From March 1-7, 2009 and March 21-27, 2009 guests will have an opportunity to experience all of the magic, sophistication, pampering, luxury and yoga/exercise of our traditional Cartagena Escapes, along with four half days spent painting houses alongside a local community in a seaside pueblo. The project, called La Casa Pintada, was started by Colombian artist Vicki Fadul as a way to build community moral and family togetherness by painting the houses within each local pueblo, one by one. The result, after just one week of hands on work, is a pueblo so full of color and life, and so full of pride and enthusiasm, that it is almost unrecognizable. Vicki has been working on this project for 5 years now throughout different areas of Colombia, and in each location everyone, from the children to the parents and grandparents, all get involved. They learn new skills, spend time together doing something constructive, have fun, feel valued and are left with not only a home, but an entire pueblo, they can be proud of. Vicki has found that even after the week is over the community binds together to clean and maintain the pueblo at higher aesthetic and hygienic standards than before. It is amazing what a little paint and some attention can do to a impoverished persons outlook on life! When Vicki and her helpful painters leave, we will leave behind all the materials, skills and knowledge to continue the project throughout the pueblo and inside each of the families homes.

$250 of each person's registration will be donated directly to La Casa Pintada for materials and education.

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL

Spend the day settling in, relax around the pool or in one of the many cozy areas in your new home for the week. Enjoy an afternoon stretch class, guided historical tour and delicious candle-lite dinner and then stroll the streets of Cartagena. Cartagena is extremely safe and since our home is in the walled city, it is a wonderful city to stroll at any hour...even solo!

DAY 2

• 8:00 am - Breakfast
• 9:00 am - Introduction and technique training with La Casa Pintada
• 1:00 pm - Lunch
• 5:00 pm - Yoga
• 7:00 pm - Spanish Lessons
• 8:30 pm - Dinner

DAY 3

• 8:00 am - Breakfast
• 9:00 am - Painting houses with La Casa Pintada
• 1:00 pm - Lunch
• 4:00 pm Cooking Class
• 5:00 pm Wall Walk
• 6:00 pm Yoga
• 7:30 pm - Salsa Dancing Lessons
• 8:30 pm - Dinner

DAY 4

• 8:00 am - Breakfast
• 9:00 am - Boat Trip to Baru- Beach power walk & body sculpt, sun & lunch
• 5:30 pm – Yoga
• 7:00 pm - Spanish Lessons
• 8:30 pm - Dinner

DAY 5

• 8:00 am - Breakfast
• 9:00 am - Painting houses with La Casa Pintada
• 1:00 pm - Lunch
• 2:00 pm - Power Abs
• 4:00 pm - Cooking Class
• 5:00 pm - Yoga
• 7:00 pm – Spanish Lessons
• 8:00 pm - Dinner

DAY 6

• 8:00 am - Breakfast
• 9:00 am- Depart for Volcanic Mud Baths
• 1:00 pm - Lunch
• 2:00-5:00 pm - Painting houses with La Casa Pintada
• 5:30 pm - Yoga
• 7:00 pm - Salsa Dancing Lessons
• 8:30 pm – Dinner

DAY 7

• Breakfast upon waking up
• Departures according to your specific flight time
• Fall asleep on the plane dreaming of your next ESCAPE!