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Roamin’ palace

In certain parts of the world, history sometimes pops up out of nowhere, to the point of where you can literally trip over it.  Europe is certainly one of those places:  tread carefully, as you might be standing on a 6th century prince. In 1960 a man was laying a water pipe underneath the quaint…

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Wherefore art now?

This may sound trite, but art is art, isn't it?  Artists follow their muse to amaze / amuse / surprise us with what the human mind can conjure up.  We may not always "get it" but there never seems to be a shortage of those who create something compelling. Interestingly, there are also those who…

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Roadkill

It is almost certain that you recently interacted closely with an invisible giant, as the Harvard landscape ecologist Richard T T Forman has described it. Others have called roads ‘the single most destructive element in the process of habitat fragmentation’, declaring that ‘Few forces have been more influential in modifying the Earth than transportation.’  But, the engineering…

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12th century DIY

Looking for a new home improvement project? Well, we have the projects for you! A choice of seven.  Perfect for any level of skills.  Building materials are easy to find.  Good bones to start of your project.   Includes helpful videos. What could possibly go wrong? Read more here courtesy of AtlasObscura.com You'll want to visit…

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No fun Kofun

Japan is a glorious place, with charming people and an endless supply of things to see and do. But, one of the most intriguing are the Mozu / Kofu burial tombs just outside of Osaka.  The only problem is that you can't actually see much of these marvels.  (Still worth visiting, though.) Although the iconic Mozu Tombs…

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Guilt-free sea

You'll probably be asking what a cargo ship has to do with cruises.  Well, right now, not much.  But, watch this video to see what the smart boffins are doing now to help create a better world. Dubbed ‘the Tesla of the seas’ this fully-electrified, fully-autonomous cargo ship is already making waves. How does it work?…

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Can you vouch for that?

As if the Covid-19 pandemic isn't confusing enough, you sometimes have to deal with in-progress trips that seem to be slow-progress or no-progress.  And you paid for them, already. When the coronavirus hit in 2020, many travelers had no choice but to cancel upcoming flights. Willis Orlando, senior product operations specialist at Scott’s Cheap Flights (affiliate friends…

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Muscat love

Muscat, Oman, is likely another one of those places that you've heard of, but have never visited.  Well, let us tempt you with a tour to remember. Discover the main attraction of Wadi Shab, a magical waterfall within a cave. Take a 40-minute hike to reach the destination, where you can also dive into a couple…

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Moscow, now

Russia, in particular Moscow, has so many magnificent buildings, structures and the accompanying history that goes with them, that it should definitely be on your "must see" list if it isn't already. One thing that the Russians should be proud of is their capacity to rehabilitate forlorn structures into the original magnificence that they once had. The…

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Key West for Free / Less

Key West (Florida USA) is everything that they say it is.  Chilled. Hectic. Rich. Artistic.  And, most of all, sunny and warm.  Definitely worth a trip if you haven't been. But like most popular places, it isn't cheap.  So how can you have a good holiday without having to sell your children? Lonely Planet have some ideas…

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The party’s over

Like all of us, eventually we need to retire.  And so do ships (and planes.) We have all likely been on at least one cruise, and you'll comprehend the scope and size of those behemoths of the seas.  But, have you given any thought when it's time for the ship to be put to pasture? It's a…

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Spinal Tap Tower

As the famous circus magnate, P. T. Barnum used to say, there's a sucker born every minute.  Ain't that the truth?  Just scroll through social media if you want proof. Here's a story that will surely make you scratch your head, laughing all the while.  Was this an accident?  Purposefully enacted?  Vengeance?  As Tom Scott explains,…

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Let’s Bora Bora, Laura

No doubt you've heard of Bora Bora, perhaps somewhere in your distant past.  But, maybe you don't know too much about it.  It sounds intriguing and a little bit exotic, but what's it all about, really? And how do you get there and, once there, even get around?  Well did you know that there are…

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Dread, Bath and beyond

Politics is never straightforward, and when it comes to ancient laws and customs, it can be even more discombobulated. Not far from Salisbury, UK is a ruin called Old Sarum.  Once grand and formidable, it is now a curious and somewhat sad example of where the rich stay rich and the poor . .  well,…

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Finally!

If you visit our site, you'll know that we are huge proponents of rail travel.  What's not to like?  High-speed, comfort and better for the environment. Most countries have highspeed rail options in place, and have had for many years.  But there has always been one rather glaring exception - the USA.  Train travel works there…

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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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In the zone

The EU (European Union) is a powerful and rather marvelous thing to behold.  In addition to corralling 27 disparate countries into a unified and progressive force, they also respect and hold true the values that all countries should aspire to. So, it is both a joy to see that the EU will be including Croatia under…

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