Eagle Tours Salsa Holiday - Santa Susanna May 2007
Written by JoJo
Tuesday, 05 June 2007
This was my first ever salsa holiday and I was really looking forward to it big time.Quite honestly, it couldn’t come quick enough for me.
My week’s holiday started on a real high as it was the 11th Anniversary Night of our Club Candela the night before, and as I had to leave home for the airport at 4am, my only option was to not go to bed at all.Well, it was either that or leave Candela early to make it worthwhile going to bed, and that just wasn’t gonna happen!!!!!!
Saturday
I had a 7am flight, which meant arriving in Spain around lunchtime which was great.As I’d not had any sleep the night before this meant I had chance to chill out and rest for a while once I arrived at the hotel, and I couldn’t wait to get myself stretched out in the sun.
Our flight landed around 11.30am and the next available arranged coach pick-up was at 1pm, so we had two choices, wait for the coach or try our luck with the train.
I travelled with Polly and Sylvie who had been on these holidays in the past.They said that the coaches rarely left on time, so we decided our best option was to travel to our hotels by train.
Even with the train instructions that we were given by Eagle, we found it a little tricky, and the journey took longer than we expected.However, the train stops right outside the hotels, and we still arrived at our respective hotels just after 2pm, so we still had plenty of time to unpack and chill out.
I was staying at a different hotel to Polly and Sylvie, so I checked into my hotel, the Caprici, unpacked and made my way down to the pool, via the bar :o) and Polly and Sylvie made their way across to my hotel soon after.
We were some of the first people to arrive, but an hour or so later, more of the salsa crew had arrived, at which point Nicolai started playing salsa music on the hotel terrace and the dancing started.
There was a nice relaxed atmosphere and dancing carried on for a few hours, whilst more and more people arrived.Then people started to drift back off to their hotels for the evening meal.
My room mate was flying in from Birmingham and they weren’t due in until around 8pm.So I waited for them to arrive, then we all went down to eat in the restaurant.
There were over 200 people on this salsa holiday, staying at 3 hotels, all close together, with classes and evening entertainment organised using all three hotels.
On the first night there was an informal get together with dancing on the hotel terrace until midnight, then anyone who was up for more partying went on to a salsa club down the road called Tropicana.
I was one of the hardcore crew that went to the club, where some of our Teachers/DJs were playing music in the back room.A great night was had by all and we finally rolled back into our hotel after 5am.
Sunday
The first full day in Santa Susanna kicked off with breakfast – no idea how I managed to get up for it – followed by the welcome meeting on the hotel terrace.The teachers were introduced and the basic schedule of the coming week was explained.We then had a group photo taken, after which everyone dispersed for the first of the week’s classes.
I have to confess that I came on this holiday with the intention of chilling and sunbathing all week rather than going any classes, and that’s exactly what I did.I heard good reports tho of the classes from all my friends that did them, and the choices of styles etc seemed well balanced.
The teachers were Nicolai, Shelley, Marchant Birch, Mauricio Reyes, Osbanis and Angus Peters, who between them covered all sorts, including Cuban, New York, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, Rueda and Styling.Classes took place in the mornings with more in the afternoon after lunch, with informal dancing on the terrace come late afternoon.But I was more than happy on my sunbed by the pool, tho I did do a bit of dancing in the afternoons :o)
On Sunday night we went for a welcome meal at a venue just down the road from the hotels, with dancing afterwards until around 2am.By the time this ended most of the people I spoke to were very tired, so we all went to our hotels, but there was the option of going on to Tropicana.
I believe some people went, and I would have gone myself if I could have found a partner in crime, but none of my friends could be persuaded :o(
Monday
On Monday morning I managed breakfast for the second and last time!After that I just could not manage to get myself up – good job I didn’t want to do the classes huh.
Again I sat by the pool all day, and by this time someone else had come round to my way of thinking.Everyone else came and went between classes and we got to hear lots about the various classes, and all the feedback I heard was positive, and everyone enjoyed them.
On Monday night after our evening meal we had a group outing to Tropicana, and again we all partied until 5am – this was turning into a fantastic holiday.
Tuesday
On Tuesday morning I woke to find the heavens were opening……….. OMG…….. just what was I going to do.There was heavy rain, thunder and lightning!!!
My room mate Steve decided to dodge the showers and make his way to Marchant’s class.I chose to stay in bed a little longer and recover from the night before.
I then got up, watched a little of Mauricio’s class, which was being held inside because the hotel terrace was a little wet to say the least.But around lunchtime the sun came out and it turned into a glorious day – so guess where I headed????
Late Tuesday afternoon there was an optional sight-seeing coach trip into Barcelona which left at 4pm.The coach took us to Gaudi’s famous Sagrada Familia where we were given 15 mins or so to take photos.
The coach then dropped us off at Las Ramblas where we had just over 2 hours to do our own thing before meeting the coach to come back to our hotels.
Our group chose to find somewhere to get something to eat and have a drink.We then walked along Las Ramblas and looked at street seller’s stalls and watched the street performers in action.
When we arrived back at our hotels it was gone 10pm – we were given 45mins to change and freshen up and then go on to another local club called Kahlua if we so wished.
