Attending Cultural Shows

On April 29, 2016 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Mexico4 Comments

When travelling, we try to go to a show that depicts the history and culture of the people where we are visiting. They can be a little bit hokey at times, but they are also pretty informative. When we were in Puerto Vallarta a few years ago, we had two different experiences, but they were both a lot of fun. First we took a tour on a pirate ship that combined some pirate swashbuckling with a show about their Incan ancestors. Then later in the trip, we took a cruise to a remote location south of Puerto Vallarta for dinner and a show. Most cultures are extremely proud of their heritage, so they put a lot of effort into shows such as these.

On the pirate ship, they started by doing some interactive activities to get people to loosen up and relax. As is always the case whenever there is something interactive that we attend, Dona is selected to participate. First they threatened to toss her overboard before pulling her up to the “stage”. Then they had her sing La Cucaracha with ice in her mouth and, if that wasn’t enough, they gave her a poncho and had her do a mock-striptease. There is nothing to do except to take it in all in with a smile, it is all in good fun.

After the ice-breakers, we enjoyed some drinks and looked around at the splendid views from the ship. As the sun started going down, the pirate show began. It was a lot of tongue-and-cheek humor and leaping around waving swords. Probably more fun for the kids than it was for the adults, but it was interesting enough. It was certainly more about entertainment than culture or education.

After the pirate show, the highlight of the night started with an Incan performance. There was a lot of fire, drums, and chanting. It was quite entertaining, culminating in a fireworks show.

When we went to the dinner, it was quite a different experience. This show really centered on the history of the Incan ancestors and their mystical beliefs. We didn’t get too many pictures of that show, but it was quite fascinating. It was very elaborate with dancers all over the stage telling the story of their gods, complete with a pulley system swinging actors above the audience. After the show, we ate dinner on the beach and watched the sun set before heading back to Puerto Vallarta.

These cultural shows provide an opportunity for visitors to get a glimpse at traditions, folkdance, folklore, and the culture in general. It isn’t a substitute for reading about a culture in advance of visiting or taking the time to go to the museums that might be in a city, but it can be an entertaining way to reinforce what you’ve already read and learned. Worse case, it might just be a fun evening with drinks and a show.

Classic Mai Tai – Cure for a Beach State of Mind

On April 20, 2016April 20, 2016 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Recipes8 Comments

Since winter has been lingering around too long here in Colorado, we’ve been longing for the beach and sun. Our solution, a drink that will take you away to memories of an ocean breeze and salt air. There are a lot of ways to make a Mai Tai, but this is the classical way that we used to make it back when we worked at the resort where we first met. It seems especially fitting since today is our 26th wedding anniversary that we share a cocktail that reminds us of when we first met.

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces (1 jigger) of Coconut Rum
1/2 ounce of Dark Rum
3 ounces of Orange Juice (preferably fresh)
2 ounces of Pineapple Juice
1/2 ounce of Grenadine
Ice

Instructions

In a shaker, add ice, the coconut rum, orange juice, pineapple juice and shake vigorously. Pour the punch into a highball glass filled about three-quarters full with ice. Slowly pour the grenadine over punch, it will sink to the bottom of the glass. Float the dark rum onto the top of the punch, either by pouring slowly using a pour-spout or, if you don’t have one, by pouring over the back of a spoon. Garnish with pineapple and maraschino cherries and enjoy. This recipe makes a single cocktail, so feel free to repeat until you can smell the beach. 🙂

This Might Explain A Lot

On April 8, 2016April 8, 2016 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Colorado, Maryland8 Comments

Most people understand having the travel bug, but there are some people that we know that just don’t seem to get it. Obviously, we currently live in Colorado and spend quite a bit of time hiking in the mountains and enjoying our beautiful state. But, when the two of us first met, we lived in a resort town on the ocean in Maryland. In fact, our first condominium that we lived in together was right on the water and we spent many evenings watching the sun set over the bay. The first year of our marriage was basically a working vacation filled with water skiing, strolls on the beach, and plenty of sun.

And a Younger Dona in Front of Our Condominium

Twenty-seven years have gone by since we first met, but we still look back at those days when life was carefree and it instilled a desire to see the world. Maybe it was because we spent so many days staring out at the ocean and wondering what was on the other side of the horizon. Since those sunny days, work has moved us several times until we landed here in Colorado and now our sunsets occur behind the peaks of the rocky mountains, but the want to see the world is just as strong.

Another Sunset from Ocean City, Maryland

An argument could be that having had the opportunity to live by the ocean and then the mountains should have cured us of the travel bug, but it has only made it stronger. No life is a series of sunsets and romantic places and our opportunities to travel aren’t as often as we’d like, but we try to make the most out of the time that we do have. Maybe this doesn’t completely explain why both of us have had the travel bug as long as we’ve known each other, but maybe it explains it a little.