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Yes darling, but is it art?

Creativity takes courage, that's for certain. It's one thing if you send your masterpiece to your friends and family, but it's another thing entirely if you bare yourself to the world. That being said, some of the best artists were laughed at in their early days, and now we spend millions to buy them and…

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Sing a song of Shetland

We would expect that many of you have watched the excellent and riveting police drama, Shetland, on Netflix (or other providers.)  Unlike many police series, Shetland seems to have a base in genuine kindness and thoughts of well-being for others, rather than just a hail of bullets like so many other shows. Shetland itself is an…

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Cycle, with meaning

Sorry, we meant Roughlee. Near Nelson, Lancashire, UK a refuge built in 1912 for mill workers to meet in nature is still open to cyclists for tea and leftwing sympathy. You can clearly see Clarion House from high up on the ridge between Barrowford and Roughlee. Not only because it stands alone on a green…

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$700,000,000 homes and ten car garages.

If you think you know Africa, think again.  The country - and its entrepreneurs are not getting left behind.  Brains and guts exist in every country, and Africa on that list. The Real Wakanda is where oil magnates, textile queenpins, and construction autocrats come home to gargantuan mansions. Africa is home to 1.2 billion inhabitants, and has…

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Why? Because we’re the VatiCAN!

If you haven't visited the Vatican in Rome, please be sure to add it to your list.  Not only are the Vatican buildings, themselves, incredible, but the Vatican museum will blow your mind. As you may know, the Vatican itself is an independent city-state and enclave located within Rome, Italy and it is a distinct…

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Wales on rails

Wales, UK, is a place near and dear to our hearts, here at Matouring.  Often forgotten or misunderstood when compared to larger-than-life London, Manchester, Liverpool and Brighton as destinations, Wales offers a quieter side to the UK.  Green, lush with mountains and valleys that are second to none, if you haven't been to Wales, put…

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Travel with porpoise

What lovely animals, the dolphins.  Gentle, smart, quick, adaptive and friendly.  They seem to have a genuine love of humans.  You just want to kiss them.  Well, here's the next best thing. Get up close to dolphins on this fantastic 9-hour snorkel trip from Hurghada, Egypt. Enjoy a boat cruise to areas in the open sea…

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Yogyakarta blanche

Isn't it a delight when you discover someplace new and it exceeds all of your expectations especially when you don't know what your expectations are?  Yogyakarta is one of those places. The Indonesian city rests in central Java, between the cool breezes of the Indian Ocean and the steamy breath of volcanoes. Travel here and join the…

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Wowee . . Malawi!

Many of us dream of trips to Africa (and some of us have been lucky to do so.)  Big names like Kenya, Botswana and Zambia are always at the forefront of African journeys.  But, Malawi as a destination is still standing somewhat in the shadows, waiting for a turn. Take a lakeside trip like none…

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There is no “we” in ice cream.

We don't know about you, but sometimes we pause and marvel at what amazing machines we are, we humans.  How many automobiles or airplanes live past sixty years?  How many of our fellow creatures on this earth drive those cars or fly those jets?  Makes you think, doesn't it? And why do we live so…

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The hiding boneyard appears

We love Italy, in all of its manic, passionate, explosive, colourful and diverse personality.  Everyday living there almost pushes the best of everyone into living life to the fullest, if not the extreme. And, it has always been this way - for thousands of years.  And, so we are fortunate to live in a day…

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OMG . . LA is so HOLLOW

Los Angeles is often painted as being a vain and vapid place.  All looks and no substance.  Bring your alibis.  (We rather like the place.) But, to be honest, some of LA is, indeed hollow and in some places, shallow.  Some of its buildings, in fact. And they hide an interesting and still relevant and…

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Yes you can Canberra

Sydney is a hard act to follow, when it comes to being in the league of World's Best Cities.  If you've been, you'll never forget it.  If you haven't been, well what are you waiting for? But, Sydney is not the only notable city in Oz.   Meet Canberra – Purpose built as Australia’s capital city, Canberra…

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Camino de Poutine-o

In addition to its other many allures, Canada cannot escape the universal tagging of poutine.  (In case you're not up to date, poutine is a sumptuous Canadian concoction made of french fries, gravy and cheese curds.  It's addictive)  Not that we Candians complain, but c'mon now, there is more to the country than just that. For…

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Skint?

It never fails.  Finally, we're able to travel again, but it doesn't always coincide with our bank balances.  And, of course, the travel companies have sales galore, and yet we're still up the creek without a paddle.  What to do? Well, like it or not, some travel companies feel our pain and look for ways…

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Only the hard, only the strong

Unlike other great cities of ancient fame such as Rome, Athens or Jerusalem, Sparta seems to have disappeared off the map. What remains of the legendary town? A name? An archaeological site? A historical memory? That memory, if it exists at all, is often of a city-state with a mania for martial valour and athleticism, a…

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Ne skie pas

France is a many-splendoured thing;  the food, the wine, the scenery, the joie de vivre.  No matter how many times you visit the country, you always find something new or unexpected. And, anyone who loves winter sports knows that France has some of the best ski runs in the world.  But, alas, things are changing At the…

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Why U?

Why u?  This is not your father's cruise ship. Designed as the first river cruise catering to a more trendy audience, U River Cruises features more experiential itineraries that allow passengers to connect with the cities the boats visit and the people who live there. The ships themselves look nothing like what you might expect: …

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