Sunshine and Warm Weather!

I am so happy to be back in Phoenix, Arizona!  I had a lot of great memories here and couldn't wait to get back.  I can honestly say that if I were to move anywhere, it would be here.  The scenery is great and the sun is always shining; the weather is amazing and things just seem so much calmer and laid back compared to the east coast.  I understand that it does get really hot and steamy here in the summer, but I could deal with that.  There is just something special about being here that I cannot seem to find anywhere else.

It was probably one of the best weeks that we have had yet.  Everyone was so much happier because it was finally warm again and the travel day to Phoenix on the plane went pretty well too!

So, after we all got settled into the hotel it was time to soak up some sun and lots of it!  It was almost as if we were living in a resort for the week with the pool and hot tub in the center, surrounded by palm trees.  We even had balconies that with sliding doors that opened into the courtyard area or at least let some fresh air in.

The canal system was absolutely beautiful, lined with flowers and bordering all of the resorts that were in the area.  This definitely brought back memories from my first trip out to this area as I went for runs along the water system this time.

Another blast from the past was, returning to Old Town Scottsdale!  It is such a unique little town with so many shops to see from western attire to cowboy boots to the famous turquoise jewelry.  There are cute eateries and specialty places to explore in the town as well.  This being said, most of our time was spent by the pool enjoying all the sun that we could since it was the first time in what felt like forever that we saw the sun again and it was warm!

Still staying warm, we are heading for the West Coast!!

See you in Cali!

Show Buzz #4

D20 Show Buzz May/June 2014

Stephanie 

Still in the snow covered north, we headed to our Nations Capital.  Little did we know, we were in for a surprise that week with more snow than the city could handle. 

It was our first snow day of tour!  Two shows and a PR event at the arena were cancelled.  All of the schools, businesses, and even the government called off work that day.  The city was almost deserted; no one was even out playing in the snow. 

And this was just the start of even more snow as we headed north into Ottawa, Canada on the 16-hour bus ride; the longest ride of the tour and the quickest turn around.  We had a show at 1 pm in D.C. and then drove the rest of that day and into Tuesday and opened in Ottawa on Wednesday. 

Luckily, the next week slowed down and we headed south slightly after all of the snow and back to where it all began. 

We found ourselves in Rockford, Illinois where we started this show together.  We performed at the same arena and stayed in the same hotel as before.  This time however, the arena was not under construction anymore and we weren’t there for two weeks.  The hotel really did not change though.  It was still filled with animal heads and the “Good Luck Hog” in the lobby that spits water.  Even though there was no beach or anything exciting to do around hotel, everyone was looking forward to going back.  After all, it is where we all started this journey together. 

Saying goodbye to Rockford one more time and continuing on our journey together things were running smoothly and then it happened; travel days.  Our drive from Johnstown, Pennsylvania to catch our flight out of Baltimore, Maryland turned against our luck. 

We were all up and awake early to make the drive just to find out that part way there and only an hour away from the airport that our flight was cancelled.  We had no hotel reservations and the first hotel that we stayed at when we performed in Baltimore previously this year, only had 30 rooms available and we needed 55!

Anyways, with a few phone calls we were able to find a hotel that had enough rooms for all of us and that was closer to the airport.  We also got breakfast out of it too! 

Thinking it was all behind us, we started out on travel day two of two from Baltimore for Loveland, Colorado.  While the first flight had not a problem at all, the second flight was not so lucky.  Not only did flight two get delayed in transit, but when they arrived at their final destination, they came to find that almost all of their luggage was lost!  Luckily, it did arrive later that day, just in time to allow us to adjust to a few days of warm weather and sun!  The first we had seen this kind of weather in a very long time!  It is crazy how fast it changes in Colorado though; one day it is sunny and in the mid – 60’s and the next, it is snowing and in the 30’s!

So Colorado brought us some new experiences and not just with the weather.  There was also a change in altitude in each of the three cities that we performed in as well. 

Speaking of changes, the hotel that we stayed at in Denver, Colorado could not decide if it was a Red Lion or a Radisson.  Some of the signs said one name and another had the other for advertisement.  There were workers on the roof at 7AM on our days off pounding and hammering while the fire alarm went off at 8AM and then again multiple times a day.  They were putting a new sprinkler system in so for three days straight the alarms were sounding.  Then, there was a water line break and we lost water for about five hours the one day and only one elevator for each tower worked, so getting our luggage up and down took us about 30 minutes to an hour if you were in the back of the line.

