Josh Bowen: What’s Your Fitness Personality? Three Questions to Ask Before Starting a Program

There are many articles and blogs about exercise/fitness written and seen every day. Today’s media is obsessed with the latest fitness fads. We are all inundated with countless “Lose 10 Pounds in 6 Weeks” taglines. From P90X to Insanity to the latest trend diet, we’re on fitness overload. But one problem remains… people still have trouble staying fit. Why? Well, I found a glaring hole into the fitness lexicon: lack of personality analysis.

As a trainer of 10 years, the most important lesson I learned is the client’s personality, goals and abilities dictate how I train them. Personality traits have been used for years in other industries to place workers in the right career or match a single up for a date. How about doing the same for fitness?

Today we start. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself:

1.For successful workouts, do you need a challenge or do you want more structure?

This is a great question that will forecast where your fitness journey will take you (for now, anyway). If challenge is what you need, define what challenges you. Running, lifting, obstacle courses, or cross training can be challenging on different levels. Keep it fresh to keep from getting bored. If structure is what you need, switching things up too quickly may overload you. CrossFit or P90X may not be something for you if structure is your goal. Keeping your exercise somewhat predictable may allow for more commitment and consistency. What if you have never exercised? Think about what you prefer in everyday life and apply it to your exercise program.

josh2.When you need to reduce stress, do you pick activities that are relaxing, or activities that help blow off steam?

For some, working out is stressful. Add work, life, and kids to the equation and it gets tougher. For some, exercise adds unwanted stress. To create adherence and long term participation with the possibility of results, I advise people to pick what fits their personality. For example, if blowing off steam is my preference, I may pick activities like boxing, weightlifting or cross training. If you prefer something more relaxing, yoga, massage or a nice stroll may be more suitable. People are more likely to keep exercising doing something they enjoy versus something they don’t.

3.Do you enjoy exercise more when it involves a routine that you can adhere to, or one that offers a variety?

Variety the spice of life, but not everyone wants it. Some of us get bored quickly, but not everyone is created equal. Think about what your personality would be best suited for and get the most from it. Would it be a program that you stick with, or would it be a plan that was progressive and changing? Either way, it does not matter. Your dedication to and how you feel about the program matters more than if it’s routine or offers variety.

 

Many people stop an exercise program at some point. The main culprit is the lack of support, but also because of a failure to identify the right fitness personality. Remember, fitness doesn’t need to take place in a gym. Recreational sports, outside fitness, and yoga are all forms of exercise – a point to consider when developing the program that fits you.

– See more at: http://www.lifefitness.com/blog/posts/whats-your-fitness-personality-three-questions-to-ask-before-starting-a-program#sthash.6qrvVO4u.dpuf

Lauren Mayer: I Do Not Think That Word Means What You Think It Means

Every now and then, a movie catch phrase comes along that both works perfectly in context, and comes in handy in real life.  “Toto, I’ve a feeling we aren’t in Kansas anymore,” “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” and “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” come to mind (as well as almost every line from “Blazing Saddles,” although most of those can’t be quoted without a detailed explanation and a PG-13 warning).

One of my personal favorites is from “The Princess Bride,” when Inigo Montoya hears his boss say ‘inconceivable’ and comments, “You keep using that word, I do not think that word means what you think it does.”   (I’m the adult child of a former English teacher, meaning I cringe when I see mis-used words and grammatical mistakes, although I agree, “ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put” is a little awkward.)  So I was delighted to see that meme pop up in connection with the latest flap over “Duck Dynasty,” with family patriarch Phil Robertson being quoted in GQ (yeah, rednecks and GQ seem like an odd pairing to me, too!), expressing some colorfully homophobic and outdated racial views.

Of course, the biggest shocker to me was that anyone was shocked – did A&E really expect that a family of Louisiana evangelical duck-hunters would have enlightened views on race relations or gay rights?  (Brings to mind another of my favorite film lines, when Claude Rains is trying to impress the Nazis in Casablanca by saying, “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here” right before a dealer says “Your winnings, sir.”)  But in their reactions, A&E and conservative politicians seem trying to outdo each other with cluelessness.

