You Are Home Again
September 21, 2009 by Latoya Jackson
Filed under Blog, Destination, Destination Information, Featured Destination, Travel Tales From...
I signed up to host a basketball clinic in Ghana, in the Eastern Volta Region for 3 weeks. I picked Ghana because I have known of so many people traveling to Ghana and they have all had such good things to say about their journey. Also because they speak English and there is a rich history of the slave trade and colonialism.
My volunteer site was an orphanage/school/church community. The people were extremely nice and helpful. I had a room, and 3 meals delivered to me daily. Stuff like fufu, pounded corn, coco yam leaves, tilapia or tuna soup, fried plantains, and yams. Since it was their raining season, it took a bit longer than I anticipated to build the basketball court. So, I spent the first two weeks working with the school to improve their teaching techniques, lesson plans, and assessment. In the rural areas, there are not professionally trained teachers, most are mere high school graduates. So, they were very receptive to my input. I also taught the orphans games to play. They LOVE dodgeball. Once the basketball court was built (cement, rocks, water, tree trunks, wood, and paint), I taught the orphans how to play the game. I ran various drills on dribbling, catching, passing, shooting, and defense. For many, not using their feet to make a basket presented a huge challenge, but overall they were excited to learn the game and adopted the techniques well. It was imperative to get the girls involved, as gender inequalities are still prevalent in this area.
Aside from my volunteer experiences, I had a chance to explore the rich culture of Ghanians. I visited Cape Coast. I went to Cape Coast castle and Elmina castle. To walk on the floors where my ancestors were held captive, beaten, and sold was an experience. Humbling. Grounding. Solidifying. Horrific. Informative. Course Changing. I saw male and female dungeons, the door of no return, the water they were taken to and everything in the castle. A must do and see in Ghana. I also went to a place called Kankun National Park. It has tons of plants and animals in the rainforest. I walked across the longest canopy walk in the world, some places, over 100 feet high, through the trees. It was amazing. I also went to a local soccer game in Cape Coast. Another memorable experience was going to the monkey sanctuary to feed the monkeys. The monkeys ate the bananas right off my hands. So cool! Wili falls was another spectacular attraction - the longest waterfall in West Africa.
In summary, my trip to Ghana was very memorable and life changing. The motherland is so beautiful. My words will not compliment my experiences. You have to go for yourself!
Check out my website at: www.togethereachachievesmore.org for more information on sports in rural areas.
Blessings,
Davi Afi (traditional name given to woman born on Friday)
Ayê orum - Sisterhood of the Boa Morte Celebration in Cachoeira
May 13, 2009 by Andre
Filed under Attractions Reviews, Blog, Destination Information, Featured Story, Hometown Experiences, Travel Tales From...
Central to a program composed of all night vigils, masses, processions and Samba de Roda, is the sisterhood of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte in Cachoeira. The commemoration is held annually beginning on the 13th of August and continues until 17th. The festival of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte, founded in 1821, is one of the most important religious traditions in Brazil, which represents today a living document of the African experience in the new world.
The commemoration was begun at the beginning of Abolition and preserves those ties to the motherland which are characteristic of freedom-seeking African-descendent people. The ceremonies are rare and very rich, from the clothing and jewelry the women use in each ceremony, to the food offered at the house of the sisterhood, and the Samba de Roda which personalizes the non-religious part of the festival.
This devotion of the Sisterhood of Boa Morte was begun in the senzalas where the slaves came together at the end of day and seized the the opportunity to the discuss abolition, and to pray for the slaves who died during the struggles for the freedom. They asked Nossa Senhora to end slavery in Brazil.
Want to see this celebration in person? Email tbailey@escapetogether.com or call 1-877-980-1717 to get more information.
Bembé of Santo Amaro/ The Candomblé of Freedom.
May 13, 2009 by Andre
Filed under Attractions Reviews, Blog, Destination Information, Hometown Experiences, Travel Tales From...
The drumming of the rhythm of the orixás is heard coming from the municipal market. For three consecutive nights, the steady beat celebrates the stength of Afro-Brazilian culture in the region of Bahia around all Saints’ Bay, known as the Recôncavo. It echoes throught the squares, streets and alleyways of Santo Amaro da Purificação.
It is the sound of 100-year-old tradition, Bembé do Mercado, the only Candomblé ceremony that takes place in outdoor public space, the Municipal Market. Candomblé high priests known as babalorixás and priestesses known as ialorixá, as well as the spiritual sons and dughters “of the saints” from 40 different Candomblé houses and ethnic groups, meet to commemorate the end of slavery in Brazil in 1888.
The Bembé is a linguistc corruption of the Word Candomblé, does not have the slightest link to subservient gratitude to Princess Isabel for abolishing slavery. Instead it stands as a piece of historical evidence of the popular revolt against captivity. “It is the Candomblé of freedom.”
