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    11
    Nov
    2011
    11:57am, EST

    Last call for 'Where in the World' photos

    Barbados Tourism Authority

    Known for its iconic reef boulders and rough Atlantic surf, Bathsheba Beach, in the parish of St. Joseph, is a striking and memorable spot on the island's less crowded east coast.

    Day 5 of Matt Lauer's spin around the globe brought the TODAY anchor to the beautiful tropical island of Barbados.

    All week, we've been collecting your vacation photos from Namibia's Skeleton Coast, Madrid, Spain, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Jungfraujoch, Switzerland -- all itinerary stops on Lauer's whirlwind "Where in the World" journey.

    Now it's time to share your Barbados memories.

    Click here to get started

    This week's It's a Snap gallery will be compiled solely of your vacation photos from the destinations Lauer visited.

    Send them in quickly -- time is running out.

    Full coverage: Where in the World is Matt Lauer?

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  • 11
    Nov
    2011
    7:10am, EST

    Matt basks in the Barbados sun to end Where in the World trip

    Matt held a party of epic proportions in Barbados this morning to close out his week-long, global journey around the world.

    To reveal the location, Matt did a hilarious take on the famed Old Spice commercials. Hint: Matt ended up on a horse. Watch it here!

    "Clearly Matt is losing it," Ann joked as the three anchors laughed at Matt's reveal. "Best one yet," they agreed.

    Blog: Producer tells how she made it snow in Barbados

    As for Barbados, who can blame Matt for kicking back on the beach for a bit?

    He's traveled almost 30,000 miles over four continents. Matt deserves a bit of R&R, and that's just what he's getting at the stunning Sandy Lane Resort.

    Blog: Matt explains the 2 clues he gave for Barbados

    About a quarter of a million people live on this island, which is part of the Lesser Antilles. The locals have a great expression: "Life didn't begin on Barbados, but it was perfected here."

    For 70 miles, the beaches that ring this tropical island make up some of the best views in the world. 

    Blog: How'd Matt get to Barbados? Find out here

    TODAY

    But you're missing out if you just stay on the sand. Jump into the water (a balmy 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and swim with sea turtles or surf in paradise. 

    Simon Cowell, the Beckhams and Oprah Winfrey are just some of the celebrities who vacation at the island's exclusive resorts. 

    Slideshow: See the other locations Matt's visited on his 10 trips 

    Matt was joined this morning by Giada De Laurentiis, who helped the pair learn about calypso music and festivals. Locals wear colorful costumes and dress up as characters called "Shaggy Bear" and "Mother Sally." 

    Musician Alison Hinds also taught Matt and Giada a few dance moves, even though Matt tried to get out of it with a convenient "snowshoeing accident" excuse from his trip to Switzerland's Jungfraujoch.


    It's an island of religion and rum: There are 365 churches and 1,600 rum shops in the country.

    TODAY Travel Guide: Tropical island offers relaxation, rum

    Giada also put her cooking skills to good use by showing Matt how to make some local delicacies, like a monkey cocktail! Watch the video below.

    What else happened this morning? Local calypsonian Mighty Gabby serenaded Matt, who Gabby called "master of the TV," with a song he wrote specifically for our global traveler.

    Travel expert Nilou Motamed also spotlighted the best places to stay and see when visiting the beautiful island.

    And with a few more gifts for our anchors and a little fun in the water at Giada's expense (watch the hilarious video here), Matt finished up his 10th Where in the World journey in paradise.

    Let us know in the comments if you'd like to visit Barbados!

    Relive the previous days' locations:
    Complete coverage of Where in the World is Matt Lauer
    Day 1: Skeleton Coast in Namibia | TODAY Travel Guide
    Day 2: Madrid, Spain | TODAY Travel Guide 
    Day 3: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | TODAY Travel Guide
    Day 4: Jungfraujoch, Switzerland | TODAY Travel Guide

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  • 10
    Nov
    2011
    4:29pm, EST

    Top Matt: Send in your photos of the Alps

    TODAY

    The TODAY show's Matt Lauer broadcast from Jungfraujoch, Switzerland on the fourth day of his Where in the World trip.

    TODAY anchor Matt Lauer spent the fourth day of his adventure atop Jungfraujoch, Switzerland. The spot in the Swiss Alps is known as the "Top of the World" since it is more than 11,000 feet above sea level. His week-long journey began in Namibia's Skeleton Coast, before moving to Madrid, Spain on Day 2 and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Day 3.

