You are invited to tap into the energy and restorative power that IS Nicaragua.  On this inclusive small group immersion into the heart and soul of this rustic, charming country you’ll explore all the wonders and authenticity it offers.  Slow down; feast your eyes, and feed your senses in this land that defies hustle and bustle.  Relax and enjoy the poetic beauty of the music, food, architecture and culture of this Central American jewel.

Spend a night in the beautiful Selva Negra Lodge.  Selva Negra is a sustainable coffee plantation where everything from the food on the table in the lakeside restaurant to the electricity in the quaint half-timbered cabins is produced on site. The Eco Lodge offers you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the sustainability that makes Selva Negra a model farm.   Here is a fantastic destination in which you can relax and enjoy the intense nature of the rainforest, and have the benefit of all the organic work of the farm as you savor a cup of coffee and a meal entirely raised and produced at the estate.  What an exceptional opportunity awaits you on this escorted vacation.   You will be dining in a charming restaurant located on one of the resort’s lagoons which offers a large deck with a wonderful view of both the mountain and the lagoon. At the restaurant you may choose from a wide variety of both local and international foods, including authentic German cuisine. Full bar services are also available – all the beauties of nature plus the amenities of home without the hassle.

Award Winning

Aside from being a model sustainable farm, Selva Negra is also well recognized for its high quality coffee and excellent cup. Recently they received a national quality award which included them in the Q Auction. They also received the highest bid for their coffee out of all the Nicaragua coffees in the auction.  Be sure to taste a cup of this deliciously hearty brew!

“…if the tourist wants to enjoy a fabulous hideaway amidst pine forests and on the shores of a small alpine lake, there is a well-known resort only 6 miles from downtown [Matagalpa]. The resort, known as “Selva Negra”, or Black Forest, resembles a European inn on the banks of the Rhine River.” La Nica Airlines Magazine

The cloud forest is located 87 miles from Managua, near the city of Matagalpa, at more than 4,000 feet above sea level. Originally a coffee farm called Hammonia from its German settlers, the farm evolved into a protected forest. Many birds live in these woods, including the Quetzal. Sacred to ancient Mesoamerican people, gorgeously plumed quetzals live in the mountains of Central America.   In the cloud forests, there are protected lands that create a preserve habitat for the birds and provide opportunities for ecotourists and eager bird watchers from around the globe. Such admirers continue a long history of admiration for the quetzal. The bird was sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztecs, and royalty and priests wore its feathers during ceremonies.  You won’t get many opportunities to see this unusual and strikingly beautiful bird – so grab your binoculars and your camera and join us.  

Ometepe Island, in addition to its fame as an archaeological and nature sanctuary, is known for its warm and friendly hospitality. Ometepe is developing tourism realizing its importance to the economy of the island. Already, several small hotels accommodate visitors wishing to enjoy the island’s beautiful beaches or fish in the warm offshore waters. The island’s villages are linked by roads which wind through fertile coffee and tobacco plantations.  You can enjoy all the natural bounty as you tour this lovely island, visit a tropical garden, and even take a dip in an absolutely beautiful swimming hole – can a day be spent in any better way?

You know how I love legend, so here is one from this region. The island is a storehouse of myth and legend. The small bay known as Charco Verde (Green Pond) is the entrance to just that sort of enchanted place. On Good Friday, as the story goes, a blonde woman appears at noon combing her hair with a golden comb.  Easter is late in 2011 so you’ll be there before Good Friday, but keep your eyes open for a golden comb!  Ometepe offers exotic vegetation, animal and bird life and colorful blooms, all for your pleasure and enjoyment.

Proclaimed Historical Patrimony of the City of Granada, your hotel for many days is the La Gran Francia.  It is an architectural jewel that exemplifies Nicaraguan colonial architecture.  Photo ops are everywhere! The original construction of the building dates back to the first few years after the founding of the city of Granada, in 1524 – imagine – 1524! This edifice, much more modest than the one that exists today, was a one-story home. The stately home survived a deadly fire in 1856, which was set by orders of the American filibuster, William Walker, and practically destroyed the whole city of Granada. Interestingly, the “casona” owes its name to its most famous inhabitant, the French Duke, Georges Choisseul Praslin, whose dramatic story seems to have been taken straight from the pages of a novel. As the story goes, after murdering his wife, oh my, the Duke of Praslin, helped by King Louis Phillipe of France, feigns his own suicide and moves to Nicaragua, where he lived in the city of Granada, in La Gran Francia.  Maybe you’ll be visited by his ghost!

In 1995, the arduous restoration of the building began, remaining faithful to the house’s authentic colonial style and returning it to its original glory, which can today be enjoyed by you in its entire splendor.  La Gran Francia Colonial Boutique Hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with all modern comforts and amenities, a pool, a restaurant, two bars, and banquet hall facilities. At La Gran Francia our interlude allows you to enjoy the best of Nicaraguan hospitality and all the comforts of modernity while surrounded by the rustic elegance of colonial Granada – how divine.

