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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Fun Nature & the Environment North America Outdoors Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual

Aria of the desert

Isn't it a delight when you run across something so unusual, so unexpected and somewhat puzzling, as well?  We here at Matouring love that kind of thing - it gives us faith that not is all normal all of the time. Here is an example: Marta Becket's Amargosa Opera House.  Located on a barren junction of…
2021-11-110Comments

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Adventure Do Something Different Fun History Life of Luxury North America Outdoors Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Echo Bay, far away in time

It is sometime a surprise (and sometimes a disapointment) when legendary places seem to blow away in the wind overnight, even after years of shining in the sun. In this case, we're featuring Lake Mead's Lodge, in Nevada, USA. The lake itself is famous for its shining blue presence in the dry, dry desert, and, also, a…
2021-11-100Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different Fun Partytime Special Interest Special Offers / Deals The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo

Well, to be honest . . .

Imagine if you had some sneaky people in your life.  Those who you're never quite sure if they're telling the truth or pulling your leg. Well, let's have a moment of silence for TripAdvisor (affiliates of ours, by the way.) The company issued a report, which analyzed a full year's worth of data on reviews submitted by…
2021-11-100Comments

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Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink Fun LGBTQ Life of Luxury Lifestyle Partytime Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo Unusual World Culture

Even the building is McChic

Who doesn't love Paris?  The home of art, style, fashion, history and style. Especially the latter.  Paris is SO chic that even its McDonalds is skinny. Close to Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris, it is located in a timberframe building and extremely narrow. The interior of this restaurant is very special too. Decorations in the same…
2021-11-100Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only History Nature & the Environment North America Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo Unusual World Culture

Stave awake

Talk about accuracy.  Have you heard of Stave churches?  When the Viking finally converted to Christianity (11th to 12th century) they certainly did it in style. The churches themselves are made entirely of wood, often without even nails or screws. Their name comes from the unique post-and-lintel system used in construction—thick wooden posts known as…
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Activity Caribbean Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual

Message in a bottle

Sending out an SOS . .  Some things are just not meant to be. The beautiful island of Montserrat is known for many things - breathtaking - almost otherworldly - scenery, surrounded by glorious seas, world-class architecture and, at one point, one of the top recording studios in the world. George Martin (probably the fifth…
2021-11-100Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different Fun History North America Outdoors Relaxation The Thinking Traveller Wilderness

Low-key Smokys

The Great Smoky Mountains, popularly known as the Great Smokies or the Smokies, is a mountain chain in the Southeastern United States that runs along the North Carolina-Tennessee border. This mountain chain is one of the subranges of the Appalachian Mountains and is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains forming the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. Read more…
2021-11-060Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different History Inspiration Middle East Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Prosaic mosaic

As we humans (supposedly) get smarter, we should also do smart things.  That's not always the case, but here it is.  In 2010, workers encountered an especially impressive mosaic while digging the foundation for a new hotel in Antakya, Turkey. They found an ancient mosaic measuring 9,000 square feet, making it the largest intact mosaic ever…
2021-11-060Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different Fun Nature & the Environment North America Outdoors Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

Dive light in

Deep blue waters that glow in the dark come night-time sound like something out of a fairytale. However, that's exactly what the world's bioluminescent bays offer, and they make for a pretty spectacular sight. The eye-catching effect is actually the result of a high concentration of plankton which, when they move, causes the waters to light up…
2021-11-040Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Fun Inspiration Middle East Special Interest Spend Wisely Sponsorship Sustainability The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Miles of tiles

Many specialist skills, those creating and molding incredible pieces over the decades, have long since disappeared into our overall void of mass-manufactured sameness.  But, fortunately, there are those who still carry the torch of the artisan.  Saied Hussain has been hand making tiles out of cement for over 50 years. He says he’s one of the…
2021-11-020Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Life of Luxury Romance Special Interest The Thinking Traveller

Like, how much actual money is there in the world?

If you added up all the money from all the countries in the world, how much would it amount to?  The short answer is, probably a lot. All jokes aside, to make this question answerable, let's start by asking, "How much money is there in actual United States dollars?" Since the statistics for the U.S. are…
2021-11-020Comments

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Activity Adventure Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Distinctive and immediately recognizable

The architecture of Japan is one of the things that sets the country apart from others. It's very distinctive and immediately recognizable, and something whose charm beckons out to many tourists. While in cities like Tokyo, where landscapes change continuously as older buildings give way to new and modern ones, there are areas where you can take a look…
2021-11-020Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History Lifestyle Partytime Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Uh . . . coffee-flavoured coffee?

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…
2021-11-010Comments

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Activity Do Something Different Europe Fun Life of Luxury Mindfulness Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

A penny for your plots, my dear

Buying a home is pricey, unless you plan on moving to the small town of Legrad in Croatia, in which case, it’s unbelievably cheap - as low as 1¢ US. Legrad once had the second-biggest population in Croatia, but when the Austro-Hungarian empire collapsed, new borders were formed. And the town — which is on the…
2021-11-010Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different For Women Only History Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo Wilderness

Not just G adventures: 5G!

The more you travel, the more you want to travel.  And each time you go, you want even more.  More adventures, more variety, more experiences, more personal. If this sounds like you, our affiliate friends G Adventures are the travel guides for you.  Never the typical tour, they have the choices to take you way…
2021-10-310Comments

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Adventure Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

Wonders worth searching for

Many of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World collapsed into rubble a long time ago. The Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria, both of which were destroyed by earthquakes. Some of these wonders perhaps never existed at all, like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. We are going to take a look at…
2021-10-310Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different Europe Fun Health Nature & the Environment Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Wilderness

Have you packed your bike?

Look!  It's a Saab! Let's face it, exercise is a must-have if you want to slide your way into a healthy old age.  Walking is a natural first choice, and it requires no major equipment outlay. But, riding a bicycle takes your exercise - and fun - to another level entirely.  Bikes these days are…
2021-10-310Comments

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