The sacred atabaque drums beats on the nights of May 10, 11 and 12, heralding and holding vigil over the offerings left by Candomblé worshipers and followers at the market. On the morning of the 13th, fireworks and the aroma of lavander signal the hight point of the festival, when people carrying baskets filled with gifts for Yemanjá and Oxum form a procession to Itapemba cove, on the beach in the Acupe district.
Beautiful and Budget Friendly Buenos Aires
April 2, 2009 by Rana
Filed under Blog, Destination, Destination Information, Featured Destination, Travel Tales From...
Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina is a gorgeous city, but it is also perfect for folks on a budget. An unfortunate economic climate has put in the country in what seems like an endless cycle of recessions. This is bad for Argentina, but great for tourists. When I visited Buenos Aires, 1 U.S. dollar was equivalent to 3.40 Argentine Pesos, now 1USD=3.70ARS.
If your budget is preventing you from hopping the pond to Europe, I would suggest coming to Buenos Aires. It has a very European feel to it, but without the high price tag. The lifestyle and architecture are markedly more European than any other city in South America. Most Porteños, or residents of Buenos Aires, are of European descent. Argentina actually has the largest number of Italian descendents outside of Italy. To this point, it seems that there is a Pizzeria and or gelato shop on every corner. Also, Argentine men seem to have inherited the art of flirting and flattery from their Italian forefathers. Don’t believe the hype about the general preference for blondes. Argentine men LOVE the ladies. Trust me!
As part of your trip to Buenos Aires, I would recommend spending a day or afternoon in the historical neighborhood of Recoleta. This is a beautiful neighborhood filled with breathtaking parks and dotted with Parisian-style architecture. Most sights in the neighborhood are free or very low cost. This also happens to be the domain of the ladies who lunch. Most restaurants we came across in this trendy and upscale neighborhood offer great lunch and dinner specials. We had a lovely prix-fixed lunch at a great cafe including an appetizer, entree, dessert, and glass of wine for 70 pesos or roughly $20. Argentina’s claim to culinary fame is their mouthwatering steak, and at these prices you would be foolish not to try it.
Walking down the fashionable streets of the Palermo neighborhood, I saw more boutiques in one place than I have ever seen before in my life…and they all had sale signs in the windows! Buenos Aires is really putting out great designers and you can get fantastic deals at their shops. I highly recommend visiting the Carla Danelli boutique. She is a designer focused on shoes, handbags, and other leather accessories. Her designs are unique, modern, and only use the softest leather. I was able to purchase a beautiful fuchsia colored leather handbag for 50% off the original price. It was a great deal!
www.carladanelli.com
Buenos Aires is relatively spread out, but it easy to get around on the subway or subte. Taxis are everywhere and cheap. Most taxi rides cost us between $3 to $5.
If you are looking to travel internationally, but do not think you can afford it in this economy, Buenos Aires is one of the places I would highly recommend to visit. Not only is it a beautiful and friendly city, but you can experience all it has to offer on a small budget.
Why I hate MIA
April 1, 2009 by Travelin Sista
Filed under Blog, Destination Information, Travel Tales From..., Travel Tips, Uncategorized
Traveling in the airport in this day and age is almost always a painful experience. You have to basically strip to get through security screening, die of thirst on the side of security because they make you throw out your water when you get to the line, and are forced to pay for the bags that you must check because of the liquid you can’t carry-on. In some cases airports recognize this and have gone out of their way to make sure they hire pleasant people, make the security experience organized and well-run and overall organize the airport to make it as painless as possible. And then there is MIA…Miami International Airport seems to be making money on running their airport in the worst possible ways. It seems like it was organized by individuals that obviously have never tried to travel since it is not intuitive at all. And it must be a requirement in their hiring policies to only take people on power trips who are completely powerless in the real world. I have had so many situations where miserable people try to make my travel and time at MIA miserable just because they have the power to.
So here are my suggestions how MIA can get it together and be off my worst airports in America List (which doesn’t exist currently but sounds like a great idea!) 
1. Fix the International Arrivals nightmare of yellow dots, door and bag chaos and evil staff. Read more
Fhilos de Gandhy and other Blocos
March 18, 2009 by Travel Guru
Filed under Blog, Destination Information, Travel Tales From..., Video Gallery
They are immediately recognizable as you walk through the Carnaval areas. Men in white and blue with several beads around their neck. Over 10,000 men participate in the Bloco over the entire Carnaval and it is one of the most recognizable Blocos because of the intricate costume. Originally limited to Black men and followers of Candomble, over the years they have opened the Bloco to include all races and even allow tourists to participate. It is tradition for the men to give their beads to women in exchange for a passionate kiss. This is not a peck on the cheek or even a small kiss on the lips. These are the kisses that win awards and are usually shared by intimate partners. This has made the Bloco a draw for tourists looking for ways to connect with women watching or near the Carnaval.
Our very own Andre has participated in the Bloco for years. He explained that most of the men who are long time participants of the Fhilos de Ghandy stay in the middle of the group to enjoy the music. They also hope to connect with the original purpose of the Bloco, to spread a message of peace and tradition. The border and outer edges of the Bloco are often full of tourists and as the Bloco passed I saw many men happily participating in the tradition of kissing women who accepted their gift of beads. The beads worn by long time participants have been blessed so see if you can get someone to give you the beads without the kiss and you can still take advantage of the blessing.
