Thursday, September 24, 2009 to Sunday, September 27, 2009
Holiday Inn Parque Fundidora | Zona Centro, Macroplaza
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon (MEX)

CIRQUECON 2009 TEAM

• Richard "Richasi" Russo -- Event Chairman
Besides handling all the duties of “the one in charge,” Ricky built, redesigned and maintained CirqueCon’s website, wrote member communication emails, handled the membership database, created and constructed the programme book, was co-Cirque du Soleil liaison between CirqueCon and Dralion and helped our on-site coordinator (and guide) – Rodolfo – as much as possible.


• Rodolfo Elizondo -- Event Coordinator
Rodolfo is the orchestrator for CirqueCon 2009 in Monterrey. He has done the entire on-site work and communication in Monterrey with hotel, sponsors, suppliers, ticket agents, city government, and with Cirque du Soleil in Mexico. Virtually everything experienced in Mexico is because of Rodolfo's enthusiasm. He has also planned all the social activities for everyone to enjoy this year.


• Keith Johnson -- Treasurer
Although not with us this year, Keith joined us behind the scenes handling all the membership payments sent to us via check and Paypal. He has also been a sounding board whenever needed.

OUR MEMBERS

An amazing number of 70 passionates joined us this year in Mexico, the first time we have taken our event south of the border. Breaking it down, 30% were from the United States (representing California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York Ohio, Tennessee, and Washington) with the remaining 70% from Mexico. Of those 70%, 45% were from the host city (Monterrey), while the remaining 55% represented other parts of Mexico, such as Tijuanam, Mexico City, Nuevo Laredo, Saltillo, Guadalaja, Merida, Torreon, Apodaca and San Luis Potosi. We had an amazing and passionate group of people who truly lived the CirqueCon motto: Vive Apasionadamente - Live Passionately!

SOCIAL EVENTS

One of the most important aspects of CirqueCon is facilitating activities and events that allow our guests the opportunity to mingle and acquainted with one another in an understanding and relaxed environment. It's something that brings us together as a community. This year we had four wonderful activities planned: Meet & Greet at the Paseo Santa Lucia, Monterrey City Bus Tour, Bohemia Night at Nueva Luna, and our Group Meal at Hacienda San Angel.

Meet & Greet @ Paseo Santa Lucia

This year our traditional Meet & Greet was a nice stroll around Parque Fundidora's famous Blast Furnace museum and the boat tour around the Santa Lucia Riverwalk.

The Horno 3 blast furnace was once part of the now defunct Monterrey Steel Foundry Company and was in use from 1900 until the company’s bankruptcy in 1986. Two years later the park was born. Horno 3 is a museum these days, and you can take a trip to the top of this monstrosity for one spectacular view of the city. It’s 130ft (40m) from ground-level and is on a slated platform - so not only can you see all around but below you too; hold on! The incline chair (that seats about eight) will take you up to the top for about 80 pesos (approx $8.00) and from there all of Monterrey opens up to you.

Below, while patrons explore the Foundry History Gallery (a look at the events which forged the steel industry in Mexico), the Steel Gallery (a look at a productive industrial processes, and the Blast Furnace show (a multi-sensorial show complete with stunning effects simulating the workings at No 3. Blast Furnace), you can take in the relative peace and quiet in the skies above the park. You really get a fantastic view of your surroundings from here including the fantastic ‘M’-shaped Cerro de la Silla, my hotel (the Holiday Inn at Parque Fundidora) and the Grand Chapiteau itself (sitting next to Plaza Sesamo, a Sesame Street theme park.)

One of the most interesting and best modes of transportation in Monterrey is the boat on the Paseo Santa Lucia, an artificial water canal that connects Parque Fundidora 2.5-kilometers to the east with Museo de Historia/Plaza 400 (Museum of Mexican History) at the Macroplaza. On the way you pass beyond the park, through beautiful fountains and other waterworks displays, around a whirlpool maker and finally into the water-filled Plaza 400 at the Macroplaza, entertained not only by the city lights around you but by the tour guide driving the boat. Fantastico!