I find Mr. Robertson’s remarks offensive – but I find a lot of things offensive about reality TV, and I’m not so crazy about the whole idea of hunting defenseless little ducks – but I digress.  Mr. Robertson has a right to express his views, as repugnant (or weird – read the actual article!) as they are, and his employers at A&E have a right to hire, fire, and suspend whomever they like.  A&E announced a brief suspension, apparently trying to appease the large gay and black audience for the show (??), but opening up a huge can of worms in the process.  Conservative politicians and peripheral-but-trying-to-stay-in-the-spotlight-characters declared their outrage that the media was censoring a good Christian and depriving him of his fundamental right of free speech.  Ignoring, of course, the fact that no one’s right of free speech was infringed, because the Bill of Rights says nothing about anyone’s right to star on a reality television program.

Matt & Erica Chua: 2013 Photos that Capture the Color

When I saw the Capture the Color photo contest was going on again this year I was excited to dig through the photos from our trip and share a few with you.  Not only did this contest give me an opportunity to reminisce about all the places we’ve been by reliving memories through our photos but I love the theme, it’s so simple, capture the colors Blue, Green, Yellow, White and Red in your photos. I have to admit the deal was sweetened knowing I wouldn’t be competing against some of the travel blogosphere’s most talented photographers: Ken KamineskyAbi King,  Davefrom the Planet D, Christine Gilbert and Daniel Nahabedian, because they are the judges.  You can enter too and have the chance to win £3000, an Arc’teryx voucher or other great prizes.  Without further ado below are my five photos that Capture the Color:

WHITE

Huyana Potosi, Bolivia (19,974 feet)

As we carefully inched along the snowy trail on the exposed ridge of Huyana Potosi leading us to the summit the sun just started to peek above the horizon.  It was a beautiful sight and a view I will never forget.  Once we reached the summit I looked back on the path we had taken in the dark to reach our goal and realized how precarious of a position we had been in.  As I watched another group of climbers descend I pulled out the camera to capture the trail with the sun highlighting the pristine white snow.  The moment I took this picture I still couldn’t fully comprehend what we had just done to be standing at the top of a mountain overlooking Bolivia.

GREEN

Banaue Rice Terraces commonly referred to by the Filipinos as “The Eighth Wonder of the World”

The vibrant green rice terraces of Banaue are a source of pride for the local Ifugao people and meticulously cared for.  Many people believe that the terraces were built by ancestors of the Igugao people with minimal equipment, mostly by hand. The terraces are located about 5000 feet above sea level and cover roughly 6000 square miles of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe.  The size is difficult to comprehend from the above photo, but you can see how it reduces the people in the photo to mere ants to help give you a perspective of the massive scale.  As I climbed up and down the stairs I loved the sense of being so small and taking in the vast expanse of terraces that stretched out in both directions.

YELLOW

A monk praying at Dambulla Rock Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sri Lanka

The elaborate paintings and statues that make up the Dambulla Rock Temple in Sri Lanka depict the Lord Buddha and his life. Monks from around the area make the pilgrimage to this holy site to pray and meditate.  The five major caves include a total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses and the murals cover an astonishing 2,100 square meters.  I captured this monk praying to one of the many Buddhist statues and then watched in awe as he mindfully and methodically made his way around the cave pausing to pray or pay his respects to specific statues within the cave.  It was a beautiful meditation in motion.  To see more photos from the other four caves at Dambulla check out A Buddhist View of Sri Lanka.

BLUE

Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE

A visit to the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Mosque is a must for anyone visiting Abu Dhabi even for a short layover.  The over-the-top opulence is incredible and outshines even the most amazing sights of the world, it is a modern day Taj Mahal and amazing feat of architecture.  This reflection of two of the domes that make up the mosque are reflected in the glass doorways that lead into the prayer hall.  The reflection of the perfect blue sky adds to the allure of this magnificent building.  To see photos of the crystal chandeliers and marble columns in the interior click here.

