Europe is filled with history - sometimes you literally trip over it - but the best art is in the museums. And if you've been in any of the European museums. you'll know that much of the world's best art is contained in them. And, of course, that's because some of the world's best art…
There is nothing like spending time outside, breathing in the air, feeling the glow of the sun (or rain) as you walk peacefully through what nature has provided. Does that sound good to you? Well, if you love nothing more than getting out in the great outdoors and immersing yourself in nature, birdwatching is…
When you travel, you never know what to expect, even when you scour the web, brochures and videos. It's full of surprises. But sometimes first impressions may not be accurate. So, when we recently visited Peru, we stayed in a variety of places, of all types. Some were supremely outfitted with beautiful…
If you’ve never heard the term "fifth-freedom flights," you might be missing out on a lucrative way to snag a deal or use your frequent flyer miles. But to explain why, we have to start from the early days of airline regulation: Back in 1944, airlines and governments from around the world got together in…
My gosh, we’d really like to go off-grid right now. Somewhere isolated. Somewhere barren but still beautiful. Somewhere where you almost feel like you’ve reached the very edge of the planet. The island of Hamneskär, off Sweden’s western coast, is just that sort of place. For decades, this rocky island has been home to a lighthouse,…
We always get thrilled when we hear of another groundbreaking (literally and figuratively) archaeological excavation. Due to technology, they're happening ever more frequently with sometimes stunning quality. Situated in southeastern Turkey, the subterranean city of Matiate has recently been unearthed and is truly gasp-inducing in its size and quality. To give you an…
The force is strong, young one. It’s been 45 years since the first Star Wars blew us all away in theaters, and the impact and memories of that first film (and many of the others) are an embedded part of the psyches of most generations, worldwide. Classics do not pay justice to the film franchise.…
By Patricia Filipovic, Senior writer So, you're going on an international vacation! You've figured out your budget and picked a place that should fall within said budget. Planned the itinerary and set a date. What else needs doing? What can you do beforehand to prepare?My travel mantra: Prepare for the unexpected. But mitigate wherever…
Sometimes, you just need to fight. But, sometimes you need to know when to quit. Here's an example. Dublin Airport received over 12,200 noise complaints from a single person in 2021, which totals nine out of ten of all complaints received by the airport: that's over 90% of all complaints. The…
The Sixties were a wild time. Free love. The Beatles. International travel and intrigue. Modern art. Groovy personalities. Two of which we feature here: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Arguably among the top ten stars during that spectacular decade, they made the world their oyster. One of their best…
... if you don't eat him first. As if modern life isn't good enough as it is, we have something that will make your day complete - even if you don't survive. You've been to London, or Paris, or Buenos Aires. But have you ever been eaten by Godzilla? We'll bet…
People often gasp when they visit British Columbia (BC). Visit places like Vancouver, and you will see a shiny new metropolis bursting with energy, diversity, world-awareness and history.
This article is about some of the history.
Fishermen still ply the seas. The amount of timber in BC is sometimes hard to fathom - it just goes on…
Nothing like walking along a beach and then - hey presto! - finding out that it's for nudists. That happened to us here in Vancouver, of all places. Luckily, our sunglasses were in place and covered our eyes even if they didn't hide our embarassment. We're not prudes, by any stretch -…
Sweden, like most of the Nordic countries of Europe, is a marvelous place. Clean, progressive, egaliatarian, world-aware and full of smart people whom we could learn a lot from. But one thing that the Swedes don't do is small talk. No chit-chat. Short and sweet. Unlike most other cultures in the…
We're not too young here at Matouring, so we remember things. Back in the 1970's, the "earth" movement really took hold. Healthy food, lifestyle and clean thoughts were at the top of the list for most "aware" folks back then. Out of that heady period came a genuine interest in making the…
Despite all that (most) people and companies try to do to save the planet, we're still on the path of no return unless we pull our collective fingers out and get it together. The most bothersome thing is that we have most of the technology and the knowledge. But it's the willpower (or…
Do you camp? Are you a camper? Is this the life that makes you most happy? You're not alone. In the U.S., the proportion of campers who camped for the first-time in 2020 was five times greater than what was observed in 2019. And statistics would lead us to believe that…
As if going on safari isn't enough, our affiliate friends go2Africa are bringing the event into the 21st century. Electric safari vehicles are rapidly getting into pole position for zero-emission, carbon-neutral holidays in Africa. From Kenya to Botswana, a handful of lodges have embraced a low-impact approach to sustainable eco-tourism. Discover the benefits of…
Especially after Covid, probably the first thing on everyone's mind is getting OUT of the house and into the fresh air. There are so many possible choices about what we can do and where we can go, but do you really want to get into the fresh air of nature?
There are some creatures that…
We think it's safe to say that most, if not all, of our erudite readers are always happy to eat Mexican food. As much as we love Taco Bell, there is nothing like the real thing, made by real Mexican cooks (and, ideally by someone's madre.) And, the sheer number of dishes that grace the…