Dublin - 22May2010

Dublin is a beautiful city and the 20 plus weather and sunny sky added to the overall ambiance. It's Saturday, the city comes to life with tourists and locals out strolling and enjoying the glorious day. Our day begins with a guided bus tour of the city.
Dublin became a free state in 1922 and an independant republic in 1942. The great stone wall is still present and dates back to the 1100's. The museums and galleries are owned by the people and all national buildings offer free admission. The Georgian houses a brightly coloured. The history behind the coloured doors dates back to when Queen Victoria died. They British oredered all doors be painted in black to signify the mourning. The Irish rebelled and painted their doors in bright colours of red, green, blue, yellow. This tradition is still present today. The inner city of Dublin is home to 1/2 a million people and with the surrounding counties there are approximately 1.7 million. Ireland is home to many great writers; Bram Stoker - Dracula, Johnathan Smith -Gullivers Travels, Oscar Wild and George Bernard Shaw. The River Liffery flows through the centre.
Our tour took us past the St. Patrick's the largest cathedral in Ireland, the only remaining city gate from the old wall, the Brazen Head pub dating back to 1198 and by the memorial for the great famine. This was a very haunting exhibit which marks a very significant time in the history of Ireland. The population went from over 8 million to abut 3 million. This was when many immigrated to the Americas.
We visited Trinity college, home to the Book of |Kells which were are the four gospels written by Monks in the 9th century. It's a sunny Saturday in Ireland and the weather has brought many out to the streets. The pubs are full of locals and tourists out socializing and enjoying the gorlious day. Our lunch was local pub fare washed down with a pint of Guinness. I must say the food has been amazing. Tonight we are off the the Merry Plough Boys pub for dinner and traditional Irish sond.

Ireland - The Traveling Babes are on the move.

The volcano ash didn't get us but the Guinness did! MMMM MMMM Good. Check out the photo of the pint of Guinness. Isn't that the most "perfect" head?

We landed in sunny Ireland early this morning with a fast, hard landing. Even the stewardess was shocked and commented that she must have words with the pilot. In spite of the landing we arrived safe and sound. The weather is warm, sunny and dry. Beautiful! The "Babes" Irish Eyes are smiling. The 10 day weather forecast is sunny, unseasonably warm and dry.

Our first stop was the Guinness Store House for a tour of where they brew delicious dark Guinness stout. They will continue brewing this great ale as there is a lease for 9000 years. In the store house you can see the original lease signed by Arthur Guinness in 1759 and it is surrounded by "the worlds largest pint glass of Guinness". The bar tenders drew the ale expertly creating a pint with the perfect head.
A quick sip of the tasty stout and we were on our way to check into the Royal Marine hotel in Dun Loaghaire, a quaint village situated along side of the Irish sea. This afternoon we took a stroll along the pier to visit the light house and watch the sail boats in the harbour. Dun Laoghaire is where you catch a ferry to Whales.

This evening's dinner was fit for a queen. Exceptional service, delicious food and smooth wines. Off to bed early as tommorrow morning we are off to Dublin to view the sites. More details to follow.

Tuscany travel story about the Babes on the Bus.

I have been organizing and escorting Womens Travel Network tours for 6 years now and I still fondly remember my first trip with the "Babes on the Bus", as they so elegantly named themsevles. Travelling with this wonderful group of ladies was the beginning of my journey and it certainly was more fun than I could have ever imagined and most memorable. One of the ladies on the tour wrote a story about our travel experience which I would love to share with all of you. Read and enjoy! I hope this encourages you to get out a live your travel dreams.
Warmest regards,
Debbie Ross, President and found of the Womens Travel Network.

