When you travel, you never know what to expect, even when you scour the web, brochures and videos. It's full of surprises. But sometimes first impressions may not be accurate. So, when we recently visited Peru, we stayed in a variety of places, of all types. Some were supremely outfitted with beautiful…
Partytime
So, you think you've seen it before and you've done it before? Well, we have something for you, then. Not only is this clown hotel a little insane, but it's also situated next to a graveyard. Top that! Perfect for weddings and holidays for the little ones. And if you're looking even more, this can't…
We are who we are, like it or not. And we have every right to be that way, like it or not. And if some people have a problem with that, get used to it. Gay people are still having problems simply being themselves, even though being themselves has been part of the…
For many, this article will be a refresher. But, if you've not been to Thailand (or even if you have) there is always something new to explore. With astonishingly great food, a tropical climate, fascinating culture, majestic mountains and great beaches, Thailand is a magnet for travellers around the world, and quite rightly…
Vancouver, Canada, is not a particularly old city. You might see some buildings from the late 1800's, but mostly it's 1970's family homes and high-rise apartments. We were driving down the street the other day in Vancouver, and passed this hotel / motel that we hadn't seen before, the 2400 Motel. We…
Roll out the barrel, and we'll have a barrel of fun says polka master Frankie Yankovic. But in this case, we're talking about real drinking (tequila) in a real barrel (where you will sleep.) You may even do both in the same place. Can you think of anything more perfect? The Matices…
There is never a bad time to celebrate The Beatles. Can you think of many bands who connected so completely and creatively as The Fab Four? And this legend was only reinforced with Peter Jackson's Get Back series on Disney (which made your Admin burst into tears (of joy) several times.) Having…
As if life isn't mind-boggling enough, but now there are places you can go to get completely discombobulated. Almost like a bad psychedelic movie from the 1970's, you will step into this most wonderous of places and will then be "full of confusement" as Mike Tyson once said (supposedly.) What is this most miraculous…
Even in these "enlightened" (we won't use the word "woke") times, where everything is visible and almost instantaneous, there are still some elements of being human that are inhuman. We all need something every so often and sometimes we need to look in alternative place. We're talking about the need for "love" in it's most…
Much of the west coast of the USA likes to fashion itself as different, edgy, hip, wild, unpredictable and not the norm. And, living in Vancouver as we do, we can certainly attest to that ethos. As ever, why be normal? Normal is boring and life should be full of surprises -…
The force is strong, young one. It’s been 45 years since the first Star Wars blew us all away in theaters, and the impact and memories of that first film (and many of the others) are an embedded part of the psyches of most generations, worldwide. Classics do not pay justice to the film franchise.…
If you've never done it before, it can be daunting to take your first solo trip in your 40s, but plenty of people are doing exactly that. The stereotypical image of the solo traveller may be the pre-university gap year student, but these days the biggest solo travel growth demographic is the over-35s. We've spoken…
The Sixties were a wild time. Free love. The Beatles. International travel and intrigue. Modern art. Groovy personalities. Two of which we feature here: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Arguably among the top ten stars during that spectacular decade, they made the world their oyster. One of their best…
This post may seem obvious to you - and that's a good thing - but it's interesting that many of us don't always put 2+2 together. For one reason or another, what seems like a logical thought at 02:30 in the morning doesn't always magically appear again the next day. Especially if you…
... if you don't eat him first. As if modern life isn't good enough as it is, we have something that will make your day complete - even if you don't survive. You've been to London, or Paris, or Buenos Aires. But have you ever been eaten by Godzilla? We'll bet…
This one is going to be hard to resist, we think. Who doesn't want to rub elbows with the rich and famous, even if we have no idea what to say to them? We watch the movies and see them in the tabloids and all over social media. Nice work if you…
Nothing like walking along a beach and then - hey presto! - finding out that it's for nudists. That happened to us here in Vancouver, of all places. Luckily, our sunglasses were in place and covered our eyes even if they didn't hide our embarassment. We're not prudes, by any stretch -…
We humans are always looking for good ways to improve ourselves. We want to be more efficient, more healthy, more loving and loveable. It's part of who we are. Thoughtful things, such as howing up on time. Dressing appropriately. Remembering the little things. Holding the door open. Et cetera. Some people…
Sweden, like most of the Nordic countries of Europe, is a marvelous place. Clean, progressive, egaliatarian, world-aware and full of smart people whom we could learn a lot from. But one thing that the Swedes don't do is small talk. No chit-chat. Short and sweet. Unlike most other cultures in the…
We're not too young here at Matouring, so we remember things. Back in the 1970's, the "earth" movement really took hold. Healthy food, lifestyle and clean thoughts were at the top of the list for most "aware" folks back then. Out of that heady period came a genuine interest in making the…