Apocalyptic comfort from ancient Iran. At its height, around 620 CE, the Sasanian empire ruled over a territory stretching from Jerusalem in the west to Samarkand in the east. The royal court at the ancient city of Ctesiphon, near present-day Baghdad, was the political heart of this vast realm, and its official religion was the…
Where to eat… gluten-free Michelin-star dining in Provence L’AUBERGE LA FENIÈRE, NEAR LOURMARIN An oasis of serenity at the foot of a forest-covered hillside, this Michelin-starred restaurant near Lourmarin has been delighting guests for decades with its Mediterranean cuisine – and three years ago the restaurant went entirely gluten-free and yet kept its star, making…
If you appreciate quality and innovative design, then you will recognise the Samara name. Their products push the boundaries for travellers. Samsara holds a deep belief in creating a world where the inconvenient part of traveling becomes an effortless experience. Samsara Luggage is dedicated to combine and utilize cutting edge technology and design within its products.…
Those of you that know us here at Matouring know that we have a fondness for the UK’s “Place in the Sun” magazine and television show. Focusing on Europe, their television offering, live events and magazine give smart ways to find your ideal location.
Well, they’ve recently placed many of their webinars online now, if…
Want to find the cheapest places to travel in 2020? You’re in the right spot. Welcome to ClubThrifty's annual report on the world’s most affordable travel destinations! We’ve completely updated our rankings for this year, and for the first time ever, we have a new number one…but we’ll get to that in a bit!
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A psychedelic experience can be deeply rewarding, but also carries real risks. Here’s how to avoid a bad trip.
Humans have consumed substances with consciousness-altering properties for millennia. Traditional societies used them in healing rituals, initiation ceremonies and to make contact with the gods and the dead, among other practices. Today they are…
Is this just fantasy? Philosophers and physicists say we might be living in a computer simulation, but how can we tell? And does it matter? Our species is not going to last forever. One way or another, humanity will vanish from the Universe, but before it does, it might summon together sufficient computing power to…
You may think you know Rome. But what Did Ancient Rome Really Look Like? Watch this Ancient Rome reconstruction featuring realistic 3D animation to find out.
Technology is king! Long live technology!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XxA4CX_Ip8&feature=youtu.be
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In April, Israel Benyair, general manager of the Mayflower Inn, got a phone call from a man looking to make a reservation. Located two hours outside of New York City in Washington, Connecticut, the Mayflower has long been an idyllic weekend getaway. But this inquiring guest didn’t want to stay two days, or even two weeks.…
In 1978, the science-fiction author Michael Moorcock wrote the celebrated essay ‘Epic Pooh’ that lambasted J R R Tolkien and his ilk for constructing fantasy universes in which – whatever the ‘there and back again’ meanderings of the plot – nothing ever really changes. Moorcock felt that his own ‘new worlds’ science fiction of the…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZxgBQA7cuYIn 1678, a Chaldean priest from Baghdad reached the Imperial Villa of Potosí, the world’s richest silver-mining camp and at the time the world’s highest city at more than 4,000 metres (13,100 feet) above sea level. A regional capital in the heart of the Bolivian Andes, Potosí remains – more than three and a half…
There is an old trick of which I used to be a master: half waking up, then snoozing my alarm and pushing myself back down into sleep for another five, 10, 50 minutes. Suddenly, though, it has become a lot harder. I now need to sink back into the Land of Nod fast enough to…
This Babylonian Map of the World is a clay tablet containing a labeled depiction of the known world, with a partially surviving description, dated to roughly the 6th century B.C. The map is circular with two outer defined circles. The plan is centered on the Euphrates, flowing from the north to the south of the…
There’s nothing quite like stepping out onto the summit of Masada, the sun beating down on you and the Dead Sea stretching out before you.
This stunning ancient fortress is one of the most visited sites in Israel for a reason, and everyone should aim to visit at least once if planning a visit…
Dave and Iola Brubeck were already living in one masterpiece of modern design when they started thinking about building a second. It was the 1950s, and the jazz legend was touring constantly with his band, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. “The whole group would pile into my dad’s Kaiser Vagabond, drive across the country, and play,…
This timber house built in the 1400s was dismantled and kept in a Buckinghamshire barn - a medieval flat-pack home that's for sale at £100,000... Mention a 'flat-pack' home for sale and you might imagine a latest offering from Ikea, or perhaps something destined for the centre of Tokyo. You're less likely to imagine a…
Hammocks are a great lightweight alternative to a tent when camping or backpacking. While hammock stands let you lounge around in your backyard, the best camping hammocks let you set up a comfortable bed in the great outdoors. Hanging out above the ground on a hammock suspended between trees has always had a magical feel to it,…
We explore some of Wikipedia’s oddities in our 6,079,214-week series, Wiki Wormhole. This week’s entry: Co-Princes of Andorra What it’s about: One two, princes kneel before you, that’s what I said now. Princes, princes who co-rule Andorra, just go ahead now. (And you thought we were kidding last week about trying to get that song…
Walk in the footsteps of your favourite actors and screenwriters around the cinematic world of London. Your guide is a movie enthusiast, armed with weird and wonderful film trivia. Meet your guide in Soho, where you will be put into teams - prepare to have your movie knowledge tested in our Silverscreen Quiz! There are…
I stumbled upon Daphne on the rooftop of a dusky riad in Marrakech. This six-foot Canadienne with man-sized feet was the only other guest there, and she was naked. Or mostly naked, which is startling for me at the best of times, but particularly in Morocco – a conservative north-African Muslim country. “Oh, er, hello!”…