as mentioned previously...dulce fuego designs, in conjunction with amigo entertainment and liquid studio, all dominican travel and with help from lk peal consulting and raquel moran are planning carnival vermont!
we are looking at the date saturday, august 30th, for our first official fiesta. we hope to continue to grow the event adding new elements as we organize our new years event 2008-2009, and then by next year a full blown community, cultural carnival!
so, mark your calendars as we are beginning to dance and party our way into your hearts! more updates to follow and it's own homepage for up to the minute details!
kisses.
a
3.31.2008
3.28.2008
what i'm worried about...
the cost of fuel is through the roof and making air tickets ridiculous. it is not pretty. so, anyone who is interested in joining us for the cool chicks trip in july should contact me asap to purchase air tickets. we can hold off on other deposits, but in the meant time, you will have locked in your rate.
this is sort of funny....how many women have told me lately (without even prior knowledge to the trip or what i am organizing), about one of their biggest complaints is that their husbands don't go out with them anymore or have no desire to dance and be silly. i sort of just took it all in, but as of right now i must say "i have the remedy"...what better way to get you silly-ies out than by joining a great group of women who also want to get their silly-ies out and dance and talk and laugh and sun for a week?
also yesterday, i ran into an old acquaintance and she was telling me how firmly she felt about traveling on all girls trips. how over the years she has gone on a few excursions with a friend and other women and how rejuvenating it has been! and, did i mention that she herself is a cool chick?
it is really something else, now that i have taken the position of talking about what i do, so vociferously, that i am meeting interesting people. i want to break into the networking scene with continued confidence....i really feel as if i am going to make it all happen. it is a need and a want.
so, all that being said, i am still worried. we must buy our tickets. let's talk money later, but let;s get our tickets now!
kisses.
a
this is sort of funny....how many women have told me lately (without even prior knowledge to the trip or what i am organizing), about one of their biggest complaints is that their husbands don't go out with them anymore or have no desire to dance and be silly. i sort of just took it all in, but as of right now i must say "i have the remedy"...what better way to get you silly-ies out than by joining a great group of women who also want to get their silly-ies out and dance and talk and laugh and sun for a week?
also yesterday, i ran into an old acquaintance and she was telling me how firmly she felt about traveling on all girls trips. how over the years she has gone on a few excursions with a friend and other women and how rejuvenating it has been! and, did i mention that she herself is a cool chick?
it is really something else, now that i have taken the position of talking about what i do, so vociferously, that i am meeting interesting people. i want to break into the networking scene with continued confidence....i really feel as if i am going to make it all happen. it is a need and a want.
so, all that being said, i am still worried. we must buy our tickets. let's talk money later, but let;s get our tickets now!
kisses.
a
3.27.2008
i have an idea....
that i'm sort of excited about. i am thinking to tie in the cool chicks trip with a "book club". i think i am going to suggest a book that we all read together, before departing. it will have an obvious tie in to the d.r. and will give a sense of history and understanding of the country before arriving. we won't need to be together, because we might have chicks from all over, and as cool chicks, our time can be quite limited...so, if we read and dialogued via e.mail!?
i have been networking via e.mail and flyers and cards my little zumba tushy off. i hope it is going to pay off. if i didn't believe in the trip(s) and did not think they were going to be of value i would not be so into it...but i happen to think we are in for a ride, with this trip....right now air is not cheap with oil prices as they are. right now i have it at 619.- pp for air in continental. working on a group rate, because that should be winter rates, not summer.
hoping to get to montreal tomorrow night for the night with a friend (wishing it was 2 friends?!). would like to walk around in heels and window shop and then dance bachata with someone, somewhere in that big bad city! need to dance with a partner. in the d.r. they do not have dances?! everywhere you go there is music and someone asks you to dance. it is incredible and i miss it. need to get a fix before i lose my soul.
bought some really sassy zumba pants....i think they truly help my gringa like samba. it's not nearly as much fun to samba in loose cargo pants. besides, i am determined to samba like a brazillian......
kisses to all. and remember, think book club!
