It’s possible to join our retreats, no mater what skill level you are at. We’ll offer beginning, intermediate and advanced options for all props and techniques.
All workshops will also cater to total newbies, but if you want to pick up as much as possible during the retreat, it will be very useful to be familiar with the basics of the different props!
POI BEGINNERS: To benefit the most from our retreat, be sure to know the basic poi moves, such as; 3-beat weaves (forward & backward) windmill, watermill, hip-reels & turns, butterfly (same-time, split-time), buzzsaw.
If you can’t do some of the moves listed above, don’t worry! We will teach you that. However, if you want to be prepared, look up some tutorials (we recommend to have a look at Playpoi.com – those tutorials are great!)
HOOP BEGINNERS: To benefit the most from the workshops, be sure to know the basic hoop moves, such as: waist-hooping in both directions, moving your hula hoop up your body, and shoulder-hooping in both directions. You can find many free tutorials, like these from HOOPLOVERS
CONTACT STAFF BEGINNERS: To benefit the most from this retreat, be sure to know the basic contact staff moves, such as: neck wrap, halo, conveyor belt, (parts of) an arm roll or Steve.
You can find many free tutorials, like these from PHILOCRICUS
STAFF SPINNING BEGINNERS: To benefit the most from the workshops, be sure to know the basic staff spinning moves, such as: forward- and backward figure 8, turning with the figure 8, the Rotor (front spinning), windmill. You can find many free tutorials, like these from Michelle Christa Smith
You don’t need to know other attendees to share a room!
If you want to share a room with other attendees, we’ll try to make a match. Room sharing options are of course depending on how many other people are wanting to share the same type of room. You can give us your preferences, and we’ll try to find matching room-mates!
If you want to share a room with friend(s) or a partner, you don’t have to buy all the tickets at the same time.
You can reserve separately, and all buy only your own ticket. When buying the ticket, leave a note that you want to share the room with friend(s) or a partner, and give their name.
Note that the room might be automatically blocked (out of Stock), after the 1st person reserved (if it’s a Couple or Twin room). This is to protect the room from double bookings. The 2n person can reserve with a private link, that will be given after confirmation that you want a Twin/ Couple room instead of a Private one!
At the moment of writing we’re happy to say that there are no restrictions at all in place, in France!
Masks are only mandatory in public transport (Updated, July 2022)
We will refund the Deposit paid for your Ticket if government regulations prevent you from travelling. If France will go into lock-down, we will refund your deposit up to 1 month before the start of the event, minus an administration fee of € 25. After one month before the start of the event, we can’t make any refunds.
These rules only apply if travelling will be forbidden in France, and the official government website(s) confirm this.
In principle, the deposit is non-refundable. Please make sure you have travel insurance, so in case you get ill, you can get the deposit refunded from your insurance.
We advise you to take personal travel insurance, that covers;
– Reimbursement of any pre-booked events or excursions
– Coronavirus cancellation cover
See an example here https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/quote
The Retreat fee can be paid in two parts; a deposit, and the remaining fee.
The deposit is 350,- euros per person and has to be paid by credit card. The deposit is non-refundable.
The rest of the fee is due at the start of the retreat, in cash or by card.
Please make sure you have travel insurance, so in case you can’t come to the retreat for any reason, you can get everything refunded from your insurance.
We advise you to take personal travel insurance, that covers;
– Reimbursement of any pre-booked events or excursions
– Coronavirus cancellation cover
See an example here https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/quote
COVID DEPOSIT REFUND; We will refund your deposit if government rules prevent you from entering the country where the retreat is held. If the country where the retreat is held will go into Covid lock-down, we will refund your deposit up to one month before the start of the retreat, minus 25 euros administration costs.
- Never use the word fire or anything to do with fire. Instead, use juggling equipment, sport, circus, or performance equipment.
- Make sure your wicks are well burned off and don’t contain any fuel residue.
- Put everything in ziplock bags to cover the possible smell.
- You can wash your tools with warm water and soap, so most of the black goes off. Let them dry well.
- Put socks or pink fluffy protection (doesn’t look dangerous, hahaha) around your equipment, so it’s not directly visible.
