This has nothing to do with Costa Rica. But I thought I would share it with my forum friends.

I received an Email from a friend the other day, seeking "dancing extras" for a shoot the Travel Channel was doing in New Orleans. My wife and I love to dance, and cut a rug whenever we get the chance. The host was Samantha Brown. We are big fans of her shows, and thought it might be fun to participate and get a chance to say hi.

The shoot was at the "Rock N Bowl", an old forties era bowling alley that features live music. It is a fun venue, and we dance there frequently. We know the owner, and he set us up to bowl in the lane next to Sam while they were filming. We were also asked to dance in the crowd behind the two of them, as they danced.

We had a chance to speak with her a little bit between the two segments. Not a lot, as everyone was very busy. But enough to see that perky and friendly personality shine through. She was very approachable and gracious.

All in all, a pretty fun way to spend a Tuesday night!

Best to all,

Pat Hewitt
(Travel Professional)

That sounds like a fun evening, Pat.

We love Samantha Brown as well and I am glad to hear that she is as friendly and gracious as she appears.

Very cool! Sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing.

Very fun, Pat!

I've been watching Samantha's Passport to Latin America show. She shot 2 episodes that I know of in Costa Rica; one in the Central Valley and one in Guanacaste. She does come across as being a very warm, genuine person.

Hi Pat,

What a fun time! So glad Samantha Brown is doing a show in New Orleans. We love Rock n Bowl and recommend it to all of our visitors. Of course, the neighborhood itself is a story post Katrina but we love seeing these wonderful music venues flourishing in our beautiful city!

Karen

Wow, Pat - cool brush with fame! I just started watching Samantha Brown since she's doing a series on Latin America. Sounds like that was a lot of fun!

Very cool Pat! Keep us updated if you know when the show will air so we can check out your dancing skills I've been watching her too lately more than I have in the past with the Passport series in LA.....would be nice if the shows were an hour though, so much info crammed into such a short period!

I just watched her for the first time last week! She had visited the Guanacaste area. More specifically, Hacienda Guachipelin and Tamarindo.

She was a lot of fun to watch. Will have to look for her New Orleans show.

Hey Pat, I think my daughter would be a great replacement for Samantha (when she wants to retire)- personal reasons- obviously!!!! Glad you got to meet her. I missed this past Wed. night's show where she was in Panama. Thought of many of you - faithie, shillmac and I think Percy has been there too. Pat, my husband does not like to travel too far from home. We have a cabin in the Black Hills of South Dakota and that is where he is content traveling to - but alas, he agrees to follow his wife wherever she may take him (like Costa Rica). BUT, New Orleans is one location he has always stated he would like to go. DD just returned to the midwest after 10 mos. in Georgia, so now that we have visited that location of the U.S., maybe I should take him to New Orleans - what do you think?

You might be interested in reading her journals that go along with her Latin American shows. I was surprised by her description of her experience to Costa Rica. She didn't seem to enjoy herself too much. The journals are on the travel channel website. Just follow the links to Samantha Brown and Passport to Latin America.

Samantha's program on Santiago is exactly what prompted us to visit there in July. We had been home from Europe about two weeks when we saw her program and agreed that it looked like a good destination.

Out of curiosity I checked to see how much it cost and after finding that for ninety thousand FF miles and $50 we could fly nonstop business elite from Atlanta. That was too good a deal to turn down!

We had a nice time and were glad we went.

Here are our Chile photos:

http://web.mac.com/pj2592/Travel/Chile_2007.html

Nice photos, Judi! I would love to visit Chile some day...

After almost a year, the show will air tomorrow night (July 17) at 10:00 EST on the Travel Channel.

Look for the middle aged guy in the Jazz Fest shirt (kinda like a Hawaiian shirt). I have a beard, and my wife is a blonde.

If we look really dorky dancing, I will deny all.

Pat