a
i have been networking via e.mail and flyers and cards my little zumba tushy off. i hope it is going to pay off. if i didn't believe in the trip(s) and did not think they were going to be of value i would not be so into it...but i happen to think we are in for a ride, with this trip....right now air is not cheap with oil prices as they are. right now i have it at 619.- pp for air in continental. working on a group rate, because that should be winter rates, not summer.
hoping to get to montreal tomorrow night for the night with a friend (wishing it was 2 friends?!). would like to walk around in heels and window shop and then dance bachata with someone, somewhere in that big bad city! need to dance with a partner. in the d.r. they do not have dances?! everywhere you go there is music and someone asks you to dance. it is incredible and i miss it. need to get a fix before i lose my soul.
bought some really sassy zumba pants....i think they truly help my gringa like samba. it's not nearly as much fun to samba in loose cargo pants. besides, i am determined to samba like a brazillian......
kisses to all. and remember, think book club!
a
3.26.2008
i am beginning to get very excited!
the women that are approaching me about this particular trip are truly cool chicks! some know each other from some part of life or another. latin dancing and zumba seem to be a common denominator.
2 women approached me right after my zumba class last night! first of all, i have to say my new classes are a high! even with the messing up that i did last night, the ladies are silly and shakin' it and crazy! i love it! my tuesday night class is ready for some new dances, as well as my sunday mornings..so, i am up for the challenge! i'm asking them to shake it up and so must i! i need to be silly and crazy for them to feel free and let loose. no "mental lagoon" here......thanks for that phrase friend from montreal.
anyway, in the infamous hard drive crash of late 2007 i lost the press release i wrote for the cool chicks trip, so yesterday and today i am working on a new version...not nearly as fabulous as my last version...now, how to get it out there. i want to get it out in boston too! we need to escape these tiny walls of chittenden county (literally and figuratively).
also, mark your calendars...hoping for a crazy, family friendly, booty shakin' end of summer event for saturday, august 30th! keep coming back for more details!
kisses.
a
ps...hello to all my friends on the island!
2 women approached me right after my zumba class last night! first of all, i have to say my new classes are a high! even with the messing up that i did last night, the ladies are silly and shakin' it and crazy! i love it! my tuesday night class is ready for some new dances, as well as my sunday mornings..so, i am up for the challenge! i'm asking them to shake it up and so must i! i need to be silly and crazy for them to feel free and let loose. no "mental lagoon" here......thanks for that phrase friend from montreal.
anyway, in the infamous hard drive crash of late 2007 i lost the press release i wrote for the cool chicks trip, so yesterday and today i am working on a new version...not nearly as fabulous as my last version...now, how to get it out there. i want to get it out in boston too! we need to escape these tiny walls of chittenden county (literally and figuratively).
also, mark your calendars...hoping for a crazy, family friendly, booty shakin' end of summer event for saturday, august 30th! keep coming back for more details!
kisses.
a
ps...hello to all my friends on the island!
3.25.2008
moving on...
so, today, besides taking the car to the garage for all of it's aches and pains (black beauty is soon to be a graceful and stunning 10 years of age), and installing my very new and shiny external hard drive, that will hopefully keep me from pulling my hair out as i have done since last fall, and should allow me to back up both my pc and mac...
today, i am re writing the press release that i had written months ago for the cool chicks travel in july. i just realized this is one of the pieces of information that i lost in my first (yes, i did say first) mac book crash...oh, you know the one....where i lost EVERYTHING! and, might i say it was a stunning piece of literary work. boo hoo. if anyone has any contacts or ideas on how to get the word out about my trips and companies, i am all ears.
but then, i'm moving on....time to look down the road and see what else is ahead...also today, i am calling the d.r. to begin compiling information on my afro-dominican drumming village tour. it will comprise of: afro rhythms, community service, art, dancing, and river walks with cooking lessons. totally cool.
also, trying to get a meeting together about a summer blast party that will be open to the community and has great potential for growth, that will fall under the dulce fuego canopy.have my meeting people, have my agenda, have my co-conspirator...ready to party!
have to work hard in the next day or 2, as i would like to go to montreal on friday with some friends and see the city.
today might actually be the first day that feels like spring here (41 degrees!!!!). ah, but don't fret all you winter lovers, they are still talking flurries by the end of the week.