RED

Market vendor in Mandalay, Myanmar

For any traveler that visits Myanmar the take away seems to be the same, this country has the most wonderful people in the world.  They are friendly, helpful and always have a smile to share.  I love this photo from a market in Mandalay, not only do you get a sense of the warmth of the people in Myanmar but I was able to capture a little slice of the local market culture.  I love markets all over the world, but there was something special about the markets in Myanmar where vendors would invite you to come over and share with you something they are selling or request a picture of themselves, simply so they could see themselves on your digital screen.  I have fond memories of meeting the young lady in this photo and wandering the beautiful and busy markets of Myanmar.

NOMINATIONS

Another highlight of this competition is seeing fellow bloggers photos, below are five travelers that I would love to see highlight their pictures:

  • Hannah and Adam from Getting Stamped, they have been making there way through Central and South America and I’m sure have some amazing beach shots!
  • Cassie and Keving from Ever in Transit, they claim to take way to many photos- so, I would love to see what they might dig out of their archives for a capture the color entry.
  • Erica and Shaun from Over Yonderlust, I loved their recent post on the Portland Japanese Garden and would love to see what other photo gems they have up their sleeve.
  • Jodi from Legal Nomads, food is her forte and I’d love to see the colorful dishes she may have captured in her years of traveling
  • Kate from Adventurous Kate, she is currently traveling all around the world with a new camera in tow- I would love to see what images she has captured in the past few months.

Cross-posted from LivingIF.com

Saul Kaplan: Dribs and Drabs

Drip, drip, drip.  One comment on a blog post. One re-tweet of a point of view. One new Facebook friend.  You might not even realize while it is happening but over time an audience is developing that is genuinely interested in what you have to say and gives you permission to share it.  Individuals are learning how to share their stories and gaining confidence by participating actively in social networks. Personal networks have become the new marketing channels and marketing has become the art of dribs and drabs.  The problem is that most organizations haven’t figured it out yet.

I believe the marketing model of companies deploying large internal teams of marketing specialists supported by even larger external advertising and public relations firms is dead.   Watching the series Mad Men reminds me of how little the advertising and communications industry has changed from a model that is clearly being disrupted by the new world of social media.

It is exciting to be a participant in the seismic shift away from the old models of mass marketing and communication. The days of the big campaign developed behind closed doors followed by a grand unveiling comprised of orchestrated media placements and road show whistle-stops are behind us.  Now the message is developed and honed every day.  You don’t need an army of specialists to tell you what the message is.  You just need to put your genuine ideas out in public every day where a community of interest can provide you with immediate feedback, help you to improve, and share your ideas with their networks if they like them.

photo-saulNo intermediaries required.  Being genuine is valued above all else.  No need to assign the task of sharing your perspective, idea, or message to a third party.  Share them yourself.

This shift must be driving traditional marketing types and communications firms crazy.   The industry was built on a foundation of “controlling the message” and secret sauce that only the experts possessed to unlock access to big media outlets. Imagine the horror when huge campaigns are ripped apart within 24 hours of release by the viral unknown masses or when an undiscovered talent like Susan Boyle can become an overnight global sensation.

Dribs and drabs sound so inefficient and even dangerous when you grew up in an industrial era when marketing was about controlling the message, leveraging marketing experts, and mass media channels to reach a target market segment.  Marketing and Communications has been a centralized and protected function within most organizations.  God forbid anyone outside of the chosen functions speaks on behalf of or about the company in public or on the web.  Social media has blown traditional marketing up and most organizations I interact with are struggling with how to manage the new world where individuals are empowered communicators with an audience.

Communication is personal and everyone has a role to play.  The world of personal and organizational communication is merging whether we want it to or not.  I have talked to many active participants on social media platforms that are constrained or even blocked from communicating while at work or about work after hours.  This is silly.  Organizations are missing an amazing opportunity to virally share their stories and to tap into the networks of all the organization’s stakeholders.  Organizations need to trust employees, contractors, suppliers, and customers to build and strengthen networks of supporters and fans that are the most important marketing asset today.

Organizations should be focused on turning all stakeholders into active storytellers and passionate supporters.  Accentuate and build on the positive.  Forget trying to hide the negative.  Respond, learn and improve from it.  It is no longer possible to control communications about your organization.  Everyone should be encouraged to communicate openly and large marketing departments should be replaced with listening departments to learn from and leverage what is being shared.