    Have you vacationed in the Alps? We'd love to see your photos.

    We'll collect your photos and others from "Where in the World" destinations and showcase them in this week's It's a Snap photo gallery.

    Click here to get started.

    More stories you might like:

    • Matt who? Readers submit their photos from African vacations
    • Full coverage: Where in the World is Matt Lauer?

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  • 10
    Nov
    2011
    7:16am, EST

    Where in the world is Matt? Standing on 'top of Europe'

    High and mighty, vast and timeless: Matt stood on the "top of Europe" to kick off the fourth day of Where in the World.

    The anchor was 11,745 feet above sea level at Jungfraujoch’s Sphinx Observatory, located in the Swiss Alps.

    TODAY

    Did you guess correctly? Natalie did! Read an explanation of Matt's two clues.

    The mountains are home to snowy peaks and lush valleys. Towns accessible only by cable car dot the landscape.

    It's a popular tourist destination: 700,000 visitors come every year (with many likely leaving with their jaw on the ground).

    Slideshow: See the other locations Matt's visited on his 10 trips

    You can get there by taking a train, like Matt did. It's the highest railway station in Europe. (Watch a video of the spectacular trip here.)

    But some people mountain climb to get there! Matt profiled a group of climbers, one of whom scaled the Eiger, Europe’s most dangerous mountain, in 2 hours and 45 minutes! Meet the guy who climbed it that quickly in the video below.

    The Where in the World team was supposed to arrive in Jungfrau on Tuesday, but poor weather changed the team's plans.

    Video: View the 'whiteout' storm that scrambled Matt's plans

    How would one survive in these horrible conditions? Matt was joined by survival expert Bear Grylls who showed Matt how to create a snow cave for shelter and how to find food: grub, which Matt ate live on the show.  

    Thankfully, this morning was beautiful: 23 degrees Fahrenheit with a sun so intense that Matt didn't need a coat.

    And of course there's more to eat up there than insects. When most Americans think Swiss delicacies, they think cheese.

    But NBC's Kerry Sanders, who joined Matt on top of the mountain, reveals that while Swiss locals are borderline obsessed with the dairy product, there's no such thing as what Americans call Swiss cheese. Watch his report. 

    Matt was also joined at the top by yodelers and a Swiss "model": a St. Bernard named Asti. Check out the lovable pooch below:

     


    Jungfraujoch Observatory is most famous for being the breathtaking setting for the 1969 James Bond film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." 

    And Bond would be proud of how Jungfraujoch has evolved over the last few years. From the zipline to paragliding, mountain biking to sipping stiff drinks in an ice palace, visitors can definitely follow in the footsteps of Agent 007.

    TODAY Travel Guide: See these amazing views in person

    Watch a video of Kerry performing some intense stunts in the Swiss Alps below.

    Before Matt left Switzerland, Matt bestowed his co-anchors with gifts and revealed a clue about his final destination.

    What do you think of Jungfraujoch? Let us know in the comments below!

    Relive the previous days' locations:
    Complete coverage of Where in the World is Matt Lauer
    Day 1: Skeleton Coast in Namibia | TODAY Travel Guide
    Day 2: Madrid, Spain | TODAY Travel Guide 
    Day 3: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | TODAY Travel Guide

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  • 9
    Nov
    2011
    11:56am, EST

    Be like Matt: Send us your photos from Madrid, Kuala Lumpur

    TODAY

    TODAY's Matt Lauer reports from Madrid on Day 2 of "Where in the World?"

    After starting his week-long journey in Namibia's Skeleton Coast, Days 2 and 3 of "Where in the World" found TODAY anchor Matt Lauer in Madrid, Spain and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, respectively.

    Have you vacationed in Madrid or Kuala Lumpur? We'd love to see your photos.


    We'll showcase a select few each day, and this week's It's a Snap photo gallery will feature your photos from Matt Lauer's itinerary.

    Click here to get started.

    More stories you might like:

    • Matt who? Readers submit their photos from African vacations
    • Full coverage: Where in the World is Matt Lauer?

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  • 8
    Nov
    2011
    2:24pm, EST

    Matt who? Readers submit their photos from African vacations

    Trevor Sudano / UGC

    Sunset through a Camelthorn tree in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namib Desert, Namibia.

    The first stop in this year's "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" was Namibia.

    We asked you to submit photos from your trips to Africa. As promised, we are showcasing a handful:

     

    Katie Delorme / UGC

    An elephant has bath time in Etosha National Park in Namibia.

