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Carlos Arriaza is a man who has followed his dream. Here in a continuation of our father-son/daughter series of articles in honor of Father’s Day this Sunday, we bring you an interview with Gabriela Arriaza about this inspiring man she has the honor of calling her father.
Having held a number of “ordinary” jobs, as well as not-so-ordinary (he was a news anchor in the 1970’s), Carlos Arriaza left that world behind to follow his dream and created the Cumayasa Sky Adventure experience. Located in the Cumayasa Ranch, Cumayasa Sky Adventure just 30 minutes outside of Casa de Campo, along the highway towards Santo Domingo, is a fantastic zip-line adventure with 7 zip lines and 13 stations, leading you on a trail through the Dominican wilderness. The adventure also includes a number of other fun and thrilling attractions; Buggy rides that lead to the Caribbean Sea, the “Toro Loco” bucking bronco, the “Pendulum Cosmico”, a giant canopy swing, tons of rope bridges and the fascinating “Hurricane House”. [Click here to visit the Cumayasa Sky Adventure website.]
Meanwhile Carlos’ wife, Isabel Leon, is one of the best surgeons at the Centro Medico, the Central Romana hospital in La Romana. Gabriela Arriaza, just one of Carlos’ four daughters spent much of her childhood enjoying Casa de Campo, and now although she is far away, in Portland, Oregon, we still consider her part of our community.
@cdcliving: Your father has achieved a lot in his lifetime, are you very proud of him?
My Dad is amazing. He has lived his life fully and very much on his own terms. He has never been afraid. He has never been afraid to fail, he has never been afraid to succeed, he taught his four daughters that.
Yes, I am very proud of him, we all are. As children, we were showed love and attention, we went on an adventure every weekend when work was done and school was out. As adults he guides us with his wisdom to help us navigate the road ahead. He is brave and he marches to his own drums.
@cdcliving: What inspired you to follow in your father’s footsteps?
I have always believed that our only obligation is to be true to ourselves. We need to do what makes us happy, that is what inspired me to follow in his footsteps. He tried the conventional life, he was a news anchor in Boston in 1977, he was the general Manager at several American factories and decided it was not enough. If we spend a third of our lives or more working, then we should spend it doing something we love. That is where cumayasaskyadventure.com comes in.
That is what he did, he left the security of his job to live his dream. My father doesn’t say he wants something and pines away for it, he gets it, lives it and makes it come to life.
Also a lack of fear and wanting to make of this life what I want. To say that I follow in his footsteps – is a half truth, we have worked together, I began working with him when I was old enough to help. Then as an adult, I learned a lot working side by side with him and now I forge my own path, just like him. I have been told that we are very similar.
@cdcliving: What makes your father special?
He is my Dad. I could not have chosen someone from whom I could learn more. He has taught me that no matter what is happening, no matter how long it has been since you saw someone, there is little that can keep like minded people away from each other. He has taught me to be unconditional and that can at times mean saying something you may not want to hear. He is kind, he is funny, handsome, charming, intelligent, determined, a musician and a poet, what else could you ask for in a dad?
@cdcliving: What does your father do best?
He innovates. He has ideas and makes them appear out of thin air. My father is an innovator, he evolves like his projects do, he is always changing as are his new interests. If he has a vision, all he needs is time, to make it come true.
@cdcliving: In what ways are you similar to your father?
We are both very stubborn. Which depending on how to choose to see that, can be a good thing. It means, determination, it means a lack of quitting, a lack of fear. My father can be the most charming man on the planet, he can socialize with anyone from any social class and he fits right in. I am similar to him because I, just like him, treat everyone with the importance they deserve.
@cdcliving: What do you and your father enjoy doing together?
Ever since I was little I have been obsessed with horses. During my childhood I cannot remember a time when horses were not a part of my reality. My dad loves horses, we bonded through this mutual respect of everything equine. As a child, I was fearless and used to ride horses that were too big for a 60 pound kid, I think he respected that. I also did everything myself, it was my horse, my responsibility. He had to draw the line when I wanted to learn how to Shoe my horse… That and Kung Fu movies, we used to watch tons of movies when I was little, yes, 70’s kung Fu. It was awesome.