I really enjoyed the afternoon in Barcelona and the club at night was even better.The music was great and the atmosphere was buzzing – everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, and by this time we had all started to get to know a lot more people out of the large group.
Wednesday
Wednesday was a ‘free day’ with no classes.Many people took the train to nearby resorts or into Barcelona.
A small group of us decided to go back into Barcelona for some shopping.When we arrived we went straight to a tapas bar for some food and coffee which was really nice.We then hit the shops and spent some money :o)
We made a slight mistake with the trains on the way home – doh – so our journey back took rather longer than expected and we finally arrived back after 6pm!!!
Wednesday night was the Pirates theme fancy dress night in the Caprici Verd hotel across the road.Many people made a huge effort with costumes and they all looked great – it was very funny.Dancing went on till around 2am, and again for any hardcore dancers the party then moved onto Tropicana.
Another 5am finish – yeeee haaaa, you can’t get this at home :o)
Thursday
Again I missed breakfast, and again I lay in the sun recovering from yet another very late night indeed!Other people’s enthusiasm for the classes didn’t wane in the slightest, and the classes were always well attended.
On Thursday night we were taken on-mass to a salsa club in Barcelona city.The journey into Barcelona takes an hour, but it was well worth it when we got there.There was a live band on this particular night - the band were very good tho the style of music they were playing was a little too fast and jazzy for my tastes, but I still enjoyed watching them.
The DJ’s were playing when we first arrived, and they were pumping out some wicked tracks – it was as if they had stolen my MP3 player and were playing all my favourite tracks!I also had the dance of my life with one of the locals on this night, so the trip was well worth it for that alone – it was awesome – just wish someone had filmed it for me :o(
By the time the band finished playing it was nearly 2am, which meant it was almost time for us to leave.This aspect of the night spoiled it for me though.By 2am we were all buzzing from the band and the great DJing, and were just beginning to find our feet with the local dancers, who had only just started to arrive.
I felt like I was being dragged out kicking and screaming, and really wanted to stay longer.Four coaches brought us to the club, and personally I think rather than make us all leave at 2am, (because I wasn’t the only one by far that really didn’t want to leave) I think it would be much better if they staggered the coaches at say 2, 3,4, and possibly 5am for the real hardcore amongst us.
We were told that we could again go onto Tropicana if we wanted to carry on partying, which I did, but the trouble was, most people had fallen asleep on the way home and had lost the will to keep partying.Around 20-30 of us went onto Tropicana, but it was very quiet in there, and they soon started to leave and return to the hotel.I feel that we swapped a blinding night at the club in Barcelona for a pretty average one at Tropicana, which was a real shame.
I did hear that in previous years some people decided to stay on at the club in Barcelona and get the early train home in the morning, so if I go again, I will certainly be investigating that option if I can find willing accomplices.
Friday
Friday morning already – this holiday was passing by far too quickly for my liking – just where had the week gone???????????
There were the last batch of classes in the morning, then in the afternoon, we had a live salsa band on the hotel terrace.They were fab – they played lots of old favourites which really made you want to get up and dance.
The band’s enthusiasm and sense of fun was infectious, and they had everyone smiling.The dancefloor was packed all afternoon and the vibe was wicked – I had sooooo much fun – such a great end to a fab holiday.
In the evening there was a farewell meal in the same venue that the welcome meal had been in, again with dancing afterwards.A small group of us decided we’d like to dance for a little longer in the afternoon and not have to rush to go out on our last night, so we chose to go off and eat at a local restaurant, which made a really nice change.
We then went to join the rest of the 200 strong group at their venue, where the dancing was already in full swing. Everyone was tired, but we were all determined to squeeze every last drop of fun out of our last night in Santa Susanna.Everyone had a blast and danced their all for the last time.
Well almost………. Never underestimate the hardcore few!!!!!!!!!
We still had to have one last trip to Tropicana, for old times sake ;o) and were treated to one last bit of DJing by Nicolai and Mauricio in the back room of Tropicana.By the time the lights came on at 5am my feet were screaming blue murder……… but who cares, its gotta be done.High Five to the Hardcore Crew.
Saturday
Well Saturday came around all too quickly for me - I wanted to carry on for another week.
As I was on the early coach to the airport, I needed to be in my hotel reception for 7.30am – so the only sensible option was to stay at Tropicana till the bitter end and just not bother going to bed.So I crept in to avoid waking my room mate (who wasn’t leaving till lunchtime), had a shower, zipped up my case and closed the door on my room for the last time.
This holiday lived up to all my expectations and then some!!!I thoroughly enjoyed every second and would not have missed it for the world.
I made so many fantastic new friends from all over the country, and a few in particular really made my holiday (you know who you are, so thank you ), and I also got to know some old friends better.
I shall definitely be doing one of these holidays again – might try a different destination next time though, and see what that has to offer.It would have a lot to live up to though, as I couldn’t have asked for a better holiday than the one at Santa Susanna.
Thanks so much for all the hard work that Eagle Activities put into organising these holidays – you’re doing a great job guys :o)Keep up the good work and long live salsa holidays.Hip Hip Hooray!
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), and I also got to know some old friends better.