- You can even disconnect the chains from your poi heads, and store them in separate bags.
- We recommend putting your fire poi in your check-in luggage. Don’t lock your bag, if they want to check it, they might break it. You can add a note, explaining it’s juggling equipment and your phone number.
- If you take a staff, see what the maximum luggage sizes are to see if you can take it without having to pay extra. A thick staff bag will protect your staff during transportation.
TIPS ON FLYING WITH GEAR, FROM SRIKANTA BAREFOOT
FLYING WITH LONG STAFFS/ OVERSIZED LUGGAGE
After leaving the Cirque du Soleil, I reduced the length of my staffs from 162cm to 142cm to avoid paying oversized luggage fees. While each airline has its own limits and fees for oversized luggage, 152cm-158cm is the average limit for many airlines before paying additional fees. However, there is no single rule which applies so you have the best research fare rules prior to booking.
Many budget airlines (especially in Europe) will charge a fee for any bag which doesn’t resemble a standard suitcase regardless of the length. In general, the nicer the airline, the less likely they are to charge you extra fees for your baggage.
Check out this great worldwide baggage fee chart: http://www.farecompare.com/about/worldwide-baggage-fee-chart/
FLYING WITH FIRE TOOLS
With over 10 years of flying around the world with fire tools, I’ve yet to have any problems or anything confiscated.
These are tips based upon what continues to work for me:
- Pack your tools with care
- Make sure to have burned off any excess fuel from your wicks.
- I always travel with gloves, dish soap and a sponge/ cloth to clean my tools and wicks prior to flying.
Check-in counter - If you are like me, you will show up with a bag big enough to fit a mummy inside. There will be questions.
- Most importantly, never say ‘fire’ and avoid any connotation with weapons. I say that I am a circus artist and that I do object manipulation/ juggling. I talk about ‘batons’ and ‘dance’ while avoiding ‘swords’ and ‘martial arts’.
Many airlines charge extra for golf/ kite surf/ sports bags so with a bit of luck and charm you can dodge the looming fees with happy talk about circus and art. Not always.
Carry on luggage - I don’t recommend traveling with fire tools in your carry on luggage, although I’ve seen it work once (from Las Vegas to LA). If anyone dares to try or has more info, let me know and I’ll add it here.
FLYING WITH LIGHT TOOLS
As of late 2014, airlines must abide by new rules regarding lithium batteries. Limits have been placed on the voltage allowance of lithium batteries in checked luggage. As many of the light dance props on the market use lithium batteries, they are subject to these rules. Even though the limit is way above what you could reach with a checked bag full of light dance tools (most tools are 3-12 volts), as the voltage isn’t specified on your tools, there is a risk that they be confiscated.
The same rules don’t apply to carry on luggage so we recommend traveling with all of your light dance props in your carry on luggage. We’ve tested this a few times without any problems. The average capacity of light dance props (from pyroterra for example) is 3.7 volts/ 700mah.
More info on traveling with lithium batteries: http://www.airfrance.fr/common/image/pdf/en/Bagages_batterie_lithium_en.pdf
Yes, you can still use a discount code after you’ve paid a deposit. The discount amount will be subtracted from your final payment 😉 Please send your code to Nana’s WhatsApp +336 3456 0233, to take advantage of the discount after you’ve paid the deposit.
Location: Chateau Coty in Montjoi
Street: Route de Quercy 815 (old name; Lieu dit Cotty). Village: Montjoi. Zip code: 82400.
Chateau Montjoi is in the countryside, and there is no public transport to the chateau. The closest you can get is the train station Moissac; we can pick you up from there. Just note in the form that you want to be picked up, and we’ll schedule your pickup! The ride from Moissac rain station to Chateau Coty will take around 20 minutes.
We’ll make a WhatsApp group with all the attendees around one month before the retreat so you can plan to travel together. Also, you can ask Nana if there’s somebody else coming from your country by car. WhatsApp +336 3456 0233
BY PLANE
The closest airport is Toulouse Blagnac (90 km). And then there are Carcassonne and Bordeaux (200 km)
To go from the airport in Toulouse Blagnac to the central train station, Matabiau, you can take a bus, metro, tram, or taxi.