This incredible tour features so many lovely ways to blast yourself out of the doldrums of winter.  Interlude provides a wonderful chance to explore this gem and become immersed in all its beckoning charm. I am betting that you will be most pleasantly surprised and exhilarated by the experience.

Please take a look at the itinerary for this small group immerson escorted vacation!   

Nicaragua Explorer (click here for itinerary)
February 4-13, 2010 (10 days, 9 nights)   

Eadie
– Interlude blog team 

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Because I love history, am somewhat of an amateur photographer and adore bargain shopping, I’ve chosen to highlight the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende.   The art, the music, the architecture, the crafts are something I find very special.

San Miguel de Allende is located in the Bajio Mountains of central Mexico, about 170 miles northwest of Mexico City. In danger of becoming a ghost town in the early 20th century, the town was declared a national monument in 1926 and building became heavily restricted in the town’s historic centro district, allowing the city to keep the colorful native facades that have become the backdrop of many famous works of art and even modern motion pictures.

San Miguel de Allende is world famous for its mild climate, colonial architecture, and large expatriate population, which estimates number in the 6,000 – 8,000 range – in a total population of about 85,000. Of these, the majority are Americans. Because of the large influx of foreigners, the town has many conveniences that would normally not be available in a town of this size-a plus for travelers!

While visiting San Miguel you will notice that many attractions are within walking distance. Just keep in mind that because San Miguel was built into the side of a mountain, it can turn out to be a little challenging, as some inclines are 15 or 20 degrees! Furthermore, the streets are cobbled and narrow – some were nothing but goat tracks before they were paved – and many have fallen into disrepair. Curbs are often a high step away from the road. Visitors get a certain pleasure from the burros carrying loads of new cobbles for road repair. (A great photo opp). The steep inclines can be useful in backtracking. Rule of thumb: If your calves hurt, you have been walking uphill. If your shins hurt, you have been walking downhill. Then simply reverse course until your legs are uniformly painful. As such, visitors should be prepared with a pair (or two!) of good, comfortable walking shoes. You can pick up a pair of San Miguel shoes as soon as you arrive, so your walk around town will be much more comfortable and nothing will hurt.

• When you’re ready to absorb the city itself, San Miguel has plenty to see. You can spend your day just exploring the buildings, walking randomly (in your new good walking shoes) along its streets and exploring some of the facades and architecture that have made San Miguel famous. Painters and cameramen have captured sites like La Parroquia and El Mirador countless times, and whole books have captured the beauty of the doorways along the street. Even Hollywood has taken notice of San Miguel, filming movies like “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” and “And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself” almost entirely here.

• You can also explore inside some of the historic buildings, including the Angela Peralta Theatre and the home of Ignacio Allende, now museums of art and culture.

• San Miguel’s many art institutes are always open to travelers looking to discover the next Frida Kahlo. Painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, you name it and it’s probably there

In addition to its culture and architecture, San Miguel de Allende is known for its amazing shopping. Being near the geographical center of the country, artisans from every part of Mexico have been known to send their artwork to San Miguel to be sold. Whenever possible, we suggest that you buy directly from the artisan. Many amazingly, talented artists are not able to support their families due to the low prices they receive for their art. At times it is very necessary to barter and at other times inappropriate — use your intuition and allow for mistakes. Hopefully, we all can afford to be generous in this developing nation!

One of the best places to get great quality Mexican and international art is at Fabrica La Aurora. This old textile factory has been converted into a unique art and design center that now houses over 30 artists, galleries, restaurants, antique shops, and specialty stores.

The streets around the Jardin are full of specialty shops selling common souvenirs, clothing, art, furniture, and Mexican tile. The open-air Mercado Ignacio Ramirez (Ignacio Ramirez market) a few blocks away is several blocks long where you’ll find reasonably-priced jewelry from beads to silver, tile, mirrors, and other accessories for the home. It winds down the side of a hill, ending on yet another street of stores where you’ll find (among other things) local pewter which can be very attractive and a real bargain. There’s the local food market indoors, and as one goes further downhill there are also clothing and music kiosks. The artsy-craftsy merchandise is found down by the stream-side as one moves through the area. Most kiosk food is safe – but do be careful.

Throughout this wonderfully paced interlude there will be many consistencies. Mexico’s poverty can be shocking to people who have little experience traveling in third world countries. Remember that the minimum wage in Mexico is less than US $50 per week. Using large bills for small purchases, especially from street vendors and small businesses, is viewed as rude and perpetuates the “rich tourist” stereotype. Be aware of the current exchange rate when making your purchases. For simplicity, we suggest dividing the cost of an item by ten (ie. $100 pesos = US $10) to give you a rough idea of what the dollar value is.

