Month: January 2026
California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & The Papas – 8 versions + original
“California Dreamin’ ” is a song by the American group The Mamas & The Papas, released in 1965. Written in 1963 by John Phillips and his wife Michelle Phillips (members of the band), during a cold winter in New York City. Michelle was missing the warmth of California, which inspired the lyrics about wanting to leave
Bancas Pintadas: Painted Benches of Santiago, Chile
During a short stay in Chile’s capital – Santiago, we noticed many colorfully painted benches on the streets, especially in the area of our hotel, Las Condes. A bit of digging revealed “Bancas Pintadas,” a public-art initiative that transforms ordinary seating into open-air galleries for local artists. Enjoy a tune while browsing. Las Condes is
Wandering in Lastarria: Santiago, Chile
During a short stay in Chile’s capital – Santiago, we visited a colorful, historic district of the city – Lastarria. Barrio Lastarria is one of central Santiago’s most walkable, culture-forward districts—compact streets lined with cafés, wine bars, galleries, and indie shops which give it a lively, bohemian feel. Enjoy a tune while browsing. Barrio Lastarria
Touring Antigua, Guatemala
Guatemala is a small, very mountainous country in Central America, with a string of volcanoes and highlands between two coasts (Pacific and Caribbean). While on a cruise, we had the chance to dock at Puerto Quetzal, the country’s largest port on the Pacific coast. From there, we joined an excursion to see a coffee planation