You can take a train from the central station to Moissac, and we can pick you up there. Look here for discounted train tickets; book in advance.
Just note in the form that you want to be picked up, there will be a fee of 10 euros for this service (except when you’ve booked the Royal Suite)
BY TRAIN
LONG DISTANCE Here is an excellent site for reduced-price tickets for the TGV, High-Speed Train. (It’s only in French..) You can find tickets for Paris – Toulouse starting at 19 euros! The longer you book in advance, the better the price.
Train Toulouse – Moissac
Look here for discounted train tickets; book in advance.
Yes, they are! The beds will be made, and there are 3 towels per person (except if you’re booking a camping ticket).
One big one, one small, and one beach towel, for usage at the swimming pool.
Also, soap and shampoo will be provided
If you can’t do some of the moves listed above, don’t worry! We will teach you that. However, if you want to be prepared, look up some tutorials (such as those on Playpoi.com – those are great!)
HOOP BEGINNERS: To benefit the most from the workshops, be sure to know the basic hoop moves, such as: waist-hooping in both directions, moving your hula hoop up your body, and shoulder-hooping in both directions. You can find many free tutorials, like these from HOOPLOVERS
CONTACT STAFF BEGINNERS: To benefit the most from this retreat, be sure to know the basic contact staff moves, such as: neck wrap, halo, conveyor belt, (parts of) an arm roll or Steve.
You can find many free tutorials, like these from PHILOCRICUS
STAFF SPINNING BEGINNERS: To benefit the most from the workshops, be sure to know the basic staff spinning moves, such as: forward- and backward figure 8, turning with the figure 8, the Rotor (front spinning), windmill. You can find many free tutorials, like these from Michelle Christa Smith
FAQ Stromboli
- THE RECOMMENDED BOAT TO STROMBOLI
The retreat dates are set to match the Napels—Stromboli ferry schedule. The boat only goes twice a week, and it is the easiest way to get to Stromboli!
– The one we recommend leaves Napoli on Friday, June 7th, at 8 pm and arrives at Stromboli at 6 am on Saturday, June 8th.
To go back, you can take the boat leaving at 10 pm on Thursday, June 13th, and arriving at Napoli at 8 am the next day, June 14th.
If you want to book a cabin, it’s recommended that you do so in advance or be there at least 2 hours before departure! The cabins usually sell out. - RESERVE YOUR BOAT TICKET https://booking.carontetourist.it/en/isole/start
-The English option on the website Siremar still has some Italian words when buying your Ticket; here are the translations and explications;
Passaggio Ponte = Pedestrian ticket
Poltrona = Ticket with armchair. There is a big room with armchairs available, where you can sleep. The chairs can’t go flat, so they sit.
Cabin = reserve a cabin.
– When you reserve a cabin;
External = An external cabin is situated either on the outside ferry deck or on lower decks but above the waterline. As they are located above the waterline, these cabins feature natural daylight—they have windows or at least a window porthole. There is a washbasin inside the room. There are two single sleeping places.
Internal = An Internal cabin is situated on lower ferry decks below the waterline. These types of cabins do not feature natural daylight. There is a washbasin inside the room and two single sleeping places.
Internal 2nd Class = Cabin with shared Shower and toilet outside of the Cabin. A washbasin and a bunk bed with two sleeping places are inside the room.
-Reserve a private or share to get a better price!
Single = for one person. (But there are always two beds)
Double = for two people. All cabins have two single (bunk) beds; if you share a room with two people, a cabin is not much more expensive than a pedestrian ticket! We will create a WhatsApp group with all the attendees around a month before the start so you can plan to share a cabin.
If you don’t want a cabin, you don’t have to book your boat ticket in advance; you can buy one at the port. The boat is so big that the pedestrian tickets can’t be sold out. - How to get to the port. From Naples airport, you can take a taxi, Uber, bus, or metro to the port. A taxi takes approximately 20 minutes, and the bus takes 40 minutes.
