Road trips are always an adventure. But gather five friends who belly dance together and you get a whole new synergy. Here we all were, up in Sebastopol, California for a belly dance convention, and we decided to take a side jaunt in our little trusty rental car to the coast. Several of us were hanging out the windows snapping pictures as we meandered through the majestic pines of northern California, and then along the uncrowded coastal highway.
Our skilled and un-distractable driver, Rachel, pulled over deftly when I spied an osprey in it’s nest and later when several of us squealed at the loveliness of the stereotypical fog lapping at the shoreline and the verdant hills.
Beauty is in the eye…
Helene snapping "macro" flora
Each of us found our own idea of beauty, whether in a broad landscape shot or as Helene found in the tightest close-ups of wild flowers. With no goals and no itinerary, the five of us comfortably whiled away the day in perfect agreement and affability, stopping to sample the requisite salt-water taffy and rummaging for treasures at remote thrift shops. No one ever griped if one of us called out the need for a caffeine fix.
“Sororitizing”
I’d like to call it fraternizing, but isn’t that reserved for male camaraderie? Mayhap we were sororitizing 🙂 Whatever you call it, I basked in the sisterhood of the bevy of belly dancing beauties. Maybe we should call our troupe that. The announcer would strangle us!
Bodega Bay, California
I’ve known for years now that these ladies, ranging in age from 20-something to 40-something, are a delight to dance with. What a bonus that we all travel and squish into tight sleeping quarters well together. Feeding this gaggle of giddy goddesses was complicated as several were avoiding either gluten, dairy, meats, sugar or a combination thereof. Me? I have an iron clad stomach (I belly dance, remember? haha) and I have no such self-imposed or necessity-inflicted limitations. I am an ex-con, however, as I outlined on my “me” list.
None of us suffered, I am happy to report, as shown in exhibit A.
Exhibit A: You call this limited?!?
Helene ( @desertsnail ) is just lucky that I haven’t yet figured out how to post my video clips on here; otherwise, you would find yourselves viewing her mystifying caterpillar sleeping-bag dance.
All Photos by G. Stark
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Absolutely my favorite kind of travel. Good friends, good food, a destination, but no tight timelines. Definitely want to see video, and look forward to more of the trip! 🙂
Thanks so much, Kid 🙂 I'll figure it out (video), I'm sure – especially with your awesome help! You describe the trip perfectly – and so succinctly! I gotta learn that 😉 Cheers, G
LOL, don't you dare change your style on your blog. Succinct, you can work on for your charity drip system if you must. I anticipate your poetic ramblings & license to liven up the language!
🙂 << see that? BIG smile…thanks for consistently bringing me smiles. I tallied up what my first check would be on my Charitable Drip System and it was like $34 and change…I'm writing away 'til I get to something respectable…like $50 at least! lol Thanks, Kid, for describing my drivel as "poetic ramblings & license to liven up the language" 🙂 You are awesome…and coming from a talented writer I am humbled and so grateful! Blissings! 🙂 G
Nice post Gina, I'm not a lady, I don't Belly Dance but I still would have liked to be on your trip!
Tennyyyyy! 🙂 Thanks so muuchly for stopping by to my lil lowly blog – haha. Well, you cannot change not being a lady (not without extensive work and investment!) but you CAN remedy the fact that you don't belly dance…there are some phenomenal guy dancers out there, ya know 😉 Happy travels to you, my friend…and I'll be seeing you in the "stream" 🙂 Cheers! G
Lovely post Gina and lovely trip! 🙂 I always love when women get along because it often enough is different. 😉
I'm sure it can be seen in your dances that you girls get along so well! Must be the perfect harmony! 🙂
Love it! XOXO
It is something special when a gaggle of women stay giggling 🙂 We DO have such fun when we dance – I sooo recommend taking it up! 🙂 Thanks, lovely, for stopping by and always being so supportive! *huugggs* G
Hi, Gina! Thanks for letting us/me be the “6” person on your trip. Sounds like you ladies had such an amazing time just enjoying the journey. Add laughs, tunes, good food, and dancing…… Who wouldn’t want to be along for the ride?! I look forward to reading more of your “Adventures in Bellydancing”. What fun! Thank you!
Hellloooo Kelli! *waving effusively* You are ALWAYS welcome on any trip of mine – road, Himalayas, you name it! 🙂 Thanks so muuchly for your sweetness and your comments..I am getting more and more motivated to recount the belly dancing, henna decorating and bauble buying we did at the festival 🙂 Bliss you, sweetie! xoxoxo G
I was just in Sebastopol a few weeks back for a wedding, and just can't imagine a belly dancing convention descending on the town. Must have been a riot!
haha! Yes…a riot of fun, of color, of music! A welcome riot, me thinks 🙂 The people in town and in the restaurants were warm and welcoming. I looked like a muggle compared to many of the elaborately dressed performers! Thanks so much for reading and for your comment. Gratitude shimmy to you! 🙂 G