Also remember that much of this itinerary takes place at high altitude, so it may take a few days for your body to adjust completely to the thinner air. We suggest that you drink plenty of bottled water and take it easy if you feel dizzy or unusually tired. We hope that our guests limit the amount of sun they receive. The UV exposure is far higher here than it would be at sea level due to the thinner air and reduced cloud-cover so sunscreen is a must – even in March!

I certainly hope you choose to grab your passport and pack your sunscreen and good walking shoes, take your camera and a sense of adventure and head on out to Colonial Mexico to be a part of this wonderful travel experience. Would love to hear about what you discover while there!

Check out the full tour itinerary and start planning your vacation!

Monarch Butterflies Mexico (click here for itinerary)
February 28 – March 8, 2011 (9 days, 8 nights)  

• Guaranteed departure (plan in confidence!)
• Escorted vacation (0% fuss, 100% vacation!)
• Tour for active adults (share a great experience!)
• Includes home pickup and return (for clients in Marion and adjacent counties)

Eadie
– Interlude blog team  

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us
•Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog
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Not only is this the theme of this year’s Tournament of Roses, but also the theme of the exciting escorted vacation to Southern California.  Enjoy an Interlude that includes the best of the best. Great food, exciting tours, shows, museums and a fabulous New Year’s Eve Party!  On New Year’s Day your reserved seats to the feted Rose Bowl Parade add icing to this fabulous party cake.

What do Hank Aaron, John Wayne, Erma Bombeck, Kermit the Frog and Emeril Lagasse have in common?  They have all been selected to serve as Grand Marshall of the Rose Parade! Past Grand Marshals have also included actors, astronauts, writers, artists, athletes and political figures.  This year you can enjoy the excitement of New Year’s morning in the tradition and pageantry of magnificent floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands at the 122nd Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.

Each year, the new President of the Tournament of Roses has the privilege of selecting a theme for the upcoming festivities. The theme is used to inspire the ideas for the magnificent floral floats that will appear in the Rose Parade. The Tournament of Roses has come a long way since its early days. The Rose Parade’s elaborate floats now feature high-tech computerized animation and exotic natural materials from around the world. Although a few floats are still built exclusively by volunteers from their sponsoring communities, most are built by professional float building companies and take nearly a year to construct. The year-long effort pays off on New Year’s morning, when millions of viewers around the world enjoy the Rose Parade.  Be among those who share this experience first-hand and then enjoy the opportunity to see those floats up close the next day at the “Showcase of Floats.”  They are truly works of art and imagination.

I am always fascinated with process.  I love the beauty and pageantry, but my mind wants process … so I did a little digging.  The Rose Parade’s elaborate floats have come a long way since the Tournament’s early days. Today, float building is a multi-million dollar business and float construction begins just after the previous year’s Parade is over.  The process starts with a specially-built chassis, upon which is built a framework of steel and chicken wire. In a process called “cocooning”, the frame is sprayed with a polyvinyl material, which is then painted in the colors of the flowers to be applied later. Every inch of every float must be covered with flowers or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds or bark. Volunteer workers swarm over the floats in the days after Christmas, their hands and clothes covered with glue and petals. The most delicate flowers are placed in individual vials of water, which are set into the float one by one.   Computerized animation has had an enormous impact on Rose Parade floats. Recent Parade floats have featured King Kong stomping through a floral jungle, a guitar-playing dinosaur, pigs dancing the hula and a 60-foot-tall talking robot, all controlled by computers. But through all the changes, the Rose Parade has remained true to its floral beginnings, and I’m told that each float is decorated with more flowers than the average florist will use in five years!

Facts to throw around while you’re watching the parade.

• There are only 16 openings every year for the marching bands and the average number of applicants is over 50.
• The first marching band to appear in the Rose Parade was the Monrovia Town Band in 1891, with fewer than 20 members. Today, it’s not uncommon to find a 250-member band marching in the Rose Parade.
• Bands are selected approximately 14 months in advance to give the chosen groups time to raise the money needed for the trip to Pasadena
• The Rose Parade’s equestrians are another link with the Parade’s past. Each Parade features over 300 horses and riders, highlighting a wide variety of breeds. Graceful Andalusians, high-stepping Peruvian Pasos, exotic Bashkir Curlies and crowd-pleasing Miniature Horses are always favorites of Rose Parade audiences.
• Early Grand Marshals were local heroes, many of them Tournament organizers. The first Grand Marshal from outside Pasadena was San Francisco Mayor James Rolph in 1930 and it grew from there.  Last year, the honor went to  Captain Chesley Sullenberger III – the Hero of the Hudson.

