We're sure that more than a few of our readers are avid scuba divers, and we'll bet that even more would like to be. Read on, as we have some great options Pioneered by Jacques Cousteau in the 1940s, scuba can be meditative and zen or thrilling and dynamic. Moving weightlessly in three…
We're big fans of camping, especially because it can be so economical. From throwing your sleeping bags and tent into the back of your car, all the way up to renting a comfortable campervan, it's a great way to see the world without going bankrupt. We're sure that many of you consider camping as…
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…
If you haven't tries churros yet, then run, don't walk, to your local Latin eatery. You will likely not leave your chair for some time, so wear comfortable clothes. Be prepared to relax after eating them, as they are deceptively "narcotic" in their hedonistic scrumptiousness. But what are churros? A churro…
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…
We could be wrong, but it feels like Covid is on the decline and that we can again breath a collective sigh of relief, pun intended. But, to be sure, it's not gone completely so be safe out there, as they say. And, as thanks, we can start to live our lives again but,…
As you travel, you're almost always surprised and delighted when, in the least likely of places, a house or an office or some form of public works stuns you with its beauty or originality. In today's world of cookie-cutter homes and offices, we're thankful when an art lover with money collides with designers who…
All cities have their secrets. Some light, some dark, some darker. Some are dark, some became that way beyond their control. Some may remember past days and glories, while others will have no recollection at all. That is the way of life.
Here, we talk about a hidden and - for the most part - forgotten…
Finding the Holy Grail would be, well . . . like finding the Holy Grail.
For background, The Holy Grail (French: Saint Graal, Breton: Graal Santel, Welsh: Greal Sanctaidd, Cornish: Gral) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Different traditions describe it as a cup, dish or stone with miraculous powers that provides eternal youth or sustenance in infinite abundance, often…
We travel a lot, and we love Venice. We've been there many times. You never know what you'll find, as not only does the city change (festivals, art, new places to eat) but it also stays the same and you can follow its ever-changing pulse if you so desire. But this post is about a…
It's not easy being important. Above and beyond all of your daily duties, you have even more activities that fill up the rest of the day. And that day often turns into night, since you're so busy.
But some important people just can't get a break.
Pity poor Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish Prime Minister. Smart, young, handsome…
Don't get us wrong: we love David Lynch and all of his idiosyncracies. The fact that Hollywood has permitted this unusual man to create one bizarre product after another says it all. He's paved the way for dozens of other "auteurs," most of which pale in comparison to the master.
But, Mr. Lynch doesn't just sit…
... with the sound of savings! Chances are, when you think of visiting Europe, you might find yourself defaulting to the "classic" locations: Italy, Spain, France etc. And as much as we love those places, too, there are so many other countries that are "bubbling under" that deserve a little love from you. One of…
Even better than the real thing.
The annual festival of Els Enfarinats (Valencian pronunciation: [elz amfaɾiˈnats]) takes place in the town of Ibi in Alicante, Spain on December 28,[1] as part of celebrations related to the Day of the Innocents. Els enfarinats comes from the Valencian word for "breading", and roughly translate to "the breaded ones" or "the floured ones". In the day-long festival, participants known…
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…
Yeah, yeah yeah.
We love old. Old places, old things, old ideas, old values. And we love the fact that there's stuff even older than us.
So it thrills us to let you know (if you don't already) about Historic Hotels Worldwide. As you might guess, they're exactly what it says on the label: hotels of note…
Nearly every expat or regular visitor can remember their first words in Spanish. They may not be the first you were taught, or learned from a self-teaching course pack, but the ones that most stuck in your head, or the first sentence you were able to pronounce without hesitating.
But did you know that there's more…
When the Romans built things, they built them to last. Just take a look at Rome itself, with the Parthenon and its companion buildings. But here is another rather spectacular example of the Romans building things to last. The Tower of Hercules is an ancient Roman lighthouse on a peninsula about 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi)…
Europeans generally like being with each other, visiting each other's countries, and sharing all that it means to be European.
But, as you know, it wasn't always like this. There were headlong battles over land, domains and royalty. These conflicts left scars.
But it isn't what you may think. In fact, there is a day in August…
Now, here is some smart information. Have you every arrived in a phenomenal city, only to have a room with a view . . . of a brick wall? It happens to all of us. Well, here are some top places to stay for you, and you won't go bankrupt. And remember that when you…