The learning curve to go from industrial era mass marketing to personalized social media marketing is steep but rewarding.  The most important rule is that everyone gets to play.  I mean everyone.  Celebrate the dribs and drabs.

Julie Rath: Ten Holiday Party Do’s and Don’ts for the Stylish Man

1. Hair product can tend to make your forehead shiny, so wash your face after application to avoid that lacquered look.
2. If the weather is foul, and the party you’re going to isn’t dressy, try wearing a dark wash, slimmer cut pair of jeans with rugged boots. You can even roll your jeans up neatly as seen here:

3. Be prepared for the occasional host who asks guests to remove shoes at the door by wearing dress socks that are in good repair – you could even try a pair of red or green ones (not both!) for subtly festive flavor. I like these which are on sale from J. Crew.

Read the rest of…
Julie Rath: Ten Holiday Party Do’s and Don’ts for the Stylish Man

Josh Bowen: Impacting Through Confidence

“The journey is not measured by math but by feelings, because the feel lasts longer.”

Most will come to me with the idea of losing weight, body fat, gaining muscle or something that can be tracked. What most will realize is these measurables only account for a small percentage of the journey. It is the things we cannot measure by numbers that matter most. Increased self esteem, more energy, believing in one’s self are all feelings you cannot measure but have a dramatic impact on how you will feel about fitness.

To me, as a trainer, the most impactful reflection from fitness is confidence. Transforming one’s body and loving what you see in the mirror is great but having the confidence inside the gym as well as outside the gym, impacting EVERY intricate detail of life, is what fitness is all about. As a skinny 140 lbs weakling, I learned the value of confidence through fitness. I was shy and my social skills were lacking but as I started my journey in fitness I realized my confidence began to blossom. My social life was dramatically improved. The way I felt about me and my world couldn’t of been better. Not only did I transform my body but my life. Fitness is that impactful. Quite frankly, I cannot think of another thing that can have as big of a dramatic impactful on someone’s mind, body and spirt as fitness. It literally impacts everything about you.

joshThe most successful clients I have had have been impactful by increased confidence. As a result, some have had increased function in their occupation, some have increased their relationships with their significant others, some have had increased their confidence to walk away from bad situations and others have had the confidence to walk away from their full time careers and transition into fulfilling their dream of being a personal trainer. It comes in all shapes and sizes, feelings and impacts but confidence is by far my favorite direct reflection of the fitness journey. It also has the most impact on people’s lives, all the more reason to start your fitness journey.

Lauren Mayer: But She Started It! (War On Christmas, Part Two)

 

Last week I wrote about how Bill O’Reilly, Sarah Palin, et al were trying to stir up a frenzy over their imaginary ‘War on Christmas.’    Which at the time seemed like the height of going on the attack by trying to make oneself into a victim – but oh, ye of little faith, ye didn’t count on Megyn Kelly and ‘Santagate’.

In case you’ve been under a rock all week, a writer for Slate (an online magazine) wondered why traditional images of Santa Clause were always Caucasian, and she suggested that we consider race-free options (like a Penguin Claus – sort of like the Easter Bunny, or the Purim Hamster).  This prompted Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly to trash her previous reputation for being more intelligent than her colleagues (remember her arguing with Karl Rove about the 2012 election results?), by convening a ‘panel’ to debate the issue, which as far as I could tell consisted of just one article (that hadn’t been very widely read until Kelly publicized it).  She expressed her outrage that political correctness might trump truth, because it was a historical, verifiable fact that Santa is white – just like Jesus.

When critics began weighing in, Kelly immediately went on the defensive, claiming she was being attacked by race-baiting humor-less haters who didn’t get that the whole thing was tongue-in-cheek.  On top of the fact that the original segment wasn’t particularly funny, one could also point to Kelly’s recent appearance on The Tonight Show, when she insisted she was a serious journalist, not an entertainer.  But my biggest issue is that it’s hard to complain about being criticized when she’s the one who started criticizing in the first place.