Denver also brought us some unique experiences at the arena with cops patrolling the entrance on horseback and then we even had a family follow the bus all the way back to the hotel just to say goodbye.  Although it was a nice gesture it was definitely nerve-racking at the same time.

Still climbing in elevation we headed to Colorado Springs, the highest point that we will perform at and the very city that we presented in-shows.  It was definitely a strain on the breathing!  I now completely understand why all of the Olympians and World competitors come to the springs to train.

Speaking of Olympians, we were performing at the World Arena, where we had numerous famous faces in the building at each show! 

Topping off nights like those, nothing made it better than coming back to the delicious chocolate chip cookies at the Double Tree every time we walked in the door.  The front desk personnel basically guaranteed that we would all be walking in looking for those cookies. 

Taking a step away from the official training sights of the Olympians, we took a few moments to enjoy nature and the sights that it offered on horseback! No one fell off or wandered off the trail so that was a plus and the views were spectacular!

And then it was time to hit Phoenix, Arizona and everyone felt as if they were staying in a resort and it was more like a vacation than another city to perform in.  The sun was shining everyday, the temperature was warm, and there were palm trees!  The bathing suits were out and the pool was open; it was time to soak up some sun and try not to get sun burnt!

As our tour is nearing its’ end with only five more weeks left, we have come a long way since rehearsals. We have had our highs and lows together and can only hope to make the most of it from here on out as we hit California, Nevada, Texas, and Georgia!

Wishing everyone the best!  Safe travels!

Places we have been/Places to see if you go:

Washington D.C. – All of the museums and monuments – George Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, The White House, Sculpture Park, the Pentagon, Georgetown, Georgetown Cupcakes, Capital Hill

Ottawa, Ontario Canada – Skating on the canals, Fox and the Feather, City Hall

Rockford – Cliffbreakers!! Back in the same hotel and same arena that we were in for rehearsals

Pittsburgh – Inclines, Point Park, Market District, South Side, Strip District, History Museum, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Ballet, The Benedum, The Pittsburgh Ballet, The Pittsburgh Symphony, Heinz Field, PNC Park, Mount Washington, Fort Pitt,  The Rink at PPG outside, Schenely Park skating rink outside

Johnstown – Incline, Central Park of Johnstown, Flood Museum, Arena that Slap Shot was filmed in, Chocolate Candy Store

Loveland – Warm weather for the first time in what feels like forever! Outlet shops and the mall! It was a shopping city

Denver – Downtown Denver, The 16^th Street Mall, the Light Rail, Larimer Square! The Mile High City!

Colorado Springs – Welcome to elevation!  In-Shows! Horseback riding through the Garden of Gods, Pikes Peak, World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame, The Broadmoor Hotel, The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo where you can feed and pet the giraffes! USA Hockey headquarters, The Ice Hall (an Official Olympic Training Facility) 

Phoenix – Finally there is a break in the weather and it’s hot, not just warm! The sun is shining and there is an outdoor pool! Resort-style living this week with the pool and sun!

Colorado Springs - Headquarters for Basically Every Sport

Welcome to elevation!  Never did I realize how much different things would be trying to breath at altitude and trust me after three weeks of being above sea-level, it still is a struggle to maintain your breath all the way up there.  Even the smallest and easiest things can cause you to be out of breath.  I can completely respect the fact that the top athletes come to train in the Springs to get that extra edge and build up their stamina.

Anyways, the scenic views totally make up for it the struggle to breath at points.  I do not think that I have ever been somewhere so beautiful before.

Having never been to Colorado before, it just made sense to continue trying new things in a new place. I had my first Baskin Robins ice cream, my first pedicure, and went horseback riding for the first time!  I also choreographed my first program and presented it.  It felt amazing to get back out there reminiscing over how much it reminded me of my previous competitive career and how much I miss it; which I never thought I would say.

Going to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and feeding the giraffes, seeing Pikes Peak that was still covered in snow, feeling the wind, dirt, and sand hit your face as your horse carried you through the Garden of the Gods, walking through the elegant Broadmoor hotel surrounded by boutiques and unique eateries along with an exquisite landscape for the resort, as well as the mansions that were found located all around this area were all more than I could have imagined to see.

If this wasn't enough, being able to skate on ice that Olympians trained on year after year and just being in the same facility that people like Peggy Flemming and Patrick Chan, fills you with such an amazing and honored kind-of feeling.

Also, being home to the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame really made me feel like a little girl with big dreams all over again.

Overall, being in Colorado Springs was such an amazing experience and I cannot believe that I was able to experience it traveling around the country at this point in my life.

Although the Centennial State was breath-taking, literally, it is time to get back to sea-level!