Monterrey City Bus Tour

One of Rodolfo's favorite hobbies is taking groups of his fellow countrymen (and women) to Walt Disney World for weeks at a time for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. He used his experience to take us around his home city. Monterrey is full of fantastic museums, wonderful natural sights and amazing viewpoints that are sure to dazzle (such as the Macroplaza and Atirantado Bridge). Right after Registration we boarded the "magic bus" for a twelve-hour tour of Fabulous Monterrey. We visited museums (MUNE and Mexican History), shopping centers (Paseo San Pedro Mall & Morelos Shopping Plaza), natural wonders (Garcia Caves & Cañon de la Huasteca mountain) and more!

Bohemia Night @ Nueva Luna

With four (4) passionates per table, we were treated to the Parrillada Grill, which included Arrachera & Sirloin steak fajita and Chicken Fajita accompanied by sausage roasted in cheese, all served in a hot frying pan on a bed of onions, with peppers. Accompanyments included guacamole, chili pepers, and goaded and crisp totopos. Mmm! Two (2) non alcoholic drinks (soft drinks, lemonade, etc) are included per person. Any other extra beverages (including all alcoholic beverages) was available by request at every person own expense (wow, did the tequila flow!) Entertainment included speclail live music including Rock, Pop, Salsa and North Mexican traditional music. Bus transportation to and from the Holiday Inn Parque Fundidora to Nueva Luna Restaurant was included. Return trips back to the hotel ocurred in three incriments, in case anyone wished to leave a little earlier at 1:00am, 2:00am or 3:00am.

CIRQUE ACTIVITIES

Cirque du Soleil opened their arms and hearts as passionates embraced all things Dralion. We kicked off our first activity Thursday afternoon down at the gates of the Big Top. We met Ana Cuellar, La Nouba silk artist, for an impromptu chat then took our seats inside the Grand Chapiteau to watch an amazing training session featuring Double Trapeze and Trampoline, an act added to the show in recent times. After training concluded, Bruce Mather, Artistic Director for Dralion, and a couple of trampoline artists joined us for a question an answer session. Before long our time with Dralion had come to an end, but not before Bruce announced a surprise - we were to join them Saturday evening between shows for a back-stage group photograph with a few of the artists! WOW!

OUR EVENT SCHEDULE

THANKS THIS YEAR

On the behalf of everyone here behind the scenes at CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey, we wish to take this moment to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to these following individuals and organizations who have helped us greatly to put on our event this year - gracias!

at Cirque du Soleil:
• Michael G. Smith – Senior Artistic Director for Dralion & Alegría
• Bruce Mather – Artistic Director, Dralion
• Pascale Oument – Publicist, Attachée de Presse / Dralion in Mexico
• Frédérique Gagnier – Publicist, Attachée de Presse / Dralion in Australia
• Roxane Prince – Conseillère Marketing Internet & Superviseure Club Cirque
• Ana Cuella – La Nouba Aerialist/Artist
• Dustin Hill – Dralion Trampoline Artist
• Elisabetta La Commare – Saltimbanco Boleadora Artist
• Matthew Jessner – Artistic Director / Dragone Macau

at Ticketmaster México:
• Patricia Giron – Manager, Group Sales
• César Rodrigo Ramirez – Group Sales

at Monterrey Municipal Government:
• Lic. Homero Santos García – General Tourism Coordinator
• Lic. Humberto Dingler – Institutional Relations Sub-director
• Lic. Ilena Salinas – Public & Protocol Relations

at Holiday Inn Parque Fundidora:
• Alba Cabrera – Administrative Sales Coordinator
• Julio César Martínex – Sales Reservations
• Cecilia Martinez – Group Sales Team
• Eloisa Carrillo – Group Sales Team
• Parla Segovia – Group Sales Team

in Monterrey:
• C.P. Luis Gonzalez – OSETUR, Administrative Manager
• Carmen Salazar Flores – SENDA TURISMO, Group Sales and Reservations
• Paloma Ibarra Rojas – NUEVA LUNA, Special Events Manager
• Jorge Montemayor Jr. – HACIENDA SAN ANGEL, Owner
• Susana Hermandez – PARQUE FUNDIDORA, Special Events

For Helping Out:
• Arq. Francisco Fernandez – Graphics Design
• Lic. Adriana Váldes – T-Shirt Post Design
• Posadas Herrera – Museo de Historia Mexicana & MUNE English Guide
• Rich Alford – for early event support and enthusiasm.

And, of course, the fans of Mexico without whom we wouldn't have had such a passionate showing. Gracias!