Bus: The bus ride from Naples Airport to Porta Di Massa takes 40 minutes and costs 5 euros. From the bus stop, Porta Di Massa is only a 500 m walk to the boat.
You could also take the bus to the Molo Beverello port, but from that stop, it will be a 10-minute walk to the boat. - How to find the ticket office. It can be a bit confusing, as it’s not well indicated when you arrive at the port. You’ll have to walk around 5 min from where a taxi can drop you off. The boat company is called Siremar. This is the exact location of the ticket office.
- IF YOU CAN’T TAKE THE RECOMMENDED BOAT, There are other boats to Stromboli as well: plenty of hydrofoils connect Stromboli with Sicily – Milazzo (about five connections per day) and Messina. The boat company is https://www.libertylines.it/en/. These hydrofoils also stop at the other Aeolian islands, which are worth visiting! More high-speed boat connections can be found here: https://www.snav.it/en. Travel to the Aeolian Islands, for example, from Naples to Stromboli.
- If you can’t make it to the boat on Friday, a speed boat leaves Napoli on Saturday at 14:30 and arrives at Stromboli at 19:00. Look it up here. This one should be booked in advance.
- If you can’t find a good flight to Napoli, you can fly to Rome and then take a train to Napoli – it only takes about 2 hours and costs around €20. Book your train in advance, as prices will rise if you buy your Ticket at the train station. Try kiwi.com to search for a cheap flight. We are happy to help you individually with your travel details!
There are dozens of restaurants as well as markets and food stores on the island. Every apartment has its own kitchen you can use to prepare meals (except the private apartments don’t have their own kitchen)
LUNCH PACKAGE : a delicious warm lunch buffet will be prepared and ready for us every day. The cost of the lunch is 18 euros per day, the package is 108 euros for the retreat, which includes 6 lunches. There are meat and vegetarian options.
Not sure if you should book the lunch package? We recommend that you do, as we have fantastic chefs (for those who know, they are Renzo and Salvo) who will be cooking amazing meals using the resources from their own garden! You won’t save money if you eat in a restaurant. We just give the option to book the retreat without the meal plan to those who prefer to cook lunch on their own, to be able to save a bit on food costs. But, when you come home after all the workshops, you will appreciate the warm meal waiting for you at the table! as well as breakfast straight after your yoga or taichi morning class.
Yes, they are! The beds will be made, and towels, as well as soap and shampoo, will be provided.
If available, you can stay at the same place where we stay during the retreat starting at 35€ a night. Please tell us the date(s) you want to extend your stay, and we’ll make your reservation
As for now, everything looks fine to travel to Stromboli
At the time of writing, there are no restrictions on travelling to Italy: (updated January 2023)
“Effective from May 1, 2022, it is no longer mandatory to show a Green Pass to access businesses and services in Italy. Therefore, free access to local and national public transportation, bars and restaurants, shops, museums, theaters, cinemas, stadiums, gyms, spas, etc.”
Find more info here: https://www.italia.it/en/covid19 or this official website of the Italian government.
We will fully refund your deposit if government rules prevent you from travelling. If Italy will go into lock-down again, we will fully refund your deposit up to one month before the start of the retreat. This doesn’t apply to deposits for private apartments.
(Antigen tests are normally cheaper than PCR tests. On the way back from Italy, depending on your country’s rules, you might need to get an antigen test. At all the airports of Rome and Napoli, there are testing facilities, as well as at the train station in Napoli, providing results in max. 15 min for max. fee 22€ (or less, depending on your nationality). If you may need a PCR test, rapid PCR tests are also available at all airports, for about 60€.)
- Never use the word fire or anything to do with fire. Instead, use juggling equipment, sport, circus, or performance equipment.
- Make sure your wicks are well burned off and don’t contain any fuel residue.
- Put everything in ziplock bags to cover the possible smell.
- You can wash your tools with warm water and soap, so most of the black goes off. Let them dry well.
- Put socks or pink fluffy protection (doesn’t look dangerous, hahaha) around your equipment, so it’s not directly visible.
- You can even disconnect the chains from your poi heads, and store them in separate bags.