kisses.
a
today, i am re writing the press release that i had written months ago for the cool chicks travel in july. i just realized this is one of the pieces of information that i lost in my first (yes, i did say first) mac book crash...oh, you know the one....where i lost EVERYTHING! and, might i say it was a stunning piece of literary work. boo hoo. if anyone has any contacts or ideas on how to get the word out about my trips and companies, i am all ears.
but then, i'm moving on....time to look down the road and see what else is ahead...also today, i am calling the d.r. to begin compiling information on my afro-dominican drumming village tour. it will comprise of: afro rhythms, community service, art, dancing, and river walks with cooking lessons. totally cool.
also, trying to get a meeting together about a summer blast party that will be open to the community and has great potential for growth, that will fall under the dulce fuego canopy.have my meeting people, have my agenda, have my co-conspirator...ready to party!
have to work hard in the next day or 2, as i would like to go to montreal on friday with some friends and see the city.
today might actually be the first day that feels like spring here (41 degrees!!!!). ah, but don't fret all you winter lovers, they are still talking flurries by the end of the week.
kisses.
a
3.18.2008
cool chicks wanted....
well, the time has come to walk the walk....
the trip is planned and ready to go....please pass this along to all the cool chicks in your life.
for more information...
please call or write: 802.951.9259 info@alldominicantravel.com
3.13.2008
ladies....start your engines!
i have the dates! mark your calendars and start saving....
the dates of our trip are july 24-august 1!
here is the itinerary as it stands right now:
july 24...
arrive in santo domingo
transfer to hotel in the colonial zone
enjoy a welcome cocktail party
move ocean side for a complimentary dinner of comida typico (local food) overlooking the ocean
up for dancing? or need to crash? we can accommodate either mood
july 25...
breakfast in hotel, included first morning
morning walking tour of zona colonial, included
after our tour, we head to a colorful and vibrant place for lunch, included
rest up
have a dance lesson, included
head to the merengue festival
july 26...
take a trip to a modern art gallery
have coffee nearby
check out a modern local mall
return to the hotel area and have a free afternoon
merengue festival!
july 27...
a morning tour of les tres ojos (caves in the city with beautiful lagoons), included
columbus's supposed burial place, included
lunch back in town
possibly another gallery tour, or a free afternoon?
merengue festival!
july 28...
after breakfast we head north!
arrive in time to check into our hotel
throw on our bathing suits and have lunch on the beach!
july 29...
after a complimentary breakfast at the hotel
we take the local car shuttles to the next town to discover the internationally known waters of cabarete
plan on staying the day. shopping, eating, windsurfing, kiteboarding....
after returning to our hotel for a rest and a clean up
we head back to cabarete for dinner and night life
july 30...
how about a little horseback riding on the beach?
a 2 hour ride on the beach in the woods, where we stop for a cold drink at a fabulous little restaurant sitting on a perch overlooking the ocean
enjoy the rest of the day on the beach!
july 31...
day at sosua beach
last full day in the country...
lunch on the beach included
august 1...
have a morning of last minute shopping, or sitting quietly by the ocean, as we prepare to
say good bye to the sunny caribbean
as of now, i am posting the price as it has been...as 1395.- + air.... but i think we are able to do better than that. please check back or call and i will tell you the final price. also, please let me know if you would like me to negotiate air for you.
a 500.00 deposit is required to hold your spot. there is a full refund of your deposit until may1, and after that 1/2 refund. the total will be due prior to departure, it looks like june 15, 2008. as of june 15, all deposit money is non-refundable.
sunny dominican kisses to you all and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to call or write.