The Babes on the Bus Do it Italian Style by Heather Resnick
The Babes on the Bus (dubbed by our selves) descend from their minivan onto the lush, Tuscan soil. The sun beams on the surrounding hills, swathed with velvety vibrant greens and brilliant golden grasses. After the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’, five of the ten women are tittering. They harbour a secret. Each of the five women hands the unsuspecting five an apron for their eagerly anticipated cooking class with Laura and Susan. The laughter peels out through the fertile valley. Laura and Susan have seen it before, maybe just not as many women, but it never fails to bring out the hilarity. Ten women stood in front of their blue bus and their very cute but embarrassed Italian driver, wearing no ordinary aprons. They are replicas (minus the head which is replaced by the wearers of the apron) of the famous statue that stands inside the Tribune of the Accademia, Florence- David by Michelangelo in all his manly glory. With some adjustments, aprons flapping in the warm breeze, we aligned for the photograph that represented the epitome of a fabulous, fun-filled nine days in spectacular Italy. We were ten women who had never traveled together and barely knew each other, if at all. Who drew us together for this trip of a lifetime - the competent founder of the Women’s Travel Network, Debbie Ross. With twenty-five years working in the travel industry, she “realized the need for women to have an opportunity to travel without the single supplements or hassle of finding a travel partner. She understands women’s travel needs. In our hectic world of family and work life, it is not always possible to coordinate travel with a companion. Out of a need of her own to find a group or organization catering to women with the same travel desires, Women’s Travel Network was created. In doing so, she hopes this network of women travelers and women tour companies will fulfill that need.” I celebrated my fiftieth birthday. I am a two-time cancer warrior. I wanted to do something special. My husband and I were not able to travel together. I was determined that I was waiting for no one and that time was of the essence. I heard of Debbie through a women’s networking group. I had wanted to go to glorious Greece, but she was not offering that trip. Large groups do not appeal to me. Debbie told me about her Tuscan Dreams Tour she was organizing. The itinerary was jam-packed with cooking classes, wine tasting and cultural experiences. It was the answer to my dreams. When I told other women I was going on a women’s only trip to Italy, the response from them was “That is fabulous. It will be such a hoot because you can relax and have fun doing what women like to do best – sopping, gabbing and enjoying each other’s company without male influences.” Our interests were captured by the history, nature, culture, food and wine and of course the allure of shopping in Italy’s exquisite shops. I knew that I would be with sisters of the same ilk. “Are you going with friends?” everyone wanted to know. “No. I haven't even met the other women except for Debbie”. (I had not even met my roommate, who was from Ottawa until the night we were flying out of Pearson Airport ). “Aren’t you worried that you won’t get along with them and they will ruin your trip?” “No. I trust that Debbie has done a good job in making sure our personalities will meld. Besides, I am quite able to compromise on a trip. It’s silly for me to spend extra for a single supplement, when we are only going to be sleeping in the room. Even if my partner snores, I don't sleep much anyway. Every couple of hours I wake up in a puddle. It's this menopause thing.” My conviction of Debbie's ability proved true to my belief. I have never had so much fun with a group of women in my whole life. We all settled into a comfort zone with each other instantaneously. The fact that ten women of varying ages, backgrounds and personalities could get along so well, seemed astounding. In retrospect though, we were all able to follow basic tenets in being amicable:- Humour - we made fun of ourselves and viewed our experiences with the eyes of comedians Compromise Compassion Sharing Flexibility - altering activities because of circumstances Child-like wonder at the sites we encountered and the knowledge we gleaned Latitude – mutual respect for each other’s space The memories will forever be etched in my mind of the myriad of humorous and exultant moments of that trip. Friendships were made to last a lifetime. As a writer, it has become fodder for a series of humorous women’s fictional travel books that are a work in process. We had a reunion before the winter holidays. The wonderful reminisces flowed like the Chianti wine of the Tuscan Hills. We reminded each other how we celebrated Canada’s birthday proudly singing (off key and having a lapse in memory of some of the words) “Oh Canada” at the top of our lungs, overlooking a moon swept, sweet-smelling valley. We shared our pictures of us riding the carousal in Florence. We eagerly anticipate our next biennial trip. Vive La France! The Babes on the Bus are on their way! For the thrill of a lifetime, be a participant of Debbie Ross's exciting women only trips by contacting her at info@womentravelnetwork.ca. Phone 905-771-8338 or toll free 1-888-419-0118 Heather Resnick is a free-lance writer and author of her first women’s fiction Ms. Humpty Dumpty (www.mshumptydumpty.com) and is seeking a publisher. She is currently researching and writing a non-fiction book Women Reworked (www.womenreworked.com) for women considering entering the workplace after an extended absence. Help her write the book by doing her on-line survey.

Fitness In The Falls - 30April to 02May

Follow the action as the Womens Travel Network takes part in Fitness In The Falls.
http://www.fitnessinthefalls.com/

Posts will begin on Sat. May 1st.