- We recommend putting your fire poi in your check-in luggage. Don’t lock your bag, if they want to check it, they might break it. You can add a note, explaining it’s juggling equipment and your phone number.
- If you take a staff, see what the maximum luggage sizes are to see if you can take it without having to pay extra. A thick staff bag will protect your staff during transportation.
TIPS ON FLYING WITH GEAR, FROM SRIKANTA BAREFOOT
FLYING WITH LONG STAFFS/ OVERSIZED LUGGAGE
After leaving the Cirque du Soleil, I reduced the length of my staffs from 162cm to 142cm to avoid paying oversized luggage fees. While each airline has its own limits and fees for oversized luggage, 152cm-158cm is the average limit for many airlines before paying additional fees. However, there is no single rule which applies so you have the best research fare rules prior to booking.
Many budget airlines (especially in Europe) will charge a fee for any bag which doesn’t resemble a standard suitcase regardless of the length. In general, the nicer the airline, the less likely they are to charge you extra fees for your baggage.
Check out this great worldwide baggage fee chart: http://www.farecompare.com/about/worldwide-baggage-fee-chart/
FLYING WITH FIRE TOOLS
With over 10 years of flying around the world with fire tools, I’ve yet to have any problems or anything confiscated.
These are tips based upon what continues to work for me:
- Pack your tools with care
- Make sure to have burned off any excess fuel from your wicks.
- I always travel with gloves, dish soap and a sponge/ cloth to clean my tools and wicks prior to flying.
Check-in counter - If you are like me, you will show up with a bag big enough to fit a mummy inside. There will be questions.
- Most importantly, never say ‘fire’ and avoid any connotation with weapons. I say that I am a circus artist and that I do object manipulation/ juggling. I talk about ‘batons’ and ‘dance’ while avoiding ‘swords’ and ‘martial arts’.
Many airlines charge extra for golf/ kite surf/ sports bags so with a bit of luck and charm you can dodge the looming fees with happy talk about circus and art. Not always.
Carry on luggage - I don’t recommend traveling with fire tools in your carry on luggage, although I’ve seen it work once (from Las Vegas to LA). If anyone dares to try or has more info, let me know and I’ll add it here.
FLYING WITH LIGHT TOOLS
As of late 2014, airlines must abide by new rules regarding lithium batteries. Limits have been placed on the voltage allowance of lithium batteries in checked luggage. As many of the light dance props on the market use lithium batteries, they are subject to these rules. Even though the limit is way above what you could reach with a checked bag full of light dance tools (most tools are 3-12 volts), as the voltage isn’t specified on your tools, there is a risk that they be confiscated.
The same rules don’t apply to carry on luggage so we recommend traveling with all of your light dance props in your carry on luggage. We’ve tested this a few times without any problems. The average capacity of light dance props (from pyroterra for example) is 3.7 volts/ 700mah.
More info on traveling with lithium batteries: http://www.airfrance.fr/common/image/pdf/en/Bagages_batterie_lithium_en.pdf
The location of Starry Mountain is; Barrio 2 San marcos la laguna, 07010, Guatemala
Most of the attendees will stay here. It’s about a 5-minute walk to Eagles Nest, where many workshops will be given.
The location of Eagle’s Nest Atitlán is; Lake Atitlán, San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala
Most of the workshops will be given here. It’s about a 5-minute walk to Starry Mountain, where some workshops will be given, and many attendees will stay.
We’ll arrange a shared shuttle for everyone arriving on the 15th of February. You can sign up for it in the WhatsApp group, which will be created around one month in advance. The shuttle will leave the airport between 13:00 and 14:00. If you arrive after that time, you’ll need to take a private taxi (or maybe there will be one or two people arriving later also, so you can share) You can also be picked up from your hotel if it’s kinda on the way. Tip: reserve a hotel with other attendees, it’s more fun and easier to be picked up.