The whole thing reminds me of sitcom fights where a younger sibling (Cindy Brady?) kicks an older one (Jan?) and when Jan retaliates, Cindy runs to mom, claiming “Jan is picking on me.”  (And no, I don’t know what episode that was, it just sounds pretty plausible – plus I promised my own sons I’d stop embarrassing them by using them as examples.)

So as long as I’m in parental mode, I’d give Ms. Kelly the same advice most parents give their offspring – try to get along by putting yourself in each other’s shoes.  And if you’re going to say something as silly as “Santa just IS white, it’s a historical, verifiable fact,” put yourself in the shoes of a liberally-inclined humorist and see if YOU could resist the temptation!

Support Mark Nickolas’ “This is not Graffiti”

ALtThisIsNotGraffiti_ImageInterested in being a part of Mark Nickolas’ first significant film project? The political operative-turned blogger-turned documentary filmmaker is in the middle of his first Kickstarter campaign to fund his latest film titled ‘This Is Not Graffiti,’ an important short film that will explore the use of political graffiti and street art as a catalyst for popular revolutions and uprisings around the world.
 
Mark is 17 days into his 36-day fundraising period and has already raised about 50% of his $18,500 budget, with pledges ranging from $1 to $2,500. But Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing platform. If he doesn’t hit his target, no pledges are processed and he gets nothing. Besides, the project offers very cool rewards starting at the $10 level, so they are great stocking stuffers!
 
As you may recall from our reporting here, his first film (which was simply a graduate film school project), garnered considerable national press, was a Smithsonian finalist, and is now on the film festival circuit. (check out his website if you want see/read more about his work at mosaicfilmsnyc.com).
 
Love him or hate him, those of you that know or remember Mark will recall his impressive level of success at his work, be it campaigns, with his writing, or with his very early film work. His new film project is already getting a considerable amount of attention and backing (including from yours truly), and you should check it out here
 
 

Liz Roach: The Soul of Holiday Cooking — Givable Treats

“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion.” – Franz Kafka

While Kafka wasn’t talking about baking, he may as well have been.  In the midst of hectic holiday preparations and festivities, I’m here to implore you: don’t water down your favorite recipes just because they may be rich or “unhealthy.”  I won’t be so dramatic as to compare it to editing one’s soul…however!  Don’t edit the soul of your dish. It’s the holidays. Live a little.

To that end, let’s talk about your to-do list. Have you finished everything?  What about those last-minute presents you’ve been putting off? What about that hard to shop for uncle, or the boss who has everything? What about the acquaintance that unexpectedly gave you a gift, and now you’re scrambling to find something for them?

I’ve got a (relatively) quick solution for you: make them something. It’s meaningful, easy, and can be shared with a wide audience. Scads of recipes lie in wait for you within the Internet abyss: homemade jams, pickles, sauces, and hot chocolate are all great options.

Liz RoachLast year, I baked chocolate hazelnut cookies for some of my cohort from a recipe I found online.  Recipients liked them so much, I decided to make them a Christmas tradition.  I’ve shared a copy of the recipe below, which I promise is not as complicated as it looks.

For a savory option, you can’t go wrong with bourbon beer cheese.  My cousin Amanda Cole and good friend Ashley Baker get together every December to whip up a batch, and my aunt Robyn has kindly shared the recipe for your consumption.

My only rule for these recipes is this: no low calorie substitutions allowed. You’ve got a foodie soul to protect.

What are you waiting for? Get cooking!

Baci di Dama Cookies 

(from http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2012/11/baci-di-dama-cookies-recipe/)

About 45 cookies

Recipe by Terresa Murphy of La Cucina di Terresa

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups (140g) hazelnuts, toasted and skinned

1 cup (140g) rice flour (or all-purpose flour)

3 1/2 ounces (100g) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup (100g) sugar

Pinch of salt

2 ounces (55g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped

Directions:

Toast the hazelnuts in a 325ºF (160ºC) for 10 to 15 minutes, until they’re a deep golden brown color and the skins are peeling away. Remove from the oven and as soon as they’re cool enough to handle, rub the hazelnuts in a tea towel (or if they’re not too hot, with your hands), until as much of the loose skins come off as possible. Let them cool completely before grinding them up.