    Judi Wolford / UGC

    A young woman from the Himba Tribe in Namibia.

    Katie Kopinski / UGC

    Cheetah in Etosha National Park, Namibia.

    Day 2 brought TODAY's Lauer and crew to Madrid. Have you ever been to the Spanish capital? If so, please send us your photos.

    Click here to submit your photos.

    We'll show off some pictures tomorrow, and this week's It's A Snap gallery will be a compilation of images from locations Matt Lauer visited this week.

    More stories you might like:

    • Madrid offers mix of history and culture
    • Find adventure along Namibia's coast
    • Full coverage: Where in the World is Matt Lauer?

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  • 8
    Nov
    2011
    7:23am, EST

    Matt visits Madrid for Day 2 of Where in the World

    Matt moved to Madrid overnight for the second day of his Where in the World trip. Matt wasn't originally supposed to end up in Madrid for Day 2 - but weather concerns changed his itinerary.  

    Spain's capital city is home to 3.2 million people — the third largest capital in all of Europe — and is famous for its royals and soccer radicals.

    The journey from Namibia was only nine hours. Learn all of the details about Matt's Where in the World travels here.

    Did you guess the location correctly based on the clues? Check out an explanation of them here.

    Madrid is one of the greenest cities in the world with more than 40 urban parks. Locals relax in the quiet spaces before leisurely enjoying tapas -- a pre-dinner snack. Watch a video highlighting some of their tasty treats.

    But the real fun occurs after dark: Spaniards go for dinner between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. and then dance until dawn. They cap off the night with churros dipped in hot chocolate. 

    Matt broadcast from Plaza Mayor, which is so big that it fits three football fields and, live this morning on our show, about a dozen Flamenco dancers!  

    Later, NBC's Peter Alexander joined Matt in Madrid to show TODAY viewers something commoners rarely see. He brought cameras inside Spain's royal palace and introduced us to the colorful and recently married Duchess of Alba, who sparked quite a stir when wedding a man 25 years her junior. 

    Matt was also joined in the Plaza Mayor by Madrideno Carolina Herrera Baez, the daughter of the famed fashion designer, to show how to look stylish in Madrid, which is known for its hot Spanish flair. 

    Would you like to go? Read TODAY's travel guide to learn about the best way to visit. 


    More Where in the World coverage: 

    Relive Day 1 in the Skeleton Coast of Africa
    Slideshow: Check out the 45 places Matt's already visited
    Find complete coverage of the Where in the World series

    Submit ideas View our best allDAY posts

    Facebook Follow TODAY on Facebook

    Twitter Keep up with TODAY on Twitter

    E-mail alerts Sign up for e-mail alerts

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  • 7
    Nov
    2011
    8:55am, EST

    Matt reveals 2 clues to his next Where in the World destination

    TODAY

    Updated 11/8 at 7:45 a.m. ET: Matt ended up in Madrid for the second day of his Where in the World trip. Did you guess correctly?

    The text clue created by our executive producer Jim Bell was really difficult. As Matt said this morning, "Based on that clue, if I didn't know I was sitting here, I wouldn't know I was sitting here." 

    It contained many references. Two of them were that "Pin in Earth in blue sea" is an anagram for the Iberian Peninsula, where Madrid is located and Pardo is a reference to Madrid's famous museum, the Prado. The cup reference is to the fact that Spain won the World Cup in 2010. 

    The picture clue is an image of Madrid's manhole covers. 

    Many of you guessed correctly in the comments! Congratulations LLMinton, Blue22 and Machelle-2653431! 

    Find all of the details about Matt's morning here. 

    Original post: 

    Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


    Matt started off his weeklong adventure in amazing form: Skiing down a sand slope in Namibia.

    Where will he end up on Day 2? Here are two clues to help you crack his code:

    Here's the first clue that was revealed by Matt live this morning:

    "Don Pardo might say it is a 'Pin in Earth in blue sea.' Its cup runneth over, high in the sky where the best things can be free!"

    Viewers also unlocked a second picture clue by tweeting the hashtag #WhereIsMatt and filling out a mosaic.

    Here's the high-res image so you can really study the image in detail.

    TODAY

    Think you know where Matt will end up? Or need a hand decoding his cryptic clues? Chat with other die-hard fans on our TODAY Facebook page. And follow us on Twitter for other hints our TODAY producers drop from their locations.


    Check out our complete Where in the World coverage on TODAY.com.

