Travel Tips

Katmosphere
FunnyBeee
Misha_abq
AlbuqRay
Kymbanm
LaCristina
ray_d

*as our participants build their pages for their time at the retreat, I"ll be changing their HP links into links for their pages ... enjoy!*

Thanks to Ruffen, I wish to add a category Virtual Attendance! This is for those who really want to attend, but can't for whatever reason. Some folks have mentioned having mini Artist Meets closer to their homes, others have mentioned dedicating one or more days that same weekend for their own creative pursuits. These are all wonderful ways to get back in touch with their creativity!

So, to honor these folks I have an idea ..... Those who cannot attend in person are welcome to be virtual attendees in one of the following ways:

1. By dedicating on or more days during that particular weekend to their own creativity.
2. Then sending a picture of their creative day to this page, or by posting a picture of their artistic results on one of their own pages and letting us know where the picture is located.

Easy! In this manner EVERYONE can attend our little meet in the New Mexican desert :) After all, isn't that one of the joys of being an internet based community???

WOW! Look at the wonderful stuff out Virtual attendees have been working on! See how creative our members can be? I am in awe ;)

aaaarrgh (Yay! our first official one!)
Pickedonions
Purpleshade
rw-bigfoot
unravelau
craic
poons
Little_Lou_Lou
Makart

As we wandered the retreat grounds, we learned about the history of the property, and of local culture. As we pondered the sweatlodge framework, and little ball of energy in a dog suit wandered over to join our walk! Rugge was a wonderful companion this weekend, reminding us of the importance of play, happiness, stretching and companionship.

One day we spent time wandering Taos Pueblo ...... this is the most photographed pueble in New Mexico. Beautiful, serene, and just plain fun! Made sense that we would have to snap a pic of our photojournalist for the weekend .... AlbuqRay made everyone feel welcome and comfortable!

As we entered the pueblo square (which is actually more of a circle) Kymba spied a fry bread vendor. Never one to pass up an opportunity for this local treat, Kymba, Katmo and LaCristina cleaned this vendor out of her frybread stocks! Sharing with the rest of the crew made the experience a bit sweeter :)

Taos pueblo was just one excursion. Being able to pick and choose what to participate in without feeling obligated was a treat in this rural location without mass transit. Dividing up into various cars was easy and fun. Between workshops our folks wandered the roads, hiked the mountains, dipped into hot springs along the river, spied hot air balloons, shopped at boutiques, gazed at works in galleries, met locals, visited with artists and simply had a blast!

Bonding with this marvelous group of people from all over the world was amazing and fun for us all. We inspired each other. Coached and taught each other. Supported one another as we reconnected with our inner creative forces.

I can't thank our live and virtual participants enough for making our first ever VT Artist's retreat such a success! So we didn't have record breaking numbers, we didn't have pub crawls, we didn't even have belly dancing! But we were all inspired and found new places within from which we can all pull some creative enrgy from during our most stressed times.