An exciting escorted vacation is within your grasp.  Start the new year right and enjoy the opportunity that Interlude is presenting.  Enjoy the lights, camera and action of Hollywood, the Reagan Presidential Library, the Glory of Christmas and the Fabulous Palm Spring Follies.  We’ve even left some time on your own to pursue what interests you most!  It’s all there waiting for you – I hope you accept the invitation to start 2011 with a bang and begin by building dreams, friendships and  memories with Interlude’s holiday tour.

The Tournament of Roses Parade (click here for itinerary)
December 29 – January 3, 2011 (6 days, 5 nights)  

• Guaranteed departure (plan in confidence!)
• Escorted vacation (0% fuss, 100% vacation!)
• Tour for active adults (share a great experience!)
• Includes home pickup and return (for clients in Marion and adjacent counties)

Eadie
– Interlude blog team  

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us
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M is for…

M is for Morven Park Mansion, Monticello, Montpelier,  music and dancing -  and making cookies!  M is for meeting, meandering, mulling over hot tea and making new memories. M is for this MARVELOUS holiday tour to the Homestead Resort nestled in the mountains of Virginia. What better way to rest up before the holiday madness than at the healing springs of this elegant resort and join a guest list that includes princes and presidents!

The Morven Park estate, 1,000 acres just west of Leesburg, Virginia, was home to two governors: Thomas Swann, a governor of Maryland in the 19th century, and Virginia’s reform Governor Westmoreland Davis. The mansion evolved from a fieldstone farmhouse in 1781 to its present turn-of-the-century appearance. It is actually three structures moved together. Entering through a Greek Revival portico, you will see a Renaissance great hall, a Jacobean dining room, a French drawing room, a library and a display which highlights the life and times of Governor Davis. Because the Davis’ traveled widely, the furnishings are of varied styles and eras, including 16th century Flemish tapestries, Renaissance and neo-Renaissance pieces, l’art nouveau, silver and glass, fine paintings and porcelain figurines.   All dressed in its holiday décor, the mansion is a wonderful beginning to this holiday happening.

 Monticello is an incredible tribute to the genius that was Thomas Jefferson. 
Every visit provides another astounding tribute to the brilliance of this forefather. Be sure to notice the portico on the east front. The ceiling of this portico incorporates a wind plate connected to a weather vane showing the direction of the wind.   Also a large clock face on the external east-facing wall has only an hour hand since Jefferson thought this was accurate enough for outdoor laborers. The clock reflects the time shown on the “Great Clock”, designed by Jefferson, in the entrance hall. I am a clock person and find these little tidbits fascinating.

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Orange, Virginia, Montpelier was the lifelong home of James Madison. Madison was raised at Montpelier, lived there after his marriage to Dolley, returned there after his presidency, and died there in his study surrounded by the books and papers that marked so much of his life’s work. It was at Montpelier where Madison researched past democracies and conceived of the system of government that became our republic.  A true patriot, his home is a great reflection of the man and his time.  Located in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you have an opportunity to spend some time learning more about the man whose contemporaries called “Father of the Constitution,” and the woman who inspired the title “First Lady.”  Dolley’s recipe for bouillion is truly a keeper. 

The highlight of this holiday happening is the Homestead Resort. While there you’ll have the opportunity to attend a cookie making class, and visit the indoor mineral pool and spa – decadent!  If you choose you also have a Holiday Decoration Class available to you.  The Homestead also offers a wide variety of specialty shops with unique items, local fare and apparel for that last minute Christmas shopping!  The dining facilities are exquisite as well.

The European-style Spa at The Homestead is among the nation’s most historic retreats, well-known for its naturally heated healing springs. The spa menu offers pampering and rejuvenating treatments  using local indigenous ingredients which include the Mineral Springs Mud Wrap; Sunflower Soak with Buttercup Bath; the Southern Harvest Apricot & Sweet Vanilla Wrap and the Virginia Dogwood Pedicure.  This could easily be a Christmas present from you to you.  The authentic Jefferson Pools are a relaxing retreat for both mind and body featuring natural mineral spring waters. The pools are named for the third president, who journeyed to The Homestead for three weeks in 1818, and soaked in the spring waters of the Gentleman’s Pool House, which was built in 1761, and remains largely the same today as when it first opened. The inside pool, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a Virginia Historic Landmark, is about 120 feet in circumference, and holds 40,000 gallons of constantly flowing, crystal clear, mineral spring water. It is considered the oldest spa structure in America.

In June 1836, a separate Ladies Pool House was opened at the Jefferson Pools, fed by another spring whose waters have the same properties as those which supply the adjacent Gentlemen’s Pool House. The crystal clear spring waters at the Jefferson Pools are rich in minerals, and are a constant 98 degrees at their source – perfect, natural body temperature. “Taking the waters” at the Jefferson Pools continues to be a favorite activity today, and I strongly encourage you to visit the pools while at the Resort.

