If you're a regular reader of our site, you know how much we love rail travel. In these times of climate change, companies and nations are failing to meet their objectives to reduce emissions and embrace renewable energy. Humans - in many places - are addicted to their automobiles.
As we always say, rail…
We live in North America, but have lived in other parts of the world, too. It still boggles our minds how so many the residents of this part of Mother Earth still cling to the idea that a fossil-fuel burning vehicle is the way to go when it comes to getting around. Admittedly, some have…
Mostly, when we travel, we have already targeted the destinations where we'd like to visit. Paris, London, Cancun, China and the USA are generally at the top of the lists - no surprise. And, there is no shortage of other locations that are calling our names. But, visiting these desirable locations…
St. Lucia, that's where! St. Lucia is proof that all islands are not created equal. Named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse, it’s the only country named after a female historical figure—but that’s not its only claim to fame.
[] The island’s natural, unspoiled beauty has helped St. Lucia earn the distinction of being awarded the…
Even though the world - more or less - appears to be out of the woods when it come to Covid and how it keeps popping up its ugly little head, many of us are still reluctant to commit to a holiday, even though we really need one in the worst way. So what can…
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…