802.951.9259
allison@alldominicantravel.com
allison
the dates of our trip are july 24-august 1!
here is the itinerary as it stands right now:
july 24...
arrive in santo domingo
transfer to hotel in the colonial zone
enjoy a welcome cocktail party
move ocean side for a complimentary dinner of comida typico (local food) overlooking the ocean
up for dancing? or need to crash? we can accommodate either mood
july 25...
breakfast in hotel, included first morning
morning walking tour of zona colonial, included
after our tour, we head to a colorful and vibrant place for lunch, included
rest up
have a dance lesson, included
head to the merengue festival
july 26...
take a trip to a modern art gallery
have coffee nearby
check out a modern local mall
return to the hotel area and have a free afternoon
merengue festival!
july 27...
a morning tour of les tres ojos (caves in the city with beautiful lagoons), included
columbus's supposed burial place, included
lunch back in town
possibly another gallery tour, or a free afternoon?
merengue festival!
july 28...
after breakfast we head north!
arrive in time to check into our hotel
throw on our bathing suits and have lunch on the beach!
july 29...
after a complimentary breakfast at the hotel
we take the local car shuttles to the next town to discover the internationally known waters of cabarete
plan on staying the day. shopping, eating, windsurfing, kiteboarding....
after returning to our hotel for a rest and a clean up
we head back to cabarete for dinner and night life
july 30...
how about a little horseback riding on the beach?
a 2 hour ride on the beach in the woods, where we stop for a cold drink at a fabulous little restaurant sitting on a perch overlooking the ocean
enjoy the rest of the day on the beach!
july 31...
day at sosua beach
last full day in the country...
lunch on the beach included
august 1...
have a morning of last minute shopping, or sitting quietly by the ocean, as we prepare to
say good bye to the sunny caribbean
as of now, i am posting the price as it has been...as 1395.- + air.... but i think we are able to do better than that. please check back or call and i will tell you the final price. also, please let me know if you would like me to negotiate air for you.
a 500.00 deposit is required to hold your spot. there is a full refund of your deposit until may1, and after that 1/2 refund. the total will be due prior to departure, it looks like june 15, 2008. as of june 15, all deposit money is non-refundable.
sunny dominican kisses to you all and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to call or write.
802.951.9259
allison@alldominicantravel.com
allison
3.11.2008
not a graceful re-entry
well, here we are...back in vermont. i will begin with the most recent and take you backwards to sunny, warm and active dominican republic....
upon returning, my daughter and i entered our house to find no working furnace, a strong odor in the house and that i had changed the password to the computer and could not remember it! this was at 11:30pm! so, we packed ourselves up again, and grabbed the dog, and ran to our friends house. a very cold house and 3 technicians later, we were finally up and running.
since then, i have just been trying to get on top of all the details of life that had not been touched for a month, as well as emptying the suitcases, washing the endless loads of laundry and helping with homework. big cell test tomorrow!
but, let's go back to our warm place, shall we? i must admit, whether it is the fact that our transition was not extremely easy, or i am just having issues, but i am not feeling very good about being home. the difference in the way people look is incredible. i know that in the d.r. you can see some crazy tight outfits, and some women falling out of their tops, but they walk with sass, talk with sass, and make an effort to not wear baggy, holey jeans and layers of ripped clothing. people talk to each other in the grocery store about everything. they walk with their heads up and will discuss politics and music everywhere. it is a little easier today, as daylight savings time has improved the look of everything and the ice is melting.
our last days were spent on the north coast, our home away from home. cabarete and sosua are such fun places. very different beaches. very different people, and very different food. the good news, as i mentioned before, was the german bakery in sosua with bread and nutella. our last day, for breakfast we had lambi a la criolla en la playa en sosua!
as i promised my daughter we rode horses on the beach, and she got to drive the funny buggies. that was a typical dominican experience, where we negotiated one price, were later told it was not enough, almost didn't get picked up, then when we did, drove around the block in sosua, to go back to where we were just picked up, to switch buses, to later be told that my daughter could not drive?! after a brief discussion, in spanish! i had that all settled, as i did not just go through all of that and pay 70.- for me to drive the dusty, rocky roads for several hours. after the ride they tried to convince us we needed to buy the dvd of the experience, by telling us there was dominican music included. i explained that i had dominican music. the guy asked me what i had, and when i began listing the artists they got hysterical and left me alone...i knew that i had everything they were going to include and more!
my daughter and i went to puerto plata to visit the family of a friend. it was a highlight of the trip for us. we hung out with the boys in the backyard, where they gave us presents this time. usually i bring them treats, this time we brought a small pizza, but they gave me a beautiful bracelet, and we helped with homework, and my daughter got a new nickname from a local lady...blancita! and i had enough spanish to understand more and to talk more and be silly. we wanted to come back but we were leaving. we love them all. tears are filling my eyes right now, as i write this. i promised the boys if i come back in july, that i will have art supplies for the older one and a basketball for the younger one.