    And submit your guesses below in the comments!

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  • 7
    Nov
    2011
    7:03am, EST

    Where in the world is Matt? The Skeleton Coast in Africa

    See the 'spooky' location where TODAY's Matt Lauer kicked off the tenth adventure of "Where in the World."

    Matt Lauer traveled to Namibia, Africa, after leaving the comfort of studio 1A Friday morning. It's the home of spring skiing on sand dunes and exotic animals around every turn.

    Located on the Skeleton Coast, Matt revealed his location from on the top of a sand dune (which he then skiied down). It's an area that is among other things becoming a haven for extreme sport lovers. 

    What about those clues? We've updated our previous post to reveal what they hinted at. Learn what it took to travel from New York City to Namibia.

    Want to visit Namibia? Check out our TODAY Travel Guide

    Namibia, twice the size of California with 2.1 million people, is like everything you ever imagined a desert would look like: Dunes that have never been walked on stretching for as far as the eye can see. And yet, the landscape here is constantly changing.

    The Skeleton Coast, often called the "sands of hell," is trecherous as the sandy shoreline constantly shifts with the winds and dense fog forms off the coast. Captains rarely know quite where they are.

    The best way to see the area is by chopper. Take a look at the shipwrecks and whale skeletons:

    The beautiful country in southwest Africa gets about 300 sunny days and less than 1 inch of rain every year.

    In the desert, water can mean the difference between life and death. Matt visited one of the last nomadic tribes in the world, the Himba Tribe. 

    With water so scarce, the women have learned to bathe in smoke. Watch the amazing video below:

    Namibia has elephants, lions and even a huge colony of cape fur seals along the coast.

    Savannah Guthrie — who was waiting for Matt on the coast — go in seach of the gentle giants and fast felines that inhabit Namibia.

    Blog: Go behind the scenes of Namibia's Where in the World shoot

    She went to Damaraland, which is a bit east of the coast, to search for the awesome elephants thriving in bone-dry conditions.

    She and Matt also pet a cheetah! There are great visuals in this segment; watch it below!


    And if animals aren't your thing, how about diamonds? They're mined in open water.

    Namibia is also fast becoming a center for extreme sports.

    Henrik May, the world-record holder for sand skiing, helped Savannah test out the slopes. Henrik holds the world record for downhill sand skiing. Check out more about him here. TODAY was also helped by African Extreme Promotions.

    Watch Savannah's dive down the dunes in the video below.

    Also sneak a peek at Namibia's eats and check out the gifts that Matt is bringing back Ann, Al and Natalie.

    What did you think of the Skeleton Coast in Namibia? Would you like to go? Let us know in the comments.

    Where will Matt end up tomorrow? Check out two clues here. Follow us on Facebook to decode Matt's riddles with other die-hard fans.

    Related content:
    Where in the world has Matt gone before? Find out here
    Matt tells his 10 humorous travel tips to Letterman
    Find complete coverage of Matt Lauer's Where in the World trips

    Submit ideas View our best allDAY posts

    Facebook Follow TODAY on Facebook

    Twitter Keep up with TODAY on Twitter

    E-mail alerts Sign up for e-mail alerts

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  • 17
    Oct
    2011
    1:12pm, EDT

    Where in the World is Matt Lauer returns!

     

    TODAY's Matt Lauer celebrates the 10th anniversary of "Where in the World" which features his travels around the world.

    Get ready for takeoff: Matt Lauer will embark on his 10th around-the-world trip starting on Nov. 7 for the hit TODAY series, "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?"

    The first-ever Where in the World trip began in Cairo, Egypt, in 1998. Since then, Matt has traveled 248,166 miles, visited six continents and 44 different destinations and said hello to America in 24 different languages as part of the globe-trotting series.

    The series was not held in 2003, 2009 or 2010.

     Video: Watch the first ever Where in the World broadcast

    Matt will travel to five destinations over five days, but the locations will remain secret until the morning broadcast. Viewers will get a challenging clue to try to guess at his whereabouts. For the first time ever, the series will use social media, including Facebook and Twitter, to offer viewers a chance to unlock an extra picture clue each day.

    One lucky viewer will win a trip to one of Matt's 2011 destinations as part of a sweepstakes to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series. From Oct. 24 through Nov. 8, viewers can log onto TODAY.com and enter for a chance to win.

    To see videos and photos of Matt's previous trips, visit TODAY.com.

    Slideshow: Where in the world has Matt visited? Find out 

     

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