When booking this escorted vacation, you join a list of distinguished guests which include twenty-two American Presidents. Other famous names that have been drawn to The Homestead over the years include those of royalty, captains of industry and high-society – among them the Windsors, Astors, Rockefellers and DuPonts, as well as J. P. Morgan, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone and Henry Ford and – YOU.

I guarantee that after experiencing this wonderfully paced tour, you will be filled with the holiday spirit – relaxed –rejuvenated – refreshed.  I truly hope you treat yourself to this well-planned adventure as a gift to yourself.

The Homestead Resort’s 5-Star Christmas (click here for itinerary)
December 10-14, 2010(5 days, 4 nights)  

• Guaranteed departure (plan in confidence!)
• Escorted vacation (0% fuss, 100% vacation!)
• Tour for active adults (share a great experience!)
• Includes home pickup and return (for clients in Marion and adjacent counties)

Eadie
– Interlude blog team  

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us
•Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog
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Interlude has planned a wonderful escorted vacation itinerary throughout scenic New Mexico, but for me, the Balloon Fiesta is the topping on this delicious pie.  Long an entry on my personal “bucket list”, I know you will remember this experience forever.   If you have an opportunity to assist in the launching of a balloon – do it!!   First-hand experiences like these don’t happen every day. You will be spending two days on the site and I urge you to savor every opportunity presented to you.

Typically the weather in the morning is around 40°F, warming up to about 70°F by noon. Bring a jacket and dress in layers. Also remember to wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring sunscreen to put on after the sun is up. You will be at a high altitude and are at risk for sunburn. Bring appropriate eye protection. Sun and wind need to be dealt with on a bright, sunny or windy day. For further weather information, visit www.balloonfiesta.com.

What exactly can you expect at Fiesta Glow?  Imagine being awed and amazed and deeply touched by the breathtaking sight of hundreds of balloons lit from within at night like giant holiday ornaments.  When all the balloons fire their burners and light up at the same time, it is one of the most spectacular single moments in all of Balloon Fiesta.  You must be there to hear the thrilling roar of hundreds of burners simultaneously igniting, turning the Park into a huge lighted Christmas tree of colorful balloons.

During the Mass Ascensions, a launch of all the participating balloons, the balloons are led by a balloon flying the American flag to the strains of The Star Spangled Banner.   If watching the Blue Angels fly over the Speedway before the 500 gives you goose bumps – be prepared, this will too.  It is simply the most spectacular display of sound and color in all of aviation. With over 600 balloons, it is the largest ballooning event on earth, the most photographed event on earth, and the largest annual international event held in the United States; and you can a be a part of it.

Picture 54 football fields, all put together. That’s the size of Balloon Fiesta Park’s 78-acre launch field!  As guests, you’ll walk the field and be part of all the action. You’ll have the chance to meet and talk to the pilots, the zebras (officials) and ballooning enthusiasts. Just the thought of joining hundreds of thousands of smiling, upturned faces, awestruck by the spectacular beauty of hot air balloons filling the big blue New Mexico sky should make you want to call Interlude right now. What you can’t feel until you are actually there is the massive joy surrounding you.  It is truly a remarkable experience.  I close this blog with the traditional balloonist’s prayer:

May the winds welcome you with softness.
May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so well that God
joins you in laughter and sets you gently
back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

Our upcoming balloon festival tour has a lot more to it than the world’s most spectacular ballooning event!

 Scenic New Mexico and Balloon Fiesta (click here for itinerary)
October 2-9, 2010 (8 days, 7 nights) 

• Guaranteed departure (plan in confidence!)
• Escorted vacation (0% fuss, 100% vacation!)
• Tour for active adults (share a great experience!)
• Includes home pickup and return (for clients in Marion and adjacent counties)

Previous post on this tour: Albuquerque International Balloon Festival

Eadie
– Interlude blog team 

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us
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When was the last time you felt totally exhilarated?  When was the last time your inner explorer had its way? 

When you choose to join this small group immersion into the Copper Canyon, all of your senses will be awakened and stimulated.  You will feel alive and vibrant and energized.  Do you love bright festive clothing, you’ll find it here; how about incredibly delectable food, you’ve got it; or some of the most fabulous birding along the river- included.  Discover cultures so foreign to our own American way of life – intriguing.

Your mind will hardly be able to wrap itself around the incomparable engineering achievement that is the Chihuahua al Pacifico.  Opened after decades of construction in 1961, the railway was designed to connect the Pacific Ocean with Mexico’s central desert territory and Chihuahua and took almost 90 years and 90 million dollars to complete. With 408 miles of railroad tracks, 86 tunnels and 37 bridges, this route is regarded as one of the most important in the world and one of the master pieces of Mexican engineering.  It is on this train – the most modern and comfortable passenger train in Mexico – that you will experience one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life. Crossing an area four times bigger than the Colorado Canyon, the magnificent Mexican landscape of Copper Canyon, serves as the backdrop of one of the most spectacular journeys in the world. 