Poas Volcano

Today we begin with another early morning yoga to wake our bodies. The morning classes seem to be getting smaller and smaller as people become more relaxed. Once again we have Leonardo as our teacher. Today he has decided to work us a little harder and moves us through more advanced poses. After the dance class last night I find my legs are not up to the challenge but I persevere. I love a good challenge!
Today we are off to the Paos Volcanoe. Even though it has not erupted in years, it is still a live volcanoe which could go at anytime. The Cost Rican government works hard at preserving the natural beauty of the country and has turned many of these forests and volcanoe areas into national parks.
From the entrance we hike along a roadway up to the main crater. Unfortunately the clouds are low so the visibility is zero. We waited patiently for it to clear but the weather wasn't cooperating today. We continue our hike on a path through the forest up to the next crater. Fortunately it was perfectly clear. We had a birds eye view of the water filled crater. However, up in the cloud forest the weather can change in an instant. The clouds move in quickly and the lake is no longer visible. The crater is about 7000 feet above sea level and the air is crisp, cool and fresh. It's so nice to breath in smog free air.
Our hikeback down takes about 45 minutes and winds through the lush forest. I's amazing to see how the plants intertwine and thrive together as one. As we descend the clouds move in. We all feel very fortunate that we were able to see the crater as those coming after us were only going to see clouds. The air is beginning to get quite cool now so we are happy to be returning to a lower altitude where the air is warm. Everyone is looking forward to another great lunch at Pura Vida and we are more than ready for it after our hike.
This afternoon the rain has moved in. Some people head to their rooms for a nap while others gather in the lounge to check email, share photos and chat.
This evening is the last night for most. Our journey has been amazing.
I look forward to my next trip to Costa Rica, land of incredible beauty.

Pura Vida life continues

Afternoon yoga with Nati was challenging. I wasn't prepared for the high level of yoga but I did my best to keep up. She moved quickly through strong poses that challenged your mind and body. I must have sweated away at least 10 pounds. Nati is also the therapist at the Watsu program which is a free flow massage performed under water. Lori decided to give it a try. She found it very relaxing and felt as though she was a fish in the waters and at times like she left this earth plane and was dancing in the clouds. There must be a strong trust between the therapist and the person taking the treatment. Nati spins you around, flowing, rolling under water. Bringing you up for air when she feels your body change. Certainly a unique experience.
The evening was relaxing and once again the food amazing. Many new friendships have been formed throughout the week and some are already talking about meeting somewhere next year.
After dinner we took part in a dance class. The instructor was patient with us and slowly walked us through various steps: merenge, cha cha cha, salsa and more. It was great fun. In one day I had enough exercise to last a week, two yoga classes and a dance class.

Living the good life at Pura Vida in Costa Rica

Another early morning rise for a 630am yoga class. At Pura Vida it's easy to wake up early with the sun. Our yoga studio is open air with a spectacular view of the valley and is surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers. The energy in the room is wonderful and every one is eager to learn. Leonardo is a patient teacher and takes the time to show everyone how to properly move through the sun salutation. This morning he has started with a nice meditation, breathing exercises and gai dong (I hope I spelled that correctly). Gai dong opens up your energy centre which allows you to go deeper into your practice. Slowly my strength and flexibility is returning. After class there is always a healthy meal waiting. Fresh fruits, juices, eggs, fish and more. We are all wondering how we are going to survive at home without these great meals prepared for us. They have an amazing juice bar offering healthy vegetable juices and excellent fruit smoothies.
Eduardo has offered to lead us on a walking tour through the coffee plantation. Throughout the walk he explains the history of coffee in Costa Rica, the life span of the coffee plants and the process of harvesting the beans from start to finish. Costa Rican coffee is one of the best in the world. The volcanic earth is rich and fertile and perfect for growing crops such as coffee, pineapples and bananas. He also explains that the mountain ranges which run from north to south are all volcanic. Costa Rica is a very fragile country which experiences tremors regularly and earth quakes. Just before I started writing this blog we had few tremors which gently shook my chair. The staff assured us there was nothing to worry about.
Today is a day for rest and relaxation. A day for lazing around the pool or enjoying a treatment from one of the exceptional therapists. I had the pleasure of receiving a healing massage from Oman. He has a very spiritual energy which flows through your body as he works out all the kinks. He has a way of finding the smallest knots and working you through them. Sometimes painful but very rewarding. When the massage was over I felt relaxed and rejuvenated. The whole experience was quite electrifying and healing.
Everyone seems happy with their treatments and it shows as they all have peaceful looks on their faces. Later today Lori is going for a Watsu treatment. This is all done under water in the watsu pool. I am curious to see how it is done. I will report on this tomorrow and hopefully post some photos.
Tonight we are going to enjoy salsa dance lessons. This should be fun.
Tomorrow we are going for a tour of the Paos Volcano. Stay tuned for more!