The closest airport is La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City. From there, you could take an Uber to Panajachel (113km), where you can take a boat to San Marcos la Laguna, this is the most direct way. Of course, you could also drive there directly with an Uber, but the last bit from Panajachel takes 2 hours extra, as the road makes quite a detour (see the image below). We will create a WhatsApp group with all the attendees, around one month before the start, so you can plan to travel together.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET TO PANAJACHEL;
– TAXI; Uber works well and is way cheaper than taxis. Will take 3+ hours, depending on traffic. You can connect in our WhatsApp group with all the attendees we’ll create, a few weeks before the start, to fill an Uber together! The price could be cheaper, and more comfortable than the shuttle with an Uber car or minivan.
– SHUTTLE BUS $ 42, goes 3 x per day, GuateGo.com Takes at least 4h30 with stop
– CHICKEN BUS for sure the cheapest option, if you want to go for the authentic experience, read all about it here; Tripadvisor and Connected Horizons blog article. Takes about 3h45, and leaves 8 x per day.
BOAT FROM PANAJACHEL TO SAN MARCOS LA LAGUNA
The main vehicle for getting from village to village on Lake Atitlan is a boat, better known as a “lancha”.
Lanchas are the water taxis that ferry people from town to town on Lake Atitlan. They are the fastest way to get to every other town from Panajachel.
Getting from Panajachel to San Marcos La Laguna: Just say jou want to go to San Marcos, and they will help you to get in the right lancha. The price should be around 25 Q, don’t pay more than 50 Q.
Boat service runs between 6:30am and 7:30pm. Two lauchas depart from Panajachel every 30ish mins.
One will be a direct boat, and the other will stop in each village along the North shore between the two villages (Santa Cruz/San Marcos/San Pedro/Jaibalito/Tzununa). The laucha captains wait until they’ve nearly hit capacity before departing. So, you may end up sitting in a laucha for up to 25 mins before the boat actually departs.
PUBLIC & PRIVATE LANCHAS
There are two types of lanchas that service; Public and Private. The captains wearing the white polo shirts with orange lines on the shoulders and sleeves, branded with a ship’s wheel logo, will have the most consistent pricing. These captains are part of an association of captains that operate the Public lanchas on Lake Atitlan. It is safe to ride the nonunion boats too, but the prices are less consistent, so ask the price before you hop on!
Tourists will always be charged more than locals; that is how it goes, but it should still cost a few bucks. It’s only a 100-meter walk from where the taxi can drop you off, to the lanchas. It’s one straight street, just follow it down, to the lake.
See the full article HERE
ARRIVING AT SAN MARCOS
When you arrive at the port, it’s a 6-minutes walk to where the tuk-tuks are. You’ll walk the “Hippie Higway” a little but busy street with many amazing restarants, shops and bars. Just follow the street till the end, there’s one s-curve, but it’s pretty straith forward. When you arrive at the end, you’ll see a big steet, where cars and tuk-tuks can drive. There’s the Public Indoor Baseball Court, and Health Food Store San Jose, and to your left, you see the tuk-tuks waiting. We have trusted tuk-tuks, that are allowed to help you with carrying luggage, if you need. Their numbers are in our group app. You can take any tuk-tuk, but their prices might be less consitent, and they are not allowed to come inside the gates.
All tuk-tuks know Starry Mountain and Eagle’s Nest. They can’t drive all the way to the gate, as the last bit is only accessible by foot. You’ll find it with maps, or contact one of us to be picked up from the tuk-tuk drop-off point.
Eagle’s Nest It’s indicated from the tuk-tuk drop off point how to walk to there. It’s around a 4-minute walk.
Casa Jaguar Treehouse you can be dropped of in front of the gate!
If you stay at the Eartship or Jungle Rootz, come to Starry Mountain, and we will guide you from there.
Starry Mountain Gate. It’s only a 1-minute walk from where the tuk-tuk can drop you off to the gate, see the image below
ARRIVING AT THE PORT OF SAN MARCOS
When you arrive at the port, it’s a 6-minutes walk to where the tuk-tuks are. You’ll walk the “Hippie Higway” a little but busy street with many amazing restarants, shops and bars. Just follow the street till the end, there’s one s-curve, but it’s pretty straith forward. When you arrive at the end, you’ll see a big steet, where cars and tuk-tuks can drive. There’s the Public Indoor Baseball Court, and Health Food Store San Jose, and to your left, you see the tuk-tuks waiting. We have trusted tuk-tuks, that are allowed to help you with carrying luggage, if you need. Their numbers are in our group app. You can take any tuk-tuk, but their prices might be less consitent, and they are not allowed to come inside the gates.
