Bremen Salsa Fest Cancelled = 4 Day Car Trip Adventure w/ Salsa Royale

Bremmen “Queen Salsa” Festival was the DISASTER of the year! Here unfolds the story: It was to be our second European event in May. We were excited to perform along with Ana & Joel Masacote (Boston), Taiti & Cristel (Holland), Salsa Royale (Holland), Vito & Stefania (Italy), Franco & Lisandra Pura Salsa (Germany), etc. Zoë was invited to premiere a special aerial hoop routine as part of a new cha cha routine with Dave.

The festival was May 14-16, 2010, produced by Gervais Aguey. Upon arrival, we found we weren’t the only artists who had no idea what the schedule was for the weekend and performances that night, or how to get to the performing venue. Something was wrong...

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

When Mr. Aguey arrived on the hour of when shows were supposed to begin, we were informed of the problem of no funds to pay for artists services or those who had paid in advance their airfare. Some artists performed that night in hopes that the event would pay for itself. Charlotte Morgenrot did an amazing job MC-ing the show and keeping the audience enjoying themselves despite the late start. The organizer did not make himself available upon the first day of workshops to report better news. All artists had to apologize to students for the unfortunate mismanagement and returned home or made other plans.

FIRST STOP:

Pura Salsa Night Club

Einhoven, Netherlands

4 hrs (370km)

Sat Night12:30am

SECOND STOP:

We stay with Salsa Rolyale

Utrecht, Netherlands

1 hr ( 93 km )

The view from Randolf & Lilly’s home.

THIRD STOP:

Bachatta @ Mango’s Beach Bar

Zandvoort, Netherlands

1 hr ( 72 km )

We go to the beach bar

Bachatta dancers dancing the night away on the beach...

FOURTH STOP:

Taiti & Cristel’s house in

Amsterdam, Netherlands

45 mins ( 30 km )

Dave can we get the bunnies?

Meet Heithcliff. (just kidding... but wow!)

Thank you Randolf, Lilly & DJ Incognito for such a wonderful visit to the Netherlands and all your amazing help! You have truly gone above and beyond the call of duty and live the true meaning of our Salsa Family. We hope to return the favor should you ever come to NYC!

8 PM SATURDAY: After all the hired artists for the Bremen festival agreed to leave Bremen for last minute work elsewhere, Randolf drove us 4.5 hours from Bremen, Germany to Hanover, Holland possibly above the speed limit most of the time. We divided our luggage between Taiti & Christel’s car and Randolf and Lilly’s car. Luggage in Lilly’s car included my aerial hoop which somehow Zoë managed to sit inside of the hoop while sitting in the back seat in order for everything to fit in the small european car!

12:30AM SAT NIGHT: Randolf & Lilly are not only really fun to be with, they are also the most wonderful people! They generously offered staying at their home until we were able to figure out our next travel plans. Apparently, the story continues: Turns out, Delta did not permit skipping our return flight Bremen to Amsterdam where our connecting flight would be to the US. For one more day we enjoyed their beautiful, with a view overlooking their main street and canal. It was a funky area with beautiful architecture!

9 PM SUNDAY: Randolf worked magic and arranged a performance for Paradizo at a local Bachatta event at Mango’s Beach Bar that night. After a number of Bachatta shows, Lilly and Randolf arranged for the sand to be swept from the beach stage so Dave and Zoë could perform Purple Mist (no fun going upside down and getting sand in your eyes!). The crowed loved when Zoë did a handstand in Dave’s hands high over his head. The best part was when Dave kept rising his arms and Zoë ran out of space: her toes hit the ceiling of the tent! Who knew they should have orderdered the bigger tent?!!

Inside, we met DJ Lee “El Gringuito” who will be planing his Bachatta event in DC August 2010. People were having a blast in this colorful moroccan decorated beach bar.

After we stayed for a bit, we realized we had to keep moving. We had to make our 7am flight from Bremen the next morning. We needed to pick up our luggage from Taiti and Cristel who were about another hour drive from the Beach Bar. We said good byes and headed on our way...

Lilly in front of her car as we arrive at her home at last!

Holland is known for its flowers, here is an example...

We perform under a tent

11:30 PM SUNDAY: We visit Taiti & Cristel at their lovely home! We meant to just pick up our other luggage, but we got a little distracted when we met their BUNNIES and KITTIES ! Dave and I have done well with round one: the fish. I think it is time to upgrade... bunny?

Here we meet DJ Incognito, a loyal friend of Randolf who drove the entire way back to Bremen in great spirits (and lots of caffeine ). At every gas station, Dave had to stop for the special Dutch Meatballs! No one got much sleep, because we were all really funny and too many laughs!

Pura Salsa had huge dancing space, wonderful enthusiastic dancers, who gave us a really warm welcome!

FIFTH STOP:

Get Driving Buddy DJ Incognito

Arnhem, Netherlands

1 hr 15 mins ( 104 km )

8:30PM SATURDAY:

We leave Bremen, GERMANY

SIXTH STOP:

Bremen Airport 5am

3 hr mins ( 300 km )

6 AM SUNDAY: Finally we are heading home. Right? WRONG! ASH CLOUD IS BACK over north Europe. All Amsterdam flights suspended until after 2pm.

GOOD NEWS: Our connecting flight out of Amsterdam is at 2:05pm.

BAD NEWS: we’d have to drive back to Amsterdam ourselves to make it in time.

After performing, an overnight 4 hr drive, a quick coffee at the airport, and no need to unpack, We all TURN AROUND AND DRIVE BACK!

SEVENTH STOP:

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Netherlands

4.5 hrs (370km)

Sat Night12:30am

1 PM SUNDAY: GOOD NEWS: We made in time.

BAD NEWS: Our flight was still cancelled to the US.

Lines were thousands of people long, and people were preparing to camp out at the airport. Best advice, go home and wait...

EIGHTH STOP:

We stay with Salsa Rolyale

Utrecht, Netherlands

45 min ( 50 km )

4 PM SUNDAY: We felt so bad. Randolf and Lilly were never going to be able to get rid of us! We thought at least we could teach them some tricks while we killed time...

No flights to NYC until Wednesday. We begged for 3 hrs on the phone with Delta & Expedia to refund our flights back to ny because we needed to be in Italy in 4 days anyway. Only option was to fly to NYC on Tuesday, and leave as normal from NY to Italy thursday. Not without a hefty fee of course!