As you begin your train experience you will see cascading waterfalls and sheer canyon walls which soon give way to rolling hills and tropical farmlands. The landscape embraces palm, banana, papaya and mango trees. On this escorted vacation, you have the opportunity to have lunch in the dining car – an adventure in itself and one not to be missed.  Once you arrive in the postcard picture colonial town of El Fuerte, you will be enveloped in Mexican hospitality. A short walk along the quaint cobblestone streets rewards guests with photo opportunities such as the gardens at the town square, the 100 year old Cathedral and warm smiles from the friendly residents.  Discover everything from the rich Colonial history, battles between the Spaniard conquistador and the Mayo Indians, to Yoreme Indian culture and religious rituals, plus the architectural masterpieces that enhance this colorful and magical town. And… you’ll find the same incredible hospitality everywhere you go.

On your El Fuerte River float trip, once again that adventurer surfaces. A float trip is always a great time because you are embracing nature. Here you may see many desert birds in their natural habitat. I’m blown away by the variety of birds that have been sighted.   Birds that have been recorded are:  Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Common Black Hawk, Gray Hawk, Crested Caracara, Rufous-bellied Chachalaca, Elegant Quail, Mexican Parrotlet, White-fronted Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Lesser Roadrunner, Groove-billed Ani, Colima Pygmy-Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Plain-capped Starthroat, Elegant Trogon, Russet-crowned Motmot, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Grey-crowned Woodpecker, Grey-collared Becard, Masked Tityra, Social Flycatcher, Black-throated Magpie Jay, Purplish-backed Jay, Sinaloa Crow, Bridled Titmouse, Happy Wren, Sinaloa Wren, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Rufous-backed Thrush, Aztec Thrush, Blue Mockingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Grey Vireo, Mangrove Vireo, Rufous-capped Warbler, Fan-tailed Warbler, Euphonia, Red-headed Tanager, Yellow Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Varied Bunting, Rufous-capped Brushfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-vented Oriole, Ochre Oriole, Yellow-winged Cacique, etc.  Even if you’re not a birder – this will truly impress you.   Bring a journal to catalog some of your sightings – you may never again see such magnificent birds.   

On this exploration of a lifetime, you will also have the opportunity to meet the Tarahumara people (known as Rarámuri ) and explore their culture and traditions. The Rarámuri are among the largest and most traditional Native American societies in all of North America. The men are svelte, with strong muscles, recognized as the best long distance runners. The women are shorter, with oval faces, black and oblique eyes and straight nose. These dignified and reclusive Indians are a tribe who has chosen to live apart from modern western culture. They live primitively, subsisting on corn, beans, and their livestock. In the winter they live in caves, moving into small log cabins in the summer. Excellent weavers and producers of fine wool blankets, their simplicity and uncomplicated way of life will endear them to you.   

History abounds as you travel throughout this spectacularly beautiful region of Mexico.  With the expertise of your host and guide Dave Hensleigh, your travel experiences will be deeply enriched.  His knowledge and passion, along with his unbridled enthusiasm for the area, are incomparable. Dave and his team of Mexican experts are intentional about providing you with the most unique and exciting experience possible.   

A journey through Copper Canyon is one of the most enthralling journeys you can take in Mexico. The train ride itself is remarkable, the scenery is amazing, the people charming and welcoming, and the villages visited are hospitable.  The whole experience will become a lifetime remembrance for you and those traveling with you.  I dare you not to have a fabulous time!

Please take a look at the itinerary for this small group immerson escorted vacaton!   

Authentic Copper Canyon Train Trip (click here for itinerary)
November 5-14, 2010 (10 days, 9 nights)   

Eadie
– Interlude blog team 

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us
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Avrete belle memorie del lefelong dalle vostre corse in Italia ed in Sicilia del sud. Goda di ogni momento.   Wishing you beautiful lifelong memories from your travels to Southern Italy and Sicily.  Enjoy every moment.

 Mangia  Let’s talk food!  Face it, to taste the foods and wines of Italy and Sicily at their absolute best, there’s no substitute for a visit to their regions of origin.  There, the unique qualities of foods, such as cheeses and meats, made by artisans following local traditions are extraordinary. Interlude is poised to embark with you on a culinary journey of a lifetime as you embrace the beauty and majesty of the southern part of Italy and explore the food that embellishes every table.   Below I am providing a crash course in the Italian Food Experience 101.  Hope you find it helpful.

