World 1-1: Bonus Level - Traffic Jam!

Passion Project: Song #1

"Easy" by The Commodores

If you read my first blog post, you will know why this song HAD to be the first song. It was inevitable. This song was the first song that played, in the cab ride, after arriving at our first destination - Lima, Peru.

However, what you don't know, is that several songs were in the running for very first Passion Project song! But, this song won and here's why.

A Little History

Just like smell, listening to music can evoke very specific memories for me (as it can, I'm sure, for most people). Listening to Trans Siberian Orchestra will always remind me of my Dad, any song by Dave Matthews Band will instantly turn me into zen!Heather, and, from now on, "Baby Got Back" will make me think of wine tasting in Chile.

My first memory of Lionel Richie is from D-TV's Valentine's Special, which aired in February of 1986. (I had to look up the year because of course I did, I wasn't even 5 years old yet!) Abby and Melissa will remember this! They had it on VHS and we used to watch it ALL THE TIME when we were kids! It was a compilation of music videos, using hit songs and Disney animation. In a word - AMAZING! While the Richie song in D-TV wasn't "Easy" (it was "Hello"), I would never forget his smooth, rich (hehe) voice. (That pun was for you, Katie!)

I really have no memory of the first time that I heard "Easy," but I've always enjoyed it and the various bands that have covered it - I'm talking about you, Faith No More. Yes, it's a song about the aftermath of a breakup, but I think the message is a good one - Put all your concerns and anxieties and fears in a bubble, and blow it away. Relax, take it easy - metaphorically become a Sunday morning. This song makes me want to curl up on the couch on a rainy Sunday morning, with the sunlight barely peeking through the clouds in the distance, while reading a book and drinking my first cup of morning coffee. (It also makes me want to dance around my living room, but, let's face it, most songs make me want to do that, so...)

Why This Song, Though?

Last week, we were sitting at a table, waiting to board the boat that would take us snorkeling, and music was playing in the background. Typical, touristy, covers of popular songs with a samba-like twist. I was thinking about my Passion Project, how it was going to evolve, and what songs to consider, when "Easy" came to mind. Not a minute later, a samba cover of "Easy" started playing and I knew that it had to be the first song on the list.

So, here you go!

Enjoy!

My Passion Project!

Before leaving for this RTW trip, I had grand intentions to do a Passion Project. My Passion Project was going to be about the music of every country we travelled through. I planned to research the popular and cultural types of music, seek out venues where I could listen to said music, and create a musical "album" for each country...quite the endeavor, I know.

Well, you know what they say about "best intentions"...

The Passion Project that I had imagined myself doing is not going to happen. Several factors contribute to the failure of this project:

1. Time: There's just not enough of it! After four months of travel, I can say with confidence and evidence, that there is just not enough time to research and experience the musical cultures of each city we visit. There have been times where we are only a few days in each city, so the time we spend there is very much designated for typical "tourist-y" things, most of which do not include visiting multiple venues and immersing myself in its musical culture.
2. Other projects: Ah, yes...if working on this Passion Project was the only thing that I was doing, I could probably make it work. However, over the past four months, most of my time has been spent creating content for my vlogs. What vlogs, you say? I know! I am working on them! LOL But this goes back to the "time" issue...

While working on my vlogs, I started realizing how much of my spare time I was spending on this project - recording, uploading, sorting, editing, transferring over to my external hard drive because my computer is being a jackass. Needless to say, my focus changed. It was already hard enough finding time to create blogs and vlogs, there was absolutely NO WAY I could add another project to my schedule. In a sense, my blog and vlogs became my Passion Project.

However, I didn't want to just throw away my Music Passion Project. Music is something that moves me. And, yes, that is super cheesy, but I don't care, that's how I feel. Because of this, I still wanted to do SOMETHING music related on this trip.

Thus, this Passion Project evolved.

Here's the plan:

• Each week, preferably on Friday (but with sometimes-limited Wifi, I will commit to hopefully sometime during Friday-Sunday), I will post one song on my blog. The objective is that the song will be relevant to the previous week, whether it is a song from the region that I am staying in or a song that I've been listening to almost non-stop all week. Whatever the case may be, I will write a little blurb about why I chose that song.
• This project is basically about music and feelings, let's be honest.

I'm really excited to get this music project started. I realize that it's adding one more thing to my list of things that I am already spectacularly behind on, but I'm hoping that it will spark my creativity and, in the process, expose you to music that you might not be familiar with.

So, stay tuned! Enjoy!

World 1-1: The One with the Coca Leaves

A New Video at LearnLiveTravel.com

Rodrigo just finished Episode 3!

Watch us as we travel to Peru, hike ancient ruins in Ollantaytambo, and get stuck in a massive traffic jam!

Check it out at http://www.learnlivetravel.com/#!video/cknn.

PS - I'm working on my next vlog, I promise. Some of my footage can be seen in this new episode, though. Enjoy!

New Blog Entry by Bella!

We have some new content over on our "family" website - learnlivetravel.com.

Go to http://www.learnlivetravel.com/#!blog/c1uxy and check out Bella's new blog entry about kayaking with sea lions in Puerto Piramides! It is hilarious!!!

Lima Pictures! (Finally!)

Having this blog has been a learning experience, that's for sure! I've just spent all morning trying to figure out the best way to post pictures, in an album - since, apparently Blogger.com does not have an "album" option that ISN'T google related and/or size-bound.

After "test-driving" several options, I've decided that Facebook albums is really the easiest and best option for me - who know? (FRIENDS: If you have a better option, tell me - I am open to suggestions, as the Internet is a vast, complex place and I am but a mere human.)

So, if you regularly check FB, this might be redundant, but here are my pictures from our first stop: Lima, Peru! Included are pictures from our Lima Bike Tour, the Choco Museum, various dinners, and other sights around the city. 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1000013343347222.1073741827.100000156972247&type=1&l=3472d279b0

PS - If this doesn't work for you, let me know! I think it will, but maybe it won't if we're not FB friends? Technology is weird and confusing...