Although I didn’t know how we would pull it off, four vacations in the year was my ambitious travel challenge for my family in 2015. In spite of working intensively on many areas of our lives, I guided our inner sources to use the energy of the year of Sheep–abundance and social interaction—as a traveling force to get us to our dream destinations. The right time was activated when my traveling beach sandals suddenly jumped off the shelf from the closet. We knew it was time to start to search for our Art Deco, Champagne and Beach Sandals Vacation.
We have already enjoyed three vacations and for the last “South escape” we came to RIU, Hotel & Resorts in Puerto Vallarta, and a five star beautiful resort in Mexico. A 4.5 hours flight from Vancouver and we gladly invited the summer energy, warm ocean and vibrant Mexican life style to our well-being. My intention was simple “lie back, soak in the warm water of the ocean with the sun and pleasure on my body and mind; after 3 months of intensive work and study. I was so grateful for this privilege to have a few days of summer just a few days before Christmas and forget all of life’s chaos back home.
“ LOVE FOR A WINTER ESCAPE?
YEP, YOU MUST BE A CANADIAN!”
Travel surprise # 1: ART DECO in RIU, Hotel & Resorts, Puerto Vallarta
In spite of the heavy rain when we arrived at the hotel Riu, Puerto Vallarta it was the Art Deco style that was imprinted into my consciousness upon my first step into the hotel. I couldn’t take my eyes of Tamara De Lempicka’s most famous painting, ‘Girl in Green with Gloves ‘on the wall behind the gentlemen at the check in desk. It was my husband’s surprise who knows me so well to organize this trip. Tamara De Lepimcka was one of the most dominant figures of the art deco years, from 1925 to 1935. Her detailed portraits of many famous and successful celebrities brought her much fame and fortune before she left Paris, traveled to Hollywood and died in Mexico in 1980.
Travel surprise # 2: A GIRL IN GREEN WITH GLOVES…
For my soul this paining captures a new era of woman’s independence and freedom allowing her to be who she is. It appears that the sleek feminine figure with curvaceous lines is holding on to her hat in order to avoid losing it in the breeze, De Lempicka undoubtedly masters the effect of a wind blowing through the painting. A slight sense of eroticism is established by having the dress cling to her body, revealing her breasts and navel through the fabric.

Travel surprise # 3: ART DECO IS STYLE THAT MAKES MY HEART BEATING FAST…
For those who don’t know, Art Deco style was not just for the elite. By the 1930s, mass production meant that everyone could live in the deco style. Travel became popular which I LOVE SO MUCH. African safaris were all the rage and animal skins, ivory, mother of pearl, and tortoiseshell began to appear in the home.
A beautiful body perishes but a work of ART dies not.
~Leonardo da Vinci~
I am positive that I had my previous life time in this era, I FEEL I LIVED THERE! Everything about the Art Deco era I have learned during my university Modern Art Class came to me. On top of the knowledge, I somehow vibrate well with this era’s true spirit (1908 – 1930); being surrounded by luxurious and glamorous materials which I couldn’t get enough of. You already can image that this soul obsession of mine relating to the art, beauty and glamour was presented on each step in the hotel main lobby and more….
Travel surprise # 3: THE KISS ( LOVERS )
On the other side of the lobby, I enjoyed the work of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt. I spent my childhood in Europe (Bohemia) so no wonder that this Vienna’s most renowned advocator of Art Nouveau was recognized by my soul at the first glance. Honesty, you cannot mistake his strikingly modern, yet evocative painting appearance.
My heart smiled at his paining. I always loved this one. A perfect square, the canvas depicts a couple embracing, their bodies entwined in elaborate robes decorated in a style influenced by both linear constructs of the contemporary Art Nouveau style and the organic forms of the earlier Arts and Crafts movement.
Although his art is now widely popular, it was neglected for much of the 20th century, and provoked opposition in his own day, facing charges of obscenity and objections to his lightly allusive approach to symbolism. His treatment of erotic themes was generally delicate and veiled in his paintings, but his drawings gave full expression to his considerable sexual appetite. From my healing arts lens, I saw two polarities – Yin & Yang, a white woman and an exotic man, two polarities during a sacred dance.
Travel surprise # 4: TIFFANY LAMPS NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE!
Tiffany lamps were found all around the main lobby and a cocktail bar with its jazzy music in the background. A Tiffany lamp is a type of lamp with a glass shade made with glass designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and his design studio. The most famous was the stained leaded lamp. Tiffany lamps are considered part of the Art Nouveau movement.

Travel surprise # 5 : HONEYMOON IN EVERY ERA OF YOUR MARRIAGE

New embodiment of this life style came by my husband’s question: “Honey, are you ready for our honeymoon suite?” (We have never had a honeymoon stay yet!), After all of these years, we entered a suite that left my jaw dropped down and boosted my fantasy with new life potentials. You just use your own fantasy here…..so suitable for Art Deco style, ha!
Walking into the Riu Puerto Vallarta Resort was like walking into another, more glamorous era full of Art Deco design: mirrored surfaces, a monochromatic cooler scheme, glossy surfaces, Lucite lamps and a lot of geometric/angular patterning. I am back in Canada now reviewing all my pictures, videos and smiling at the memories that made this last trip so memorable to me. I must admit it was the best trip this year: full of sun, champagne, fun and glamour of the past that I love so much.
Veronika, in saying gratitude for a Divine support on her travels. Mission Accomplished!
Dare to Dream BIG! ~V~
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Veronika Prielozna, MA, as a world-wide traveler, a lover of French champagne and Art Deco life style, a nurse and a yoga teacher, an admirer of a sacred dance in a human body and healing arts http://livingharmonyondemand.com.
Reference:
Riu Vallarta Resort – Riu.com
http://www.aaronartprints.org/delempicka-portraitofayounggirlinagreendress.php
http://www.austria.info/uk/things-to-do/cities-and-culture/gustav-klimt/the-kiss
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_art4.html#vBIslqQiha7WlLvC.99
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kiss_%28Klimt%29