Most of the basic elements of Italian foods, olive oil, wine, cheese, grains, fruits and vegetables, originated in other places, but what came to be known as the Mediterranean diet assumed its enduring character in Southern Italy. The Mezzogiorno, as it’s often called, was a garden of the Greeks and Romans and continues to be today.

Italian meals may progress through multiple courses, from antipasto to primo and secondo, formaggio, frutta and on to dolce. But even a simple repast would not be complete without vino in the country that produces more wine than any other in the greatest variety of types and styles. And…without sulfides or sulfates – Italian wines are positively divine.  Italy’s first pasta was almost certainly made in the south, though noodles were preceded by flatbreads called focacce, forerunners of pizza, whose spiritual home (if not its place of origin) is Naples. Baked goods, including pastries, biscuits and cakes, abound in the Mezzogiorno.

Arabs in Sicily established a pasta industry in the Middle Ages, using durum wheat for the dried types that still prevail in the south. Tubes and other forms of “short” pasta may be referred to generically as maccheroni, distinguished from “long” types such as spaghetti and vermicelli. Also popular are spiral-shaped fusilli, oblique tubes called penne and larger tubes called ziti, though variations make the pasta field as confusing as it is intriguing. Fresh pasta is also prized, sometimes made with eggs but more often not, in such familiar forms as lasagne, fettuccine and ravioli, through there is no shortage of local peculiarities – be sure to experiment with some form of pasta you’ve never tried – you won’t be disappointed.

Pasto is a generic term for meal. Colazione may refer to lunch or a mid-morning repast or, as prima colazione, breakfast, which usually runs to “continental” standards with coffee or tea and bread or pastries. Merenda, more or less synonymous with spuntino, may refer to a mid-afternoon or mid-morning snack-or light lunch. Cena signifies an evening meal or late supper. Pranzo, which in parts of Italy means lunch (synonymous with colazione) and in other places dinner or supper (synonymous with cena), also refers to an important meal, banquet or business dinner. I guarantee you will get confused because local expressions can complicate matters, but smile and say grazie molto (thank you very much) and you’ll do just fine. 

Full meals may range through three to six courses (called portate) or sometimes more. Curiously, though, antipasti don’t rate a number, even if the range of appetizers offered in some places would constitute a feast. The first course–primo piatto (also simply primo) or minestra–may consist of pasta, risotto, polenta, gnocchi or soup. The second or main course–secondo piatto or piatto di mezzo–may cover seafood, meat, poultry, game, omelets or other cooked cheese or vegetable dishes.

The numbering system falls flat when meals include two or more primi or secondi or when a fish entrée, for example, precedes a meat course. With the main course or courses will come a contorno, a side dish or garnish of cooked vegetables, salad, rice, noodles or polenta. Courses may continue with formaggio (cheese), frutta (fresh fruit), dolce (also called dessert), caffè (espresso, of course) and digestivo (grappa, brandy or liqueurs, such as amaro or sambuca.

Italians love choices so there are several  different places in which you can enjoy the fabulous food other than a Ristorante.

Trattoria, applies to a neighborhood, small town or rural eating house, often family run, serving local foods and wines. Though the surroundings and service are usually unostentatious, like the price, the classic trattoria should provide exemplary regional cooking. Daily menus are often hand written or chalked on a blackboard or simply recited.

Osteria, from the Latin hospes, originally defined an inn providing food and lodging. But the name came to signify a modest wine house, often serving simple foods-like the similarly cozy taverna or locanda. Such locales have faded. Osteria (or hostaria) suggests simplicity, but the term (like locanda, taverna or trattoria) may apply to a sophisticated eating place.

Pizzeria, the pizza parlor popularized in Naples and the south, provides its specialty baked by a pizzaiolo in a wood-fired oven to be eaten on the premises or taken out. As the most popular type of eatery in Italy, the pizzeria no longer confines choices to pizza, but often provides other dishes, usually at lower prices than a ristorante.

Caffè originally applied to the coffee house popularized in the 18th century. Although a modern caffè will specialize in espresso-sometimes from its own torrefazione or roasting plant-the term has become synonymous with bar. In Italy, a caffè is not usually a dining place, as a café so often is elsewhere. But there are exceptions.

Birreria was originally a place that served draught beer made in its own brewery, though it now signifies a tavern or pub that specializes in beer but offers other beverages and often a menu with hot and cold dishes.

Terms for shops where food is sold and may be eaten on the premises are rosticceria (specializing in roast meats), tavola calda (hot dishes), tavola fredda (cold foods), paninoteca (sandwiches), gelateria (homemade ice cream). Enoteca (wine library) usually refers to a retail shop, though some enoteche also serve wine and food.

I hope this escorted vacation fits into your travel plans, and if so, I wish you,… buon viaggio and buon appetito!