The Fhilos de Ghandy is one of the most recognizable Blocos during Carnaval because of the elaborate costume. The other is the Masquerdas. The bloco is made up entirely of men dressed as women. Each year they take on a central theme for their costumes and this year they were superheroes. With red capes, horrible wigs, and water guns they follow behind their trio electrico in the Bloco, living out their annual drag celebration. As an outsider not aware of the tradition, I at first assumed that this was a drag group celebrating or possibly a gay group. This was not the case. We were told that in fact all, if not most, of the participants are straight men that only dress this way during Carnaval. From locals I learned that the group is made of mostly police officers and the water guns are actually a flirting technique similar to the beads of the Filhos de Ghandy. Women are shot with the water guns as the Bloco passes. Interesting way to pick up women…
From Markets, Cigars and Samba - a taste of Bahia
March 7, 2009 by Travel Guru
Filed under Blog, Destination, Destination Information, Travel Tales From..., Video Gallery
Cachoeira is the area of the state of Bahia in Brazil where the majority of the slaves entered the country. It has been said that Bahia boasts one of the largest concentrations of people of African descent in the world, second only to Nigeria. A tour of the Cachoeira area is not to be missed when visiting Bahia and is a little more than an hour by car from Salvador. It will provide you with a different side of Bahia than the urban pace and beautiful beaches of Salvador. Start in the market - Feira Popular in the small town Santo Amaro da Purificacao. Filled with beautiful chapels and buildings, it is a great place to see culture and learn a little of Bahia history. Here you will find everything from clothes and fresh food products to handmade cigars. Cachoeira is central to Afro-Brazillian history and the city has a museum that helps to highlight and tell the story of the slave trade in Brazil. You can also visit the sisterhood of the Boa Morte or visit a cigar factory and see the women hand roll cigars in front of you dressed in historical Bahian clothes.
We have done it all during a trip to Bahia and we share some of our views here.
Bad years can’t start in Rio
February 1, 2009 by Travelin Sista
Filed under Blog, Destination Information, Featured, Featured Story, Travel Tales From...
That is what I have now come to believe as I look out at the water and see the millions of smiling faces around me. Toasting on the beach in my all white, I am amazed at the level of joy that I feel and how happy everyone around me also is. They toss their flowers into the sea wishing for good luck in this new year and jump seven waves to get their seven wishes. We watch the fireworks and drink champagne as we wiggle our toes in the sand. Shouts of Feliz Ano Novo! Happy New Year!, are shared with friends and strangers alike. In the humid heat we dance along to the Samba in the middle of millions celebrating another year. This is Reveillon! Read more
Another side to Rio’s New Year Celebration
February 1, 2009 by Travelin Sista
Filed under Blog, Destination Information, Travel Tales From...
Black, White, Brown, all dance to the drum beats on the white sand offering gifts and praises for a blessed New Year. Since I am not fluent in the language I dance along in ignorance with those around me. Brown faces, White faces, Black faces. The African beat of the drum and the chanting rhythm of the voices provide a rhythmic melody to sway along. But this is not something special just for those who can clearly trace their lineage to the shores of Western Africa. As I walk out to the beach I see more diverse faces participating not as tourists, not as observers but as believers in the traditions of Candomble. Though the history of this celebration has African roots it is not a Black only celebration, in this case it is a Brazilian celebration. For when you are in Brazil it is this experience, a true integration of the cultures that continues to often surprise me.We see families sharing in the tradition, preparing for another year by sharing their offering to Yemanja together. An altar of white flowers and candles are placed in the sand as the family stands around. Eventually someone will walk to the water to send their offering into the waves. Instantly it is enveloped by the night waters rushing against the shore. Yemanja, one of the Orixas that are part of the Candomble, is the goddess of the sea and the mother of all creation. It is to her they are asking blessing for the approaching new year.
I am a tourist, staying in one of the many hotels on Copacabana, who happened upon this celebration on a early night stroll down the beach walkway. I see a white tent and people in matching shirts dancing and singing. Their shirts state that this is the 6th annual celebration for this particular organization to bring an Afro-Brazillian traditional celebration to Copacabana beach. Read more
Why Montana?
November 23, 2008 by kk adventures
Filed under Blog, Destination Information, Travel Tales From...
Montana?
Why Montana?
It is funny where our travels can take us in life. There are certain places we just know we want to visit and will be attractive to see, but we must never discount life’s little surprises.
One of these surprises recently took me to Great Falls, Montana. It is a relaxing and quaint city. From the flat and rolling hills landscape, to the soft and friendly nature of its people, Great Falls is a nice place to visit.
I stayed at the Crystal Inn hotel which had very nice accommodations. It is not a national chain, but the room was very comfortable and very clean! Check out the pics!
