. . . of genius! Here we go again, featuring and shouting about another place in Europe, one that you might not know. Welcome to Brest. Brest is an unusual choice for a European trip because it lacks the fairytale, cobblestone charm typical of other French or European cities. Located at the "end of…
The Thinking Traveller
Won't you let me take you on a non cruise? No, that's not another typo. Nor your editor's somewhat misaligned sense of humour. We'll leave it to you to find your fun. Our affiliate partners have a cruise in mind for you, for sure. But, out of all of the…
We thank our lucky stars here at Matouring. We get to do what we want (which is to hopefully make you happy with the latest adventures, deals and news.) Even with our rather smaller footprint on the web, our affiliates and partners seem to like what we do. So when a company…
Some years back - quite a few as it transpires - I was looking for travel content for the matouring website. I was intrigued by stumbling across a young and vivacious and (most of all) sweet YouTuber named Yan. She's Chinese but with a German hubby Flo. Almost from the start of…
We won't be getting political here. Rather than soak in sour grapes, we're counting the days until the "very stable genius" departs to a rest home or some other option far far far away, so that humankind can try again to pick up the broken pieces that were all that was left. Never in…
No, the Via Appia Antica. Yes, you can get there from here. The Via Appia Antica, or the Ancient Appian Way, is arguably the world’s oldest and most significant "superhighway." Commissioned in 312 BC by the Roman censor Appius Claudius Caecus, it earned the title Regina Viarum (Queen of Roads) for its…
Creating any company is a herculean effort for anyone, but imagine trying to bring a railroad to life from virtually nothing, or from the tattered remains of previous attempts. Or, the lack of funding, or nascent competition. Some might have the intestinal fortitude for that kind of endeavour, but it's not for everyone.
Here's…
In other words, take it easy. The bulk of most travelers to the UK tend to stick to the tried and true choices: London, the museums, Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, etc. You know the story. And, as much fun and the thrills that they bring, there are other places that might charm…
Relax. This is not another one of those "SHOCK HORROR" posts that crawl along the floor of the internet. It's a somewhat sad story of a changing Japan. And while we've been in much of that wonderful country, there is so much more to see. We're sure you're of the same mind.…
Albania is one of those European countries that we all know is there, but sometimes it just doesn't get its place in the sun (although make no mistake, it certainly can be a sunny place for sure. Chances are that if you choose to visit, you'll leave a different person. Albania is sometimes lumped into…
Firstly, this post is not a sales pitch for anything. Rather, it's a how do do it. However, Unless your travel partner is a magician (like your editor’s lovely and incredibly smart better half) anyone can gain from it.
First, Packing as a Strategy: Use a "modular" packing system to stay organized across…
Most of us take commercial airlines when we fly. What choice do we have? Even standard tickets are through the roof now, and everyday flights are usually crammed to the point of exhaustion. After climbing down the stairs to the jetty, you may be looking at yourself saying "why this" and "why me?"
It is…
So close, and yet so far. I Visited a Russian Town Next to the EU. See What It’s Like. We stumbled across this video a couple of days ago and it really piqued our curiosity. As THE BIG WIGS continue to create one battle after another, everyday people find ways of simply…
If you're smart, you'll always endeavour to stay smart. And why not? Time races ahead and its a race to the end. So it only makes sense to go with the flow and leave with a good impression. Who knows what the outcome could be? Libraries are an excellent choice,…
In a tizzy about what you want to do on your next holiday? Spinning around in circles because there are not enough options with sensible solutions? We've been there. And, as you move on age-wise you might just want to hand over the reigns and just sit back and let someone else…
This post is, for me, a Dutch treat. Firstly, it's about birds, those lovely avions who make our hearts flutter just as much as the birds flutter past us themselves. We take walks to find them. We're thrilled when one is even just nearby. Humans have been captivated by birds for…
Those of us with long memories, or of memories being passed down the family tree will recall The River Quai. So, The River Kwai (properly spelled Khwae Yai) remains etched into the global consciousness as a permanent symbol of the human cost of war, the limits of physical endurance, and the moral complexity of leadership.…
If there was ever an organization that deserved eternal kudos from the rest of us humble earthlings, it has to be the National Geographic. National Geographic occupies a unique space in the global consciousness because it successfully transitioned from a specialized scientific club into a worldwide symbol of human curiosity. In 2026, it remains…
Look! Up in the sky. It's a bird! It's plane. No it's joy Jetson. Unless you've been sleeping under a rock for the past ten to 15 years, you'll know that China has leap-frogged pretty much everyone over pretty much everything. For example, over the past 8–10 years…
This time, it's the Americas. There's no getting around, getting around, in the words of Julian Cope. Still, no matter how enjoined to rail and other transport modes you are, cars are still it. It's not a bad thing at all as long as we errant humans stop, look and listen to the environment. (Personally,…