If you're not aware, the Bayeux Tapestry is a 70-metre-long embroidered cloth that depicts the events of the Norman conquest of England, culminating in the Battle of Hastings. This was a turning point in not only the shaping of England, but it also created shockwaves that reverberated throughout Europe as well. The tapestry was likely…
Every so often - including now - "news" pops up about the legendary / notorious Los Angeles Cecil Hotel. Located in downtown LA, the neighbourhood is populated by characters that might appear in a Tom Waits song. It's not for the nervous. The Cecil (now known as "Stay on Main") has a history of unfortunate…
Australia - there is no place like it on earth. The food...the wine. Everyone tends to think - naturally - of places like Sydney or Melbourne. But look beyond and see what other joys await you. Broome, for example. Broome’s exotic pearling town past has left a rich history and a unique multicultural mix of…
It comes as no surprise that Europe has been around for almost ever. And, ancient Europe - crumbly castles and all - are still in place for us to marvel, gasp and dream about. Medieval times—most often called the Middle Ages—refers to a period of about 1000 years between the fall of the Roman Empire and the…
History lesson. Bermuda, a British Dependent Territory, consists of about 138 islands and islets, with all the major islands aligned on a hook-shaped, but roughly east-west, axis and connected together by road bridges. Despite this complexity, Bermudians usually refer to Bermuda as "the island". The islands are composed of low hills separated by fertile depressions,…
Those in the know, know that Central Europe is still a hidden secret in many ways. And one of the most beautiful and modern is Prague, in the Czech Republic. If you have not explored this part of Europe, then you are missing a treat. The Czech Republic is not a geographically large country, but…
G Adventures, based here in Vancouver, Canada has a long history of showing intrepid, curious travelers the world, but with a conscience. This is something that we all need. Learn more. Here is their story.... Changing the world through travel: that’s been our goal since 1990. Sure, call us dreamers (wouldn’t be the first time),…
Absinthe is historically described as a distilled, highly alcoholic beverage. It is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from botanicals, including the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium, together with green anise, sweet fennel, and other medicinal and culinary herbs. In Paris, during the 1920's, it became the favourite beverage of choice for artists, musicians, debutantes and…
Matouring.com is especially pleased to announce the addition of a new partner, ebookers.com We have a long history with ebookers. A part of the Expedia Group, ebookers has offices throughout Europe, with intimate knowledge of their locales. "At ebookers we’re passionate about travel. We believe in more surprising, more extraordinary, more rewarding travel experiences.…
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…
With their lofty towers, glittering ballrooms, geometric gardens and all that gilded finery, no one does castles better than France. From the Dordogne’s renaissance piles flanked by dusty olive groves and pretty hilltop villages to the turret-studded landscape of the Loire Valley, French châteaux are a brilliant display of the country’s rich architectural and cultural…
Rock art, that is paintings and carvings on natural rock formations, is one of the earliest forms of creative expression and a universal phenomenon among prehistoric societies, in this case, Indian. An instrument of communication rather than simply art, it is an assemblage of material culture which provides a glimpse into the lives of people…
In 1984 when I first started traveling solo I had no one to mentor me. If there were other women around my age doing what I was doing I had no way of finding them. After all, we hadn't yet gotten to a point in cyber history where most people had computers in their homes.…
In the course of the nearly thirty years of his practice, Sir David Adjaye’s projects have been realized on five continents. Here he reflects on what kinds of homes we build, and how we live in them. They include cultural and historical landmarks—such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, D.C.,…
At first glance, Bob Damron’s Address Book reads like any other travel guide. Bars, restaurants, hotels and businesses are grouped by city and state, their names and addresses listed in alphabetical order. An introductory note reassures readers that the information contained within the volume is up-to-date, while classifications written in abbreviated parentheticals offer travelers additional details on specific establishments: An…
A visual history of Monaco's Rose Ball The annual ball was established by Princess Grace of Monaco in 1954, and now raises money for her charitable foundation. Each year, it sees the Monagesque royal family hosting the glamorous and the good from around the globe, with a special theme dictating the dress code. From Princess…
The ancient Egyptian burial site of Saqqara has been studied for more than a century, due to the importance of the location for political, religious and architectural history. One of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. But a new “born-digital” publication by UC Santa Cruz associate history…
The UK government’s current plan to ‘tackle unauthorised traveller camps’ and ‘give the police new powers to arrest and seize the property and vehicles of trespassers who set up unauthorised encampments’ follows a long line of legislation aimed primarily at Travellers and Gypsies. Past regimes, from the Tudors to the present, have attacked the culture…
HEARTLANDS: ZOSHIGAYA Small winding streets and low-rise houses. Zoshigaya is only a short walk away from the malls, highways and flashing lights of Ikebukuro, but feels like a silent suburb in comparison. This homely heartland has maintained its Showa-era (1926 – 1989) atmosphere, with winding lanes lined with family homes and small shops selling everyday…
California is the largest state of the United States by population, and the third largest by area, located on its coast to the Pacific Ocean. California has natural attractions as well as theme-parks and bustling city life: Southern California is home to such popular attractions as Disneyland, Hollywood and the beaches in Malibu that inspired…