Today started off so fun for me! I woke before the kids, of course, and headed out for coffee and a walk on the beach. So quiet and peaceful. I actually walked on the beach this time, and headed down until the beach narrowed enough that I decided to turn around. Happy just being….amongst the dogs (still early enough they were out), the runners and the surfers. Seems we must have one of the best breaks around, because they are always lined up from the pier on up the coast. Around 9:30 I headed to the hotel for breakfast, and was joined in quick succession by Rachel, then Taylor aaaaaannd finally by Evan. Benedict with pork belly, anyone?
After breakfast we headed up….you guessed it!….to the rooftop deck and spread out on lounge chairs. Oh, I forgot to mention that in some ways, it’s been just like being back in India; only instead of Matt crushing me in cribbage, it’s now Ms. Cohen! Today I finally won my first in 4, and decided to retire with that victory fresh in my mind. Time started ticking down, and we all showered and packed up. Taylor had no clue where we were going and Rachel and I were giggling as we told her we’d be in the car for 4 hours, no not really, just a quick ride to the airport, no, meeting up with Outward Bound in the mountains, etc etc. We finally turn onto Spa Haven Drive, and Tay squeals as she realizes that she may not be going to the Golden Door, but she will be forced to enjoy pampering in a spa! We hug our buddies goodbye and enter the doors.
First thing is a short tour and settling in our room, and finding, to our great surprise, two beautiful flower arrangements (one for each of us) from Bert Ross. What a thoughtful man!
We walk up