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Activity Adventure Do Something Different Europe History Life of Luxury Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Got Aeroflot?

To many, Russia is an alluring, slightly foreboding dream destination.  Perhaps too many films make the wrong impression of the country, but the pull to visit there is strong, and for good reason. One romantic option for travel in Russia is possibility of riding the historic and pricey Trans-Siberian Express from Venice to Moscow -…
2021-10-120Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink Fun Life of Luxury Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Well, PARDON, madame

English wait staff are tiresomely polite. The French are radically rude. They’re the two stereotypes, anyway. What tourists don’t understand about ‘rude’ French waiters... They’re not being ‘rude’ – they’re being real… Is that the case?  Or is it that some patrons are annoying?  Or all of the above.  How should one handle situations…
2021-09-270Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Life of Luxury Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller World Culture

The prettiest French cars

We love automobiles here at Matouring.  Especially European cars.  And even more especially French vehicles.  Por quoi?  They have always seemed to go beyond the pale, seeking smart functionality with undeniable style. Our favourite French marque is Citroën.  From the 2CV to the latest Cactus models, they have never been shy about pushing the envelope.…
2021-09-160Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Fun History Inspiration LGBTQ Life of Luxury Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Technology The Thinking Traveller World Culture

A live-in legend

If you frequent our site, you'll know how much we love architecture:  it's a part of life, especially when it is executed with creativity, originality and love.  We especially like the Bauhaus and modern movements from the start of the twentieth century. It is often almost impossible to visit, let alone stay in some of…
2021-09-120Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only History Life of Luxury Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Brave soldier, man of letters, publisher, first Grand Master of Neapolitan Masonry

Raimondo di Sangro Prince of Sansevero (Torremaggiore 1710 – Naples 1771) was an original exponent of the first European Enlightenment. A brave soldier, man of letters, publisher, first Grand Master of Neapolitan Masonry, he was – more than anything else – a prolific and enterprising inventor and patron. In the underground laboratories of his palace,…
2021-09-110Comments

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Adventure Do Something Different History Nature & the Environment Outdoors Special Interest Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual Volunteering

Big birds

Chernobyl: Accidental Wildlife Sanctuary The accident at Chernobyl nuclear power plant resulted in complete abandonment of a huge territory in Belarus as well as land on the Ukrainian side, creating the largest ever experiment as to what nature does when people leave. 30 years later the area is the nearest that Europe has to a…
2021-09-070Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink History Life of Luxury Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Moutarde plus tard

We would imagine that many of our readers like - perhaps even love - France, like we do.  What a place!  The variety!  The quality!  The countryside!  Paris! But here is a place that you will know of, but may not have visited - Dijon. Dijon is an unheralded French city that is worthy of…
2021-08-040Comments

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Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

Controversy

With the benefit of hindsight, we can look back at things that raised the blood pressure of "the people," but can now look back and wonder what all of the fuss was about. An example is Eileen Gray’s modernist villa E-1027, built  in 1929.  It resides on the Cap Moderne site.  (The Cap Moderne Association is…
2021-07-290Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History Lifestyle Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Special Interest Sustainability The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

People, get ready

For years there have been jokes about the "tin foil hats" people:  the doomsayers,  the mountain men, the survivalists, the crazies, the Government Plot believers.  Others would look askance at them, walk to the other side of the street to avoid them. Well, there is no doubt that mother earth is struggling, and we humans may…
2021-07-260Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different Europe Fun Health LGBTQ Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Wilderness World Culture

The campings

Europeans love to camp.  There are literally thousands of them dotted around the continent.  Not only are they plentiful, they are usually in beautiful, if not stunning, locations and are a very cost effective way to holiday. You can enjoy all of the traditional ways of camping, including tents and resorts, but hiring a fuel-efficient…
2021-07-120Comments

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Adventure Do Something Different Europe Fun History Nature & the Environment Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Shockwaves throughout Europe

INTERPOL.  EUROPOL. SURVEILLANCE.  EYE IN THE SKY.  In early May 2021, a Belgian farmer hit international news when he moved a stone out of the way of his tractor, and accidentally shifted the French-Belgian border 2.3m into France. Or did he? Is it actually possible to move a border just by moving a stone? And…
2021-07-060Comments

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Activity Alternative Lifestyle Do Something Different Europe Fun Health LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Outdoors Partytime Relaxation Special Interest Unusual

You can leave your hat on

So a pickpocket went to a nudist beach... He hated it.... We would imagine that there are some people who, after being held captive in their homes due to the pandemic, are looking for a way to break free.  Even if it simply means walking outside without a mask. Likely though, there are those who want…
2021-06-170Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health History Life of Luxury Outdoors Partytime Relaxation Special Offers / Deals Travel Solo World Culture

The Mercadona mystery

If you've been to Spain (and if you haven't, get going!) you'll likely recognise the name Mercadona.  It is one of the country's largest grocery chains. As you probably know, many companies (like us, for example) assemble their names by concatenating one or more words together into something recognisable, but not a "real" word. Some have wondered…
2021-06-150Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History Life of Luxury Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Can you Canfranc?

War is hell.  There have been too many.  But, humans always find a way to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start again. After the end of the First World War, during the euphoria following one of the most awful periods of world history, the Pau-Somport rail tunnel had been driven beneath the Pyrenees…
2021-06-050Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Life of Luxury Relaxation Spend Wisely Sustainability Switching

Au revoir, Paris. Vous allez me manquer.*

Je vous aime . .  the heart of Paris, a city that has beckoned artists, philosophers, romantics and young wide-eyes over the millennia. But now, especially in the times of Covid-19, millions of French people who would rather die than leave this city home are now packing their bags and saying au revoir. Watch this short…
2021-06-040Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink Fun Life of Luxury Partytime Special Interest Travel Solo World Culture

Star wars

Food fans are aware of where food has gone in the past decade or so.  Between blow-torched puddings to accompaniments made of foam, our ancestors wouldn't know what to make of it all. However, one constant that has always remained with chefs everywhere is the inexhaustible desire to have a Michelin star on the door.  This…
2021-06-010Comments

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