Wednesday, June 11 to Tuesday, June 24, 2008, Cancun, Mexico

It's funny where you take life...

I was talking w/Silvan H. about possible connections to flying rigs in Las Vegas & she suggested talking w/the world traveling, flying trapeze training ex-GO, Arano. In turn, Arano mentioned that he needed someone to help out the circus team in the Club Med village of Cancun, Mexico for a few weeks. A few emails, text messages, phone calls & days later, I found myself standing in Cancun!

View from my room!


Over the course of two great weeks, I met so many great GOs (staff) including Vitor (chief of circus), Jade (circus GO), Meghan (circus GO from Ixtapa), Eyal (chief of the village), Vincent ("HSM"), Angelo (chief of sports), Luli, Ilan, Rozi & so many others. In addition, I got to share the whole experience with so many GMs (guests) such as Mark, Emily, Will, Susanne, Jamie, Ben, Maya, Mark, Janet, Mara, Regan, Cole, Cristabella & so, so many others. As paths converged, I also had the pleasure of meeting the former circus GO, Ashley from the new Trapeze U in Arizona. And, my wife & I had a wonderful time & great conversations w/the legendary sailing GO, Zorro!

The rig!




My Catherine, Meghan (Ixtapa circus) & I partied at Coco Bongo!




Meghan sleeping on the way home...


The very next day, Catherine, Meghan, Jade & I went to the ruin & beaches of Tulum.

Meghan sleeping on the way to Tulum...


Ruins of Tulum:








Grabbing dinner & drinks at Playa del Carmen:


Catherine & I horse-back riding to the beaches of Mexico:


Throughout the weeks, Vitor & I kept practicing to catch his Double Layout. Given that we knew each other for less than 2 wks & only practiced when we could carve out time from their super-busy schedules, we did pretty well. We never did catch that Double Lay, but if we had only a one more week, a few more hrs of practice together.
(videos to be loaded)

Practices for the Double Layout:
Practices w/Jade's Splits/Angel:
Vitor's Planche catch & return:
Jade's Legs catch & return:
Vitor's Fwd Over catch & return:
Jade's Splits/Angel:
Vitor's Double Layout in the show:
My Back Out dismount in the show:



My Planche Turn Around:


Some pictures of the circus show just before the fly show:




The GM Fly Show...!

Therese from France w/her Knee Hang catch:


Maya from the US w/her Knee Hang catch:


Ben's Planche catch:




Mark's Straddle Whip catch & return:


Susanne's Cut Away:


Jamie's Cut Away catch & return!




After the fly show (me, Jade, Ben, Jamie, Vitor, Meghan):


Me w/the new circus team of Club Med Cancun


"When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality." - Dom Helder Camara

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, Long Island, NY

Former student, fellow trapeze instructor/aerialist/Club Med GO & long time friend, Silvan H. was visiting her home NY as she transitioned from one Club Med village to her next in Ixtapa, Mexico. And, as fate would have it, another old friend & aerialist, Cristiano M. from Argentina was also visiting for a few days before heading off to teach flying trapeze w/some more friends, Dave C. & Colleen F.

Cristiano & me!


Due to this convergence of GOs/aerialists, I got to visit the iFly rig in Long Island one day before catching up w/everyone again for drinks on the UES of Manhattan.

Marco & Paula:


"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" - George Eliot

Friday, May 16, 2008, Brooklyn, NY

Young Laila celebrated her birthday w/some of her friends including Isabelle, Rahna, Collette, Mariah & Sam.

"Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." - Jack Benny

Saturday, May 3 to Saturday, May 10, 2008, Las Vegas, NV & San Diego, CA

Taking some time away from NYC, my wife & I visited friends in Las Vegas & San Diego...!

It was a whirlwind visit to Sin City: Lunch @ Mandalay Bay, drinks @ Tao, dancing @ the Playboy Club & the rooftop Moonlight club at the Palms, sights within Red Rock Canyon, catching rays @ Lake Mead, the buffet @ the Rio and steaks @ NY NY. We fell in love w/Vegas in new & different ways.



After a pleasant & rather fast (we had a convertible Mustang!) drive through the desert to San Diego, we saw some sights with our NYC family: Jeff, Elena & their baby! We caught up w/friend, Lisa R., to check out, fly & catch @ the long standing Trapeze High. Here's some of our flights:







They were very hospitable & open to me flying & catching w/them. It was a relaxed & pleasant day, and I'm glad to experience another rig (and, a West coast one at that!).

"As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own." - Margaret Mead

Thursday, May 1, 2008, Brooklyn, NY

This was an interesting night, the 1st of May...!

Shane was back tweaking his swing & having fun all the while. His friend, Scott, was back to continue his flight training right along side Shane. The powerful & awesome Allegra G. was taking a class aside from the regular program classes she normally takes. Joni W. ventured to Williamsburg in the middle of week from her normal classes over the weekends. And, the strong-bodied Thais K. was honing her Layout, Uprise Fwd Over & her Shoot.

As the under-dog we never saw coming, the lovely, blond Monica not only learned her swing from scratch but also managed to get her 1st B/E position ever caught in just 2 hrs! Amazing! Our agile & wonderful Myriah P. (who normally teaches the trampoline during our programs) brought her boyfriend, Jason, to his 1st class ever! Myriah worked on her swing & came closer to catching her Full Twisting Whip! Jason learned & caught his 1st Knee Hang ever! It's a couple's affair now! Elena G. was flying smoothly & confidently OOM, honing her Full Twisting Layout. French Julien B. was back after too long a time away from flying. He easily dusted off & caught his super-high Uprise Shoot w/me!

"The man who is anybody and who does anything is surely going to be criticized, vilified, and misunderstood. This is part of the penalty for greatness, and evey man understands, too, that it is no proof of greatness." - Elbert Hubbard

Wednesday, April 30, 2008, Brooklyn, NY

On this cool April night, we had a good night w/an intimate number of good friends/flyers in attendance. Charles P. was looking good w/his swing. Brittany was as effervescent as always w/here perma-smile. Crazy Lauren was getting back into her stronger self. And, Madilyn was adding grace into the air w/her flying.

In the 2nd class of the night, Alex K. was throwing her Splits/Angels smoother than ever. Kara & Vanessa were back & working on new tricks. And, the spritely Rachael F. was toying w/her swing.

"I seldom think of my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers." - Helen Keller