History is a strange and unusual thing. For example, Turkeys were once worshipped like gods. Or, once , 100 Imposters Claimed to Be Marie Antoinette's Dead Son. Napoleon was once attacked by a horde of bunnies. Yes, supposedly these are all true, but you can never tell on the Internet.
But, one…
Unusual
Another history post for you, this time based in Russia. Many of you might remember the Cold War (if not, it was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term cold war is used because there…
Some things are the stuff of legend. Many are just that - legends, and nothing more. And legends can be a tenuous and fleeting thing. But these kinds of "unknowns" always intrigue us here at Matouring. The more obscure the better, we say, especially when you're the curious type, too. …
Let's have a moment of silence for those who have tried and have failed. Here are just a few. We're sure you'll recognize a few: Sir James Dyson, Steven Spielberg, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, J.K. Rowling, Abraham Lincoln, Jerry Seinfeld... the list goes on and on. But, as…
Here's a nutty, but ultimately understandable (maybe) story of how airlines price their flights. One would expect that prices would be based on demand, season of the year, or perhaps even special events (such as the World Cup.) Of course, all of these are true, but when you try and work your way…
C'mon. Admit it. You're still a kid. You still love all of the things that you used to love, even if your bones and muscles don't always agree. Roller coasters. Surfing. Go-karts. You know.
Well, even if your body complains, there are still lots of things to do where you…
Some things beggar belief. Or, maybe we don't have the benefit of understanding the intent. So, let's go straight to the point on this one. Why would someone install a Metro station in the middle of nowhere? You'll find out at the end of it and, as it happens, there is…
Here's a post for the soft-spoken people. The people who bask in the quiet. Those who know the sounds of silence. There are plenty of places to find solace: your spare bathroom. Your car in the garage. Even in an underground bunker if you they'll let you in -…
Your oasis of solitude exists!
It’s lonely at the top. So lay low when you can.
It's fabulous thing to have lots of money. You can more or less do what you want, even if "it makes no sense." Look at Elon Musk. Or Jeff Bezos. Sheesh.
But, back to reality, there are hundreds of wealthy individuals out there who happily and thoughtfully share their riches: …
This is kind of an unusual post for us, as it focuses on the place where we live, as it happens. Every big city has its own unique characteristics. Whether it's the climate, or the views or the language or the food. Some of these characteristics might blend from city to city…
Japan is a wonderland of the beautiful, the mystical, the serene, the playful and the historical. Especially with the latter, if you count years using this imperial era system, this year (2022 on the Western calendar) would be 2681 in Japan. Not many countries can claim that. If we use the standard…
Don't be afraid of the dark. We humans have found a way to conjure up almost any scenario, whether real, imminent or purely fictional. "The end is nigh!" "We only have X number of days on this planet before it implodes!" Well, in our opinion, so far, so good -…
From our viewpoint, Chile is a country that doesn't get enough "travel love," compared to so many other countries. We might be a little bit guilty of that too, but not for long. To be fair, Chile is quite a hike to get to. Flight connections are not always easy, nor cheap.…
Ah, it's a funny old world, isn't it? When things go wrong, you have a few choices. 1. Get angry and throw a fit. 2. Just deal with it - it happens. Or 3 - in this case. Turn it into a laugh-out-loud lesson. An American Airlines passenger arrived…
How low can you go to go big?
We bring you yet another post about where to go when you've run out of places to go. It's something we aim to do as much as we can here at Matouring, as you won't want too much "typical" or "normal" or "been there, done that" we would guess. We've been to lots…
You're the adventuresome type. New places, new faces, new things to do. You have the time, the money and the inclination to venture beyond the the typical. We feel the same way, But, where to go? Fear not, we have dozens and dozens of places to share.
Today's selection…
Pity the poor residents of Gibraltar (sometimes known as "The Rock".) For decades they have been "frozen" in a, so far, dilemma that doesn't seem to have an imminent solution, but does have a looming deadline. (For reference, Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory and headland, on Spain's south coast. It’s dominated by…