Guests Gone Wild at Casa Nora

It all started innocently enough. We had a house full of really fun guests, and one night during Happy Hour, our pals from Belgium (Tom and Joelle) suggested that we all organize a dinner one night at Casa Nora. Sounds great! Immediately, our friends from Norway, Anne and John, start suggesting tasty sounding recipes. We all chime in with ideas, and very quickly we had decided on a delicious menu. (The fact that we were all starving after a great day of sailing brought out some terrific recipe ideas!)
And so, on the day in question, the kitchen was full of very capable chefs, each preparing various dishes.

Tom and Joelle prepared bruschetta bread, as well as grilled shrimp appetizers.

John and Anne created a lovely salad, with sun-dried tomatoes – yum!

Mary prepped the meat, while I made a huge pot of mashed potatoes with butter, real bacon bits, and a little bacon fat!

While grilling the meat under Mary’s watchful eye, Big Al and Tom enjoyed a fine cigar.

And, listo! Dinner is ready. Everything was still fine up until this point. Just as we sat down to dinner, and after I had managed to scarf down maybe half of my plate, some El Yaque sailors, dissatisfied with their current accommodations, dropped by Casa Nora to check out our set-up. So, I had to leave the table, and show the new people around. No problem. I gave them refreshments, I showed them the rooms, and the garden, and we sat by the pool. It was lovely. However, I kept hearing the music being turned up, and up, and up. I take the newcomers back upstairs, and we all find ourselves in the midst of a raging party! My current guests had gone wild!

It was more than clear that dinner was over. My guests had cleaned up spotlessly, and were now dancing.

Some even on the kitchen counter top.

The newcomers asked if dinner was always like this at Casa Nora, but my answer, thankfully, was drowned out by the ever increasing volume of music. I saw the newcomers to the gate, and by the time I returned, all hell had broken loose.

There was dancing, Sambuca shots, and still more dancing!

Mary even absconded with Big Al’s cigar – which I must say, she regretted the next morning……

From left to right: Anne-a librarian, Maryluz-a Spanish teacher, Joelle – an account manager. Yeah right! Maybe by day! Definitely and obviously party animals at night!

Mmmmmmmm – Hagen Dazs ice-cream and fresh berries! Love it!

Clearly a lot of fun was had by all, but just to indicate the type of evening it was, I must show this photo.

What started out at a very normal evening, a nice dinner and some wine, somehow ended like this. The title of this photo simply is “Bloody Mary”.

With the party still raging, I secretly and quietly did a guest head count to make sure no one was missing.

Up Dog Down Dog

Up Dog, Down Dog

Up Dog, Down Dog and Sun Salutations both mean the same thing. A series of strenuous exercises designed to stretch sore muscles, improve balance and flexibility, and to build strength. At Casa Nora, we work out with Bryan Kest DVD’s. Bryan is a yogi from California, who has created three levels of Power Yoga. All of my female clients love Bryan! Maybe it is his sexy voice, maybe it is because he conducts his classes without his shirt on. Who knows, and who cares. We love him, and we love the workout! My male clients have issues with him – probably for exactly the same reasons……..

Having said that, I am very proud of my male yoga clients, especially the repeat ones – Francisco (from Spain), Daniel (from the USA), Dean (from Norway), and Big Al, among others.

Lower push-up position – only hands and toes can touch the floor

But, my yoga girls are the best! The classes this season have been full almost every morning, with my girls working hard, yielding great results.

Down Dog – one of the best shoulder stretches in all of yoga

Classes start at 7:00 am every morning, and are held in the ‘churuatta’ in my garden. A non-slip yoga mat is provided, along with a white towel (to wipe off the sweat), as well as a cool bottle of water.

Up Dog – great for the arms, lower back, buttocks and legs

Yoga ultimately, is a body sculpting program. Practised consistently (3 times a week), for one month, Power Yoga will visibly change one’s body, adding long, lean muscles, improving flexibility, and building strength. Guaranteed.

Tree pose – or Standing Balancing pose

My classes have been so full this season, that I am grateful that Kathy (my daily yoga partner – on the left) enjoys practicing on the deck of the pool. Thanks Kath!

Warrior Pose – great for the thighs, buttocks and balance

Look at Kathy go! Nice position, Kath! The beauty of yoga is that it is an individual practice. It is not a race, or a competition, as every body is unique, with differing strengths and weaknesses. The point is, by executing the poses in the combinations created by Bryan, to the best of each person’s abilities, each body benefits, becoming stronger and more flexible.

One arm balancing – only one hand and one foot touch the floor

For all of the windsurfers and kitesurfers here in El Yaque, yoga is a terrific way to stretch out those sore muscles in preparation for another windy day on the water.

To all of my yoga partners – thanks for a great season! Keep practicing, and see you all next year!

Namaste

Next blog: Guests Gone Wild at Casa Nora

The Six Summits of Superman

As many of our Casa Nora house-guests know, we offer a rigorous mountain biking program, with 3 different tours offered by Big Al. That's Big Al on the left in the photo. For one of his tours, we developed the 'Killer Mountain Challenge', where we encourage our riders to make it up Killer Mountain in one try. Many have tried, but only a rare few have succeeded. Their names and images can be found in earlier blogs.

And then.......there is Superman.

Also known as John, from Norway (in the centre of the photo.) Pedro, also an avid biker, is on the right.