As you’ve seen on our blog, each of our escorted vacations is completely packed full of amazing attractions, breathtaking vistas, and surprises of all kinds. So please take a look at the itinerary details!     

Sicily and Sorrento, Italy (click here for details)
October 16-26, 2010 (11 days)     

Eadie
– Interlude blog team   

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To quote Rex Reed, “Wicked is an irresistible extravaganza of music, magic, artistry and enchantment.”  I could not agree more!   How can you possibly NOT go? 

 Entertainment Weekly called Wicked “the best musical of the decade,” and when it began in Chicago in 2005, it broke box office records and sold out in record time. Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony® Awards, Wicked is Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, a cultural phenomenon and was named “the defining musical of the decade” by The New York Times.  And now it’s coming back to Chicago just in time for the holidays.   

What better way to enjoy the season than a trip to the Windy City!  Be transported with us to Munchkinland and enjoy what USA Today calls “the most complete and completely satisfying new musical in a long time”.   You will enjoy a plethora of visual and verbal jokes in this production of an enchanted land where Glinda and Elphaba get to know each other long before little Dorothy and Toto drop in from Kansas. Follow the early lives of two of our most memorable childhood witches and be transported back to a land of make believe. The contrast between the young women, who wind up as reluctant roommates at sorcery school, takes a realistic look at a society that values surface over substance, the illusion of doing good over the genuinely noble act. Wicked really works because it is a musical that adults can take seriously AND children can truly enjoy. 

With a superb cast, an enchanting score, a jaw-dropping set, and eclectic costuming, this charming matinee performance could be the answer to your holiday gift- giving woes for that person who has everything. We’ve even included some free time to do some last minute shopping, if you are so inclined.  Just seeing Chicago all gussied up in its holiday finery is a special treat. 

Don’t forget that if you bring someone who hasn’t traveled with Interlude before, you’ll get $10 off – enough to buy both of you a designer coffee.   Hope you can join us as we make our way north and enter the enchanting world of “green”.  Please take a look at the itinerary details!      

• WICKED (click here for details)
         December 11, 2010     

There are so many thoughts that flood my mind when I reflect on the Civil War.  This conflict was devastating…however, when thinking about the sights you will be visiting during your escorted vacation, The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, there is a commonality that I find truly fascinating and uplifting. Whether you were a Rebel or a Yankee, one universal thread was music.   As you immerse yourself in the Battle of Gettysburg, can you not help but think of the Battle Hymn of the Republic?    When tramping through Antietam and Harpers Ferry, won’t the haunting strains of Dixie echo in your brain?

Both North and South relied on music to convey messages.  Drumbeats originally served two purposes: to tell soldiers what to do, and to keep them in step. Drum calls issued commands to soldiers, while other drumbeats with fife accompaniments helped soldiers march. Fife music was popular during the war because the shrill tone of the fife could be heard well above the rumbling of cannon and the other noises on the battlefield.

Buglers were crucial in the war because they too were responsible for sounding out commands:  this included reveille in the morning, tattoo at night (and numerous calls in between), as well as field commands such as advance and retreat. 

The Civil War lasted for four long, hard years, and during those years, scores of songs were composed and sung throughout the armies and at home.   On the field, fifers played shrill tunes accompanied by drummers beating a variety of beats. Most of the music played and enjoyed during that period still survives today. The songs sung during the war can be divided into several categories. There were inspirational marching songs written to boost the morale’s of soldiers on both sides. There were Negro spirituals and other traditional slave songs. There were songs that soldiers sang when they were sad and thinking of home; there were songs that families sang at home when thinking of loved ones away at war.  Interestingly, if soldiers liked a tune they heard the enemy singing, they would write their own lyrics to the song and sing it themselves. For this reason, many Civil War songs have at least two versions.

To my knowledge, the poem enclosed was never set to music; however it truly exemplifies the pain, loss, and devastation suffered on both sides during this most significant event in American history. 

The Blue And The Gray
Francis Miles Finch (1827-1907) 

For more information about the songs written and sung by both sides during the Civil War, you may want to look at Keith and Rusty McNeil’s publication: The Civil War Songbook, with historical commentary.  I found it fascinating.    

I sincerely hope you learn a lot during your escorted vacation through Hallowed Ground.  I can guarantee your time away will be well spent.  Please let us at Interlude know how this experience affects you – we love bringing history to life and helping to create a more complete understanding of a very controversial time in our past.

This tour is sponsored by the Indiana Historical Society. You are welcome to join their members for this outstanding travel opportunity commemorating the upcoming 150th Anniversary of the Civil War.  Please take a look at the itinerary details!   

Journey Through Hallowed Ground (click here for itinerary)
October 19-22, 2010 (4 days, 3 nights)   

Eadie
– Interlude blog team 

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us
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