Last Stop in Mexico

Monterrey, Mexico

While this is the last stop in Mexico for all of us as a group, it is also the last stop on the road for a few.  It has been a great journey and an amazing experience getting to work with all the new faces and the break-workers that feel as if they are part of our cast.  Everyone brings so much to the show with his or her individual personalities that there is never a dull moment.  We will definitely miss you all and you will always have a special place here on D34.

But before we say goodbye, which is always “See you later” or “See you down the road,” we had a few days to enjoy each other’s company. 

While the flights were split and one took off early in the morning and the other late at night we all had different agendas on travel day. 

For those of us on the later flight it was nothing but a pool day before we traveled and once we arrived our day off was spent doing the same.  It was nice to finally get out and soak up the sun on the rooftop pools.  And of course, every one was trying their new tricks we learned from Cirque Du Soleil right before we left Guadalajara.  That and of course, the football went over the railing once again falling to the ground, but this time it was only five stories instead of 12. 

Coming back down to ground level, other popular attractions were of course Chili’s and Carl’s Jr.  So much yummy food!  We were all indulging just a little. 

But even better, we were able to experience a real Mexican BBQ and piñata breaking!

It has been such an amazing experience here in Mexico and I am thankful for this opportunity, but it is time to get back to the states and HOME!

See you in about a week back on the road again, but until then, enjoying time at home in the middle of nowhere :)

We Can Breathe!

Guadalajara, Mexico

It may only be a decrease in about 2,000 feet, give or take some, but it is still enough to make a big difference; that along with the fact that the air is so much cleaner here even though it is still the second largest city in Mexico.  Also, driving is still crazy with motorcyclists zipping in between and people trying to sell you things while you are stopped at a light if your window is down, but here, the traffic actually moves and you are not always at a standstill.  

And we have light, another plus for the week!  Yes, our make-up rooms are the typical show-girl-style with lights that line the mirrors in the center of the room and we have a skylight!  So even though things are tight and cramped in every area including the ice, we have light!

Did I mention that the ice is really tiny?! We are actually performing in a theater this week and the stage had to be built onto just for our show to be able to lay the tank ice down.  We are only on seven headers long and five headers wide.  I know some shows have performed on smaller, but this is the first time that D34 has been shrunk to this size. 

It is a totally different experience having the audience basically all downstage instead of also along stage left and right as well all the back to the panels. 

It has been an interesting week, but some things have kept us going. 

We all had a few days off which is always well appreciated and believe it or not, Cirque Du Soleil – Corteo is also in town staying at the very same hotel that we are. 

It’s crazy how we may be different performing groups, but we are all just the same.  Athletes involved in the show business traveling around for a living that appreciate some of the same things.  So, it was very nice getting to watch their show with a special backstage tour and just getting to know a similar group of people that do something like what we do.  Their group even came to see one of our shows as well!

It’s one thing if we are able to link up and see another Disney On Ice performance, but to be able to do so with another show like Cirque is completely different and a nice surprise.  They were always keeping us on toes with things to do and places to go aside from the typical shopping mall across the street and casino down the road. 

Overall, Guadalajara has proved to be a breath of fresh air in more ways than one for many.

One more week in Mexico and then it’s time to head home for a week off.

Let’s finish strong as we head to Monterey, Mexico!

MEXICO!

Mexico City

Travel Day on a Friday?  Now that is something that we don’t hear everyday, let alone having a Saturday off on tour.  Thank goodness we all made it safely to our international destination.  I will have to admit that I am a little apprehensive about this trip because it is the first time that I will be outside the United States for more than just a week in a completely different culture and not being fluent in the language.  

Right about now, I am really wishing that I would have stuck with studying more Spanish in high school and college.  Maybe I will be able to pick up on a few more things since we are going to be abroad for a total of five weeks.   One can only hope.

It’s still hard to believe that I am really here.  I mean I know that I have been doing this job for three years now, but I still can’t even believe it. 

So, here goes nothing…bring on Mexico City!

As soon as we landed, we hit the ground running.  There was a little time for some sight seeing when we got in and visiting the typical places that everyone raves about along with finding a few of our own before it was time to get down to business. 

Performing 7,000 feet above sea level really takes it toll.  I really think that everyone who moves to Colorado Springs for training should consider training in Mexico City; it definitely has a few thousand feet on the mile high city. 