All tuk-tuks know Starry Mountain and Eagle’s Nest. They can’t drive all the way to the gate, as the last bit is only accessible by foot. You’ll find it with maps, or contact one of us to be picked up from the tuk-tuk drop-off point.
Eagle’s Nest It’s indicated from the tuk-tuk drop off point how to walk to there. It’s around a 4-minute walk.
Casa Jaguar Treehouse you can be dropped of in front of the gate!
If you stay at the Eartship or Jungle Rootz, come to Starry Mountain, and we will guide you from there.
Starry Mountain Gate. It’s only a 1-minute walk from where the tuk-tuk can drop you off to the gate, see the image below
If you can’t do some of the moves listed above, don’t worry! We will teach you that. However, if you want to be prepared, look up some tutorials (such as those on Playpoi.com – those are great!)
HOOP BEGINNERS: To benefit the most from the workshops, be sure to know the basic hoop moves, such as: waist-hooping in both directions, moving your hula hoop up your body, and shoulder-hooping in both directions. You can find many free tutorials, like these from HOOPLOVERS
CONTACT STAFF BEGINNERS: To benefit the most from this retreat, be sure to know the basic contact staff moves, such as: neck wrap, halo, conveyor belt, (parts of) an arm roll or Steve.
You can find many free tutorials, like these from PHILOCRICUS
STAFF SPINNING BEGINNERS: To benefit the most from the workshops, be sure to know the basic staff spinning moves, such as: forward- and backward figure 8, turning with the figure 8, the Rotor (front spinning), windmill. You can find many free tutorials, like these from Michelle Christa Smith
GUATEMALA
The entry requirements are in effect since August 13; (Updated end of Oct, 2022)
Flying from Europe;
No tests or vaccination certificate are required to enter Guatemala
Flying from the USA;
No tests or vaccination certificate are required to enter Guatemala
Check the entry requirements for your home country at one of these websites;
SHERPA
FLYING/ TRANSIT MEXICO
No restrictions; there is no need to provide a negative PCR test or quarantine on arrival.
FLYING/TRANSIT COSTA RICA
No restrictions; the Government of Costa Rica does not require tourists entering to present a negative COVID-19 test, nor quarantine upon arrival.
We will closely monitor the situation and provide you the newest up to date info.
US, British, and most EU citizens do not need a visa to visit Guatemala for up to 90 days.
Just make sure you have a valid passport (valid for at least half a year) and at least one blank page.
You can check if you need a Visa here; https://www.visahq.hk/guatemala/
Get a visa online; https://www.evisas.online/guatemala-visa/
- Never use the word fire or anything to do with fire. Instead, use juggling equipment, sport, circus, or performance equipment.
- Make sure your wicks are well burned off and don’t contain any fuel residue.
- Put everything in ziplock bags to cover the possible smell.
- You can wash your tools with warm water and soap, so most of the black goes off. Let them dry well.
- Put socks or pink fluffy protection (doesn’t look dangerous, hahaha) around your equipment, so it’s not directly visible.
- You can even disconnect the chains from your poi heads, and store them in separate bags.
- We recommend putting your fire poi in your check-in luggage. Don’t lock your bag, if they want to check it, they might break it. You can add a note, explaining it’s juggling equipment and your phone number.
- If you take a staff, see what the maximum luggage sizes are to see if you can take it without having to pay extra. A thick staff bag will protect your staff during transportation.
TIPS ON FLYING WITH GEAR, FROM SRIKANTA BAREFOOT
FLYING WITH LONG STAFFS/ OVERSIZED LUGGAGE
After leaving the Cirque du Soleil, I reduced the length of my staffs from 162cm to 142cm to avoid paying oversized luggage fees. While each airline has its own limits and fees for oversized luggage, 152cm-158cm is the average limit for many airlines before paying additional fees. However, there is no single rule which applies so you have the best research fare rules prior to booking.
