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North America

North America

Sleepless in Seattle

The Pacific Northwest in the United States is rather beautiful, especially if you don't have a problem with rain.  It rains a lot here.  Spring, summer and parts of autumn are lovely, as well, but rain is a defining term for this part of the world. And, as we know, rain fills the land and…

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King of the road

We are writing this post when - it appears - the the Covid-19 pandemic is starting to abate, and that many of us can, once more, open our doors, step outside and begin to enjoy life again. And what can be more life-affirming than getting out into nature, and breathing in the air?  That is…

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Tsk! Kids, these days

First, they want an Xbox.  Then they want a car.  And now they want to roller-skate in an airport!  What's next? Well, the rather great TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in New York (we wrote about them here) are actually featuring exactly that - A 50-minute skating session costs $20 per adult and $16 for…

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Let’s be specific: Oregon’s mid-Willamette valley

Many Americans have a way of saying where they live in this format:  "Oh, I come from West Irishtown in the upper Cuyahoga Valley" instead of saying "Cleveland."  Many non-Americans sometimes get confused with that very specific sentence structure.  It's an endearing thing, but it can baffle others. So this article follows that pattern in…

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There’s a snake in my boot

Are you tired of the same old holiday?  That is, sitting on the beach, looking at statues, ziplining, etc? Do you fancy yourself as a cowboy?  If so, then we have some ideas for you. There are places around the world where you can stay at a ranch, rustle cows and wear a hat.  But, if that…

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

I've suffered for my art.  Now it's your turn. Hope springs eternal when it comes to budding entrepreneurs.  "Build it, and they will buy it." But sometimes, maybe not.  There is a museum in Miami focused on vehicles that, on balance, just did not make it.  And the museum is a rollicking fun-filled afternoon of almost-rans  and…

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Tribeca trifecta

Ahhh, New York.  The city that never sleeps.  But fear not, you won't have any sleeping problems whatsoever when you stay at the Walker Hotel Tribeca. An established hotel for decades, the property has had a complete refresh:  clean design, minimalist décor, an excellent location (Tribeca is one of NYC's hippest destinations) and prices that…

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We go LIGO

We here at Matouring just love technology and science.  Everyday there is something new to boggle our minds.  Lately we have been spending some time reading "The God Equation by Michio Kaku."  Mind-blowing, to say the least. "When Newton discovered the law of gravity, he unified the rules governing the heavens and the Earth. Since…

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Dome at last

Some choose to follow their own path.  When you're a retired businessman, what do you do to keep busy?  Fish?  Paint?  Travel?  Build a house consisting of six dome-shaped modules on stilts in Florida, and then never move in? The Cape Romano Dome House - now abandoned - is a house consisting of six dome-shaped…

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The Biltmore is now built even more

If you spend any time on our site, you will know of our unabashed love of the architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.  His influence on architecture and design are still preeminent to many designers, architects and builders. When you enter one of his creations, you will never forget it. Sadly, some of his work has been…

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Un poco loco?

Un poco loco = a little crazy Covid-19 Are you tired of sitting around the house, but am not sure when or if you can travel?  One option, of course, is just to bite your tongue, suck it up, etc.  Vancouver?  Toronto?  New York? Another idea - sensible and not expensive - is to treat…

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Blues cruise

Let us clarify that you won't get the blues when you take a Viking cruise down the Mississippi river. But, this article is all about being there. Stretching for 2,350 miles down the United States, from Minnesota's Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico, Viking cruises on the "Mighty Mississippi" offer a different type of…

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Behold! The ancient land of Cahokia

The United States of America is a place of many contrasts.  But, do you think it as of an ancient civilization that - 1000 years ago - had that parties that went on for days?  Likely not.  Thats Mexico, isn't it? Cohokia, was home to the largest pre-columbian city north of Mexico. The city was…

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Border hopping

The modern-day relationship between Canada and the United States has always been a good one.  Nearly always peaceful, the two countries share many similarities:  language, laws, trade and more. Cross-border travel is another.  The width of Canada and the USA are immense, 7069 kilometres from the west to the east, to be exact.  Getting around can…

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Elon Musk is loopy

Well, that Elon Musk is always doing something.  Whether it's the reading the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica at nine years old, selling his first company for $307 million, founding PayPal and creating Tesla automobiles and starting SpaceX to send humanity to infinity and beyond. One of his passions is transportation, and his Hyperloop system is well…

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