I mean finishing just the Pre-Show and Opening numbers of the show, I felt as if I just completed a cross-country or long distance race on the track. 

So, like anyone could imagine we were all looking forward to our day off.  While many chose to do something productive and see the city, there was some of us that a chose a different route that entailed sleeping in and watching as many movies as we could.  Either way that we chose, everyone enjoyed their day off before starting week two.

Even though it may have been the start to a new week, more and more people were out with the Mexico illness.  Between that and the elevation, everyone was feeling the effects of it along with the long and bumpy van rides to the arena.  It was a free roller coaster ride everyday both ways haha. 

I mean after all most of the roads don’t even have lines on them let alone stop signs at intersections and even though there are speed bumps in the middle of the road at random points along the trip it just isn’t the same as a stop sign.  It’s a wonder how there aren’t more accidents all things considered and the fact that everyone literally drives on top of the person in front of them.  What is even scarier is getting to an intersection that goes in about 10 different directions without any lines showing what way the lanes go.  Sometimes you just have to hold your breath and hope for the best.  That is, if there isn’t a protest going on. 

So far, after two weeks of being here there has been a protest each week.  Apparently, it’s very common for any reason to be a protest in Mexico. 

Anyhow, on a calmer note, it was time for our day off again and we were all headed to the Teotihuacan (Pyramids) for a little tourist sightseeing experience.  The itinerary went as follows:

Zona Arqueologica – pyramids site

la plaza de la Piramide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun)

la plaza de la Piramide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon)

Cueve de la Region – cave

Tepantila District

Taller Artesanias – art craft

Fabrica de licor – liquor factory

Lunch at the Gran Teocalli

It was an absolutely amazing day with a great group of people.  Yes, it was hot, the sun was shining, and there was a lot of walking on top of basically rock climbing up the pyramids.  Some of the steps were literally at a 90-degree angle where you had to use ropes to scale the side, but it was such a great experience.  And being able to go through the entire site with a tour guide really helped enhance the information and the feeling that you got walking through even the caves and street of the dead.  We even took part in a sacrifice ceremony and did the rain dance.  It’s crazy how much you can learn about a culture from little trips like this. 

We were all wore out by the end of the day, but it was totally worth it and we are all very grateful to be able to do something like this while we are on the road working.  It’s just another perk of the job. 

But before we knew it, the day was done and it was back to work for the third and final week in Mexico City. 

And just like the two weeks previous, there was yet again another protest.  However, at this point, it has become something of the norm. 

We did have a few highlights though and one of which was our first BBQ of the year!  It was so nice for everyone to get together and have a chance to hangout and enjoy each other’s company and a few days later we were able to see the Blue Moon, that didn’t really look blue, but still.

As we are nearing the end of our time here, we are all looking forward to moving on to a different home for the next week!

Back to Where it All Began

Ellenton, Florida (Rehearsals)

After three weeks off for the skaters we were on our way back to where it all started this month last year.  It’s crazy to think about how far we have come over the last year and now we are here to start it all over again.  This year though, there are a few changes; we aren’t necessarily the exact same group and the crew is not with us either.  However, some things were still the same; the rocking chairs in the entryway of the hotel, the picnic table and grills beside the pool right where we left them, and Freddy’s (Frozen Custard and Burgers) across the highway! 

Sometimes all that matters are the little things that keep us going.  We were back in a familiar place with lots of familiar faces.  Everything was alright.  Plus, this time most of us already knew what we were doing in the show so we may have had long days at the rehearsal facility, but we already knew the material so it was definitely an advantage. 

And even though we may not have had a day off to go back to the beach like we did last year, having those extra weeks at home, made it all the more worth it. 

Going into another busy year this season, we first go international before returning to states.  This may be interesting all things considered; I have only been across the northern boarder to Canada and only for a week at a time. 

This time we are heading in the opposing direction, so I will have the opportunity to cross the southern board and into Mexico we will go. 

Bring on Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterey Bay!

Wishing everyone the best throughout this 2015-2016 tour season and to those not returning with us, good luck!