John, a mountain bike enthusiast and racer in Norway, will go out on a 2 hour ride early in the morning, before swimming 40 laps in a 20 metre long pool, and logging in a six hour windsurfing day. (No, I am not kidding....)

Needless to say, he summitted Killer Mountain - without any problems.

Here he is on the summit - looking relaxed and refreshed - and barely breaking a sweat!

During his next successful summit bid, he added an additional peak to the length of Killer Mountain, and successfully navigated that as well.

Standing atop Killer Mountain, Al and John spotted five additional moutains, and John decided to conquer them all.

A slightly fatigued and de-hydrated Al, stood by and watched in disbelief as John attempted to climb all five mountains.

Of the five additional peaks, John successfully summitted three.

And that's why we call him Superman!

And that's why the new mountain bike challenge for next season will be called "The Six Summits of Superman" or just "The Super Six". John has summitted 4 of the 6 Summits of Superman. Is there anyone out there who can summit all six?

So, all of you mountain bikers - start training! And we'll see you next season!

John, relaxing with Diesel - Super cat!

John and his girl, Anne.

Yes Superman - you really are King of the Hill.

Next blog - Yoga at Casa Nora

Sailing the Ocean Blue

There is absolutely nothing more fun than grabbing one's windsurfing gear, heading down to the beach, and spending the afternoon sailing with friends. Which is exactly what Al and I did one afternoon. On the water, we met up with Superman (John from Norway). Immediately, a discussion broke out about organizing a race. As we are all practising our carve jibes, these turns had to be an integral part of the race. So, we decided to create a course which was essentially a figure 8 - starting from the pier, sailing upwind to a yacht moored on the outside, carving around the yacht, sailing back to the pier, and carving again. This was considered one lap. The race consisted of 5 laps, 5 carve jibes on the outside, and four on the inside. Thanks to Tom Discart (our pal from Belgium), lap one of the race has been immortalized in these photos!

All of the competitors have assembed for the skippers' meeting, where the parameters and rules of the race were discussed and agreed upon.

Sails are in the ready position - racers are ready. Al = green sail, Nora = blue sail, Superman = orange sail.

And they're off, with Nora holding a very slim lead.

A great start for all of the competitors, although Superman looks a little off-balance.

Nora's initial lead is diminishing as Al is powering up behind her.

And here, he is shamelessly sailing upwind of her, and stealing her wind.

And the lead has changed, with Al in the upwind and lead position, Nora just behind, and Superman........hhmmmm, where is Superman?

Al is pulling away, and maintaing a very nice lead, heading into the first carve jibe.



Approaching the yacht, Al has the inside track for the carve jibe, while Nora has opted to carve a little on the outside. During the execution of the jibe, Al starts trash talking, and throws off Nora's concentration..........



Almost at the end of Lap One, all racers have navigated the first turn, and are heading back to the beach. And there, with the orange sail is Superman - gaining ground.

In third, Superman, sponsored by 'Diesel', (a company that promotes snuggling with other peoples' cats and trying to lure them away from their loving owners) is really digging in, and making up some lost ground.

Alone in second, Nora, sponsored by "Maryluz' Booty Camp" (an incredibly difficult work-out led by Maryluz, that focusses on one's glutes and abs) can hear the chatter of Superman's rig behind her, and is terrified!

Big Al, sponsored by "Deisy Shake" (a healthy breakfast shake containing nuts, seeds, bark and gravel, invented by our friend and Venezuelan supermodel Deisy Arvelo -http://www.deisyarvelo.net/ )
is alone in first. But, not for long......

Al blows his carve jibe on the inside (hee hee hee), and Nora is hot on his tail.

Nora executes an ugly, yet functional carve jibe around Al, who is desperately trying to get his gear organized.

But, here comes Superman.

Super executes a flawless carve jibe, while Nora is powering up behind him.

Super flips his sail, Nora is powering up, but where is Al?

And they're off on Lap Two, with Superman in the lead, Nora is second, and Al bringing up the rear.

Crapola - Al is up to his wind stealing tricks again.

There really is no need for any photos of the rest of the race, as this photo says it all. Superman won, Big Al came in second and Nora came in third. Congratulations Super! In fact, he won the subsequent next two races.

Mountain biking

We have had quite a mountain biking season this year. All kinds of biking enthusiasts have joined Big Al at 7:00 a.m. for one of his guided tours - we've had triathletes, Iron Men, marathon runners, road racers and Super Heroes - from all parts of the world. But, I have never seen a better looking group than these folks!

Meet Joelle (from Belgium), Kathy (from El Yaque) and Anne (from Norway). Please keep in mind, it is 7:00 a.m. and these girls look like they're ready for a photo shoot.

Here are Big Al and Superman - a.k.a John from Norway. (More on Superman and his incredible feats of endurance a little later.....!)

There's always time for a little romance at Casa Nora - apparently.....................................................

Shine-y, happy people! I am willing to bet 10,000 bolivars viejo that Tom's white outfit won't stay white for long.......!

Kathy, Al, Anne, John, Joelle and Tom enjoyed the 'Musipan Tour', which begins at Casa Nora, winds through the village on a paved surface, cuts into the desert for some single track riding, continues along the coast through a few fishing villages, crosses over a 'salina' or salt flat, and returns to El Yaque on a paved road, riding right into strong headwinds. For most riders, this is considered a good 1.5 hour work-out. For Superman, this is a warm-up ride.

Next mountain biking blog: The Six Summits of Superman