my daughter is a perfect traveling companion. i enjoyed her company to the fullest. i hope to continue to show her so many places in the world, or even if it is the same country, that we are able to see how lucky we are and help others, and be touched and motivated to be kinder people, and to reach out to our "neighbors" more. life is short, and what makes it special are the connections.
each day was more perfect than the day before. and, although, i was ready to have my vacation portion be finished, i was not ready to return. i was ready to head back to santo domingo and work on more spanish and dance., and make more business connections. i wish there was a way to live there for about 6 months to practice my spanish. i would be so much better.
thank you to all those that i came into contact with and all the experiences that made me stronger. i am so sure now that i need warm, rich thinking people in my life all of the time.
kisses to all.
a
upon returning, my daughter and i entered our house to find no working furnace, a strong odor in the house and that i had changed the password to the computer and could not remember it! this was at 11:30pm! so, we packed ourselves up again, and grabbed the dog, and ran to our friends house. a very cold house and 3 technicians later, we were finally up and running.
since then, i have just been trying to get on top of all the details of life that had not been touched for a month, as well as emptying the suitcases, washing the endless loads of laundry and helping with homework. big cell test tomorrow!
but, let's go back to our warm place, shall we? i must admit, whether it is the fact that our transition was not extremely easy, or i am just having issues, but i am not feeling very good about being home. the difference in the way people look is incredible. i know that in the d.r. you can see some crazy tight outfits, and some women falling out of their tops, but they walk with sass, talk with sass, and make an effort to not wear baggy, holey jeans and layers of ripped clothing. people talk to each other in the grocery store about everything. they walk with their heads up and will discuss politics and music everywhere. it is a little easier today, as daylight savings time has improved the look of everything and the ice is melting.
our last days were spent on the north coast, our home away from home. cabarete and sosua are such fun places. very different beaches. very different people, and very different food. the good news, as i mentioned before, was the german bakery in sosua with bread and nutella. our last day, for breakfast we had lambi a la criolla en la playa en sosua!
as i promised my daughter we rode horses on the beach, and she got to drive the funny buggies. that was a typical dominican experience, where we negotiated one price, were later told it was not enough, almost didn't get picked up, then when we did, drove around the block in sosua, to go back to where we were just picked up, to switch buses, to later be told that my daughter could not drive?! after a brief discussion, in spanish! i had that all settled, as i did not just go through all of that and pay 70.- for me to drive the dusty, rocky roads for several hours. after the ride they tried to convince us we needed to buy the dvd of the experience, by telling us there was dominican music included. i explained that i had dominican music. the guy asked me what i had, and when i began listing the artists they got hysterical and left me alone...i knew that i had everything they were going to include and more!
my daughter and i went to puerto plata to visit the family of a friend. it was a highlight of the trip for us. we hung out with the boys in the backyard, where they gave us presents this time. usually i bring them treats, this time we brought a small pizza, but they gave me a beautiful bracelet, and we helped with homework, and my daughter got a new nickname from a local lady...blancita! and i had enough spanish to understand more and to talk more and be silly. we wanted to come back but we were leaving. we love them all. tears are filling my eyes right now, as i write this. i promised the boys if i come back in july, that i will have art supplies for the older one and a basketball for the younger one.
my daughter is a perfect traveling companion. i enjoyed her company to the fullest. i hope to continue to show her so many places in the world, or even if it is the same country, that we are able to see how lucky we are and help others, and be touched and motivated to be kinder people, and to reach out to our "neighbors" more. life is short, and what makes it special are the connections.
each day was more perfect than the day before. and, although, i was ready to have my vacation portion be finished, i was not ready to return. i was ready to head back to santo domingo and work on more spanish and dance., and make more business connections. i wish there was a way to live there for about 6 months to practice my spanish. i would be so much better.
thank you to all those that i came into contact with and all the experiences that made me stronger. i am so sure now that i need warm, rich thinking people in my life all of the time.
kisses to all.
a
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