1. Put the hazelnuts in the bowl of a food processor and pulse them until very fine; they should be the consistency of coarse polenta.

2. Transfer the ground nuts to a bowl and add the rice flour (if using all-purpose flour, sift it in). Cut the butter into pieces then add the butter, sugar, and salt to the dry ingredients. Use your hands to mix all the ingredients together until the butter is dispersed and completely incorporated. The dough should be very smooth and hold together. If not, knead it until it does.

3. Divide the dough into three equal pieces and roll each piece until it’s 3/4-inch (2cm) round. Try to get them as smooth as possible, with no cracks. If the dough is too long to work with as you roll them out, you can cut the dough at the midway point and work with it in batches.

Chill the dough logs until firm on a small baking sheet or dinner plate lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper. (Terresa recommends refrigerating them for 2-3 hours, but we put them in the freezer and they were cold within 15 minutes.)

4. Preheat oven to 325ºF (160ºC) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

5. Working with one length of dough at a time, keeping the others in the refrigerator or freezer, cut off equal-sized pieces using a knife or pastry cutter. The ideal is 5 grams each, if working with a scale. The fastest way to do it is to cut one to the right weight, then hold that one alongside the logs and use it as a template to cut the others. Once you’ve cut a length of dough, roll the pieces into nice little balls and place them on the baking sheet, slightly spaced apart.

If you don’t have a scale, simply roll the dough to the size of a marble, trying to keep them as similar in size as possible.

6. Continue cutting the dough and rolling it into little balls. Bake the cookies for 10 to 14 minutes, rotating the baking sheets in the oven midway during cooking, until the tops are lightly golden brown. Let the cookies cool completely.

7. In a clean, dry bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, melt the chocolate until smooth. Put a chocolate chip-sized dollop of chocolate on the bottom of one cookie and take another cookie, and sandwich the two halves together.

Once filled, set the Baci di Dama sideways on a wire cooling rack until the chocolate is firm. The cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

(Liz’s note: To get more bang for your buck out of the dough, I skip sandwiching the cookies together.)

Bourbon Beer Cheese 

(adapted from Jonathan at Gratz Park chef Jonathan Lundy’s recipe http://jagp.info/bluegrass-table-cookbook.html)

Ingredients:

14 ounces sharp cheddar cheese

4 ounces smoked cheddar cheese

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoon caramelized onions

12 ounces Ky Bourbon Barrel Ale

1 tablespoon of Bourbon

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder

Directions:

Shred cheddar cheeses. In food processor, puree caramelized onions and shredded cheeses. Slowly add beer. Process until smooth and add remaining ingredients, continuing to process until creamy smooth consistency.

Can be stored in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Make ahead as flavor takes a while to develop.

Erica & Matt Chua: South America’s Best Colonial Towns

What picture comes to mind when you think of South America?  Jungles?  Maybe.  Machu Picchu?  Possibly.  Beaches?  Of course.  Colonial architecture?  Certainly.  Countless tourism brochures and TV shows have etched the picture of South America’s colonial gems into minds everywhere.  The reality though is different.  Colonial architecture is far and few between in the modern cities of South America.  From Rio to Lima, South America isn’t the centuries ago throwback that many visitors expect.  Then where should time traveling wannabes go?  Bolivia.

After a tumultuous start to the millennium, Bolivia has made startling progress both in embracing the new and restoring the past.  It can be argued in fact, that Bolivia didn’t shake colonization until it elected its first indigenous president, Evo Morales, in 2006.  That was the first time, since being colonized almost 500 years prior, that the indigenous, still a majority of the population, took control of their country.  Evo, a polarizing figure, has led an effort to both to restore the historic sights and modernize the country.  From my first visit 10 years ago to today, the changes to the naked eye are remarkable.

Bolivia’s cities are built around the colonial core, from La Paz to Sucre to Potosí.  Each one has their unique aspects, but all have a central square with a massive church on one side and an administrative building on another.  No matter what the buildings are used for today, visitors are guaranteed to see the colorful and grandiose edifices of South American tourist brochures.

Read the rest of…
Erica & Matt Chua: South America’s Best Colonial Towns