The Final Finale

Greenville, South Carolina

Well, it is hard to believe, but the time is finally here!!  This is actually the last city of this Record Breaking tour!  It is crazy to think that we have completed 443 shows!! What is even harder to grasp is the fact that out of those show days, 91 of them were three-show days!  It is hard to think that after six weeks of rehearsals that we would be here and still going strong.

Keeping that in mind and knowing that after these last eight shows and some busy days with Early Morning Public Relations appearances as well as other events, it was time to go HOME!  For most of us that is basically a foreign word that does not mean a hotel room, which we have become so accustomed to, instead home is a place where all our friends and family are living, where we all started our before we came on the road.  Being away for 11 months is all that we could think about along with the three weeks off that lie ahead for members of the cast. 

We stayed as focused as we could, but it was a challenge.  With not only the thoughts of HOME growing in the background, we were enjoying the last week that we had all together.  There were the boys activities and girls activities also followed up by our Closing Night gathering.  From bowling to go-carting to formal wear and photo booths, there was fun to had and memories to be made.

Taking it all in before some of us part our ways.  Even though most of us are going to be returning after three weeks at home, we will never return all as one.  We will never be the same group that we all started out as in Ellenton as the first show to rehearse at the new building.  Now, we are going to be returning to the very place it all started here in a few short weeks before next season begins. 

So, Good Luck to those who we may only see down the road and See You Soon to all those that are returning!

Nearing the End

Huntsville, Alabama

So we have finally made it to the last two weeks of tour.  It has really been a long time coming and break cannot get her fast enough.  We can literally see the light at the end of the tunnel that we never thought we were going to reach.  It is going to take that one last final push to get us to the end.

                       

                                                                               

Thank goodness this week we have had a few things to look forward to so it doesn’t seem as if time is just dragging on. 

   

We were able to enjoy two days off being for the most part lazy in most of our cases with the exception of going to the gym across the street or walking around the almost deserted mall. 

More importantly though, one of the main highlights of the week, was Viola’s (Head Wardrobe) fashion show.  After seeing her traveling more and more bags each week, we were all getting anxious to see what she had in store and the time was finally here.  The room was full of not only the entire cast of crew from the show, but also local friends and family as well.  The cameras and lights were ready to go as fellow friends took to the runway to display her newest creations.  It was beautiful. 

Now that all the final tests were done from In-Shows to the Fashion Show, it was time to take a step back and relax, with a BBQ!  The corn hole boards were set up and the piñata was hung; it was time for some grilling! 

The night was warm, the sky was clear, and everyone was just looking to have a good time knowing that the end is near. 

Let’s finish strong!  One more week for this Record Breaking Tour!

All I See is Beach!

Florence, South Carolina

Well, it has finally come for a few days off and it was time to hit the beach.  The sun was shining, the weather was warm, and the time was right for a little vacation while we were on tour.  We have not had a chance to do anything like this for a very long time; even the crew was able to take advantage of having a few days off as well.

We could hardly wait!  Literally the last show couldn’t end soon enough.  We were all ready for a break and a chance to get away since in reality we would have been home right now if these last couple of weeks hadn’t been added. 

Even though they were, we are making the most of our time that we have left to spend together before we part and some go on different paths. 

Checking into our beachfront resort hotel, the view from the balcony was nothing, but beach and ocean-view from as far out as you could see extending in both directions.  For me, it brought back many memories from my college days when we were in Myrtle Beach for spring break and track meets. 

Taking a moment to reflect…

And then it was off to the beach and go-carting for the two days that we had to spend there.  Not to mention…all the fresh seafood too!

Sometimes it’s a little crazy, but all we need is to get away and relax and we will all feel so much better.  That mini vacation will always be in the memory books.

Unfortunately, as all good times do, it went way too fast and reality hit; it was time to get back to business. 

Even though this was one of our shorter weeks, it did not feel that way at all.  We had numerous visitors in to watch the show and we also had in-shows!  While some were professional, others were just for fun, and still others were humorous. 

It was amazing to see all the work that fellow cast members put into their performances even after having well over 400 shows.  We are literally a family here, spending as much time together as what we do so it makes sense that when one reaches for the stars, we all do and when one falls, we all do.  It is hard to come by, but when it does; don’t let that feeling get away. 

We are all getting anxious to get home as tour winds down, but we have to finish strong with only two weeks left.

Back to Alabama we head on another long bus ride.