Many budget airlines (especially in Europe) will charge a fee for any bag which doesn’t resemble a standard suitcase regardless of the length. In general, the nicer the airline, the less likely they are to charge you extra fees for your baggage.
Check out this great worldwide baggage fee chart: http://www.farecompare.com/about/worldwide-baggage-fee-chart/
FLYING WITH FIRE TOOLS
With over 10 years of flying around the world with fire tools, I’ve yet to have any problems or anything confiscated.
These are tips based upon what continues to work for me:
- Pack your tools with care
- Make sure to have burned off any excess fuel from your wicks.
- I always travel with gloves, dish soap and a sponge/ cloth to clean my tools and wicks prior to flying.
Check-in counter - If you are like me, you will show up with a bag big enough to fit a mummy inside. There will be questions.
- Most importantly, never say ‘fire’ and avoid any connotation with weapons. I say that I am a circus artist and that I do object manipulation/ juggling. I talk about ‘batons’ and ‘dance’ while avoiding ‘swords’ and ‘martial arts’.
Many airlines charge extra for golf/ kite surf/ sports bags so with a bit of luck and charm you can dodge the looming fees with happy talk about circus and art. Not always.
Carry on luggage - I don’t recommend traveling with fire tools in your carry on luggage, although I’ve seen it work once (from Las Vegas to LA). If anyone dares to try or has more info, let me know and I’ll add it here.
FLYING WITH LIGHT TOOLS
As of late 2014, airlines must abide by new rules regarding lithium batteries. Limits have been placed on the voltage allowance of lithium batteries in checked luggage. As many of the light dance props on the market use lithium batteries, they are subject to these rules. Even though the limit is way above what you could reach with a checked bag full of light dance tools (most tools are 3-12 volts), as the voltage isn’t specified on your tools, there is a risk that they be confiscated.
The same rules don’t apply to carry on luggage so we recommend traveling with all of your light dance props in your carry on luggage. We’ve tested this a few times without any problems. The average capacity of light dance props (from pyroterra for example) is 3.7 volts/ 700mah.
More info on traveling with lithium batteries: http://www.airfrance.fr/common/image/pdf/en/Bagages_batterie_lithium_en.pdf
The fuel we use to spin in Guatemala is Kerosine. It’s not the greatest option, but it’s the only spinning fuel available over there…
Kerosine burns hotter than Lamp Oil (for EU people), but the burning temperature is comparable with White Gas (US usage) It also smells more than Lamp Oil, so it’s recommended to take a mask.
We think if you use common sense you won’t have trouble, it’s a beautiful country to visit and you’ll meet many friendly and wonderful people. Guatemala for sure faces its own set of challenges, including poverty and significant levels of gang violence. However, these issues typically don’t affect tourists, and as stated in the UK Foreign Office advice, “Despite the elevated crime rates, most visits to Guatemala are trouble-free.”
We’re arranging a shuttle from the airport, so everyone can come together with a trusted guide. Rodrigo is very trustworthy, we’ve been working with him for 3 years now, and he will make sure everyone will arrive safely at San Marcos la Laguna. San Marcos is a small village, and relatively safe, there haven’t been any major problems with tourists.
We advise you to only use Uber, as their rating system is trustworthy and don’t use unknown taxis. The same goes for hotels, find a place with a lot of reviews on for example Booking or Agoda if you want to stay close to the airport for a night.
These are our GuateFlow Guidelines to keep everyone safe during the retreat;
– Never walk alone after dark from the village up. This is mainly because of the street dogs, and possible drunks. But walking together is more fun anyway! Or take a tuk-tuk up.
– Only use trusted tuk-tuk drivers, other tuk-tuk drivers are not allowed to get into the resort gates. If you want help with carrying your luggage, only the trusted tuk-tuk drivers are allowed to do so (the list will be provided)
We recommend having good travel insurance, that covers you for medical treatment and personal possessions.
We can’t guarantee anything, but there haven’t been any problems in the last two years, and we think if you use common sense you won’t have trouble, it’s a beautiful country to visit and you’ll meet many friendly and wonderful people.
don’t miss out, book your TICKET!