affairs.  Whether it's a road, or a bridge or even public restrooms, it makes you wonder why a little je ne sais quoi can't be in the building specifications. Happily, though, that's not always the case.  And here are some fine examples of where good taste…

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A penny for your plots, my dear

Buying a home is pricey, unless you plan on moving to the small town of Legrad in Croatia, in which case, it’s unbelievably cheap - as low as 1¢ US. Legrad once had the second-biggest population in Croatia, but when the Austro-Hungarian empire collapsed, new borders were formed. And the town — which is on the…

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