gwynethmarta

A hundred years ago, the movers and shakers in the motion picture business sought a sunny, exotic locale to establish themselves. They discovered Santa Barbara, California. That was where they chose to launch their industry. Thus the very first movie studio, "Flying A Films," was born. Now I’ve chosen to discover this glorious area, too. Still a popular vacation spot for the stars, this "American Riviera" is a delight to visit at any time, with a pleasant year-round climate. What strikes the most about Santa Barbara is that it boasts an amazing blend of architectural styles. Its sunny climate lends itself to Spanish and other Mediterranean designs with stucco, wrought iron, and red roof tiles dotting the area. You will find some Moorish and Islamic forms mixed in as well. What’s great is that many of ... read more

The City by the Bay. There's only one place that could refer to - San Francisco. This historic city offers so much to see and do, I could visit it again and again without growing tired of it. San Francisco has a lively and fascinating history. Originally settled as a fishing village, it was transformed almost overnight into a fabulous city thanks to the '49ers. No, not the football team--the delirious hopefuls who rushed here from across the country when gold was discovered in 1849. The city has been attracting folks from across the country ever since. During the Internet revolution, a number of newly minted business tycoons chose this California city as their home, particularly in the tony Nob Hill area. This change over time has resulted in a fascinating mix of modern and Victorian ... read more

Country of the Happiest People in the World When I look at the travel brochures and sites offering exotic trips to South America, I see Brazil, Argentina and Peru. Almost none of them mentions Colombia. As a person who has lived in Colombia for two years, I can only say one thing - people don’t know what they are missing. When asked about Colombia, people usually refer to stereotypes that have been spread by media years ago. Not many people know, however, that this image has been gradually changing over the past decade creating the new Colombia, the country of the happiest people in the world, who are opened for tourists and wanting to share their rich cultural heritage. Natural Diversity Nestled in the North Western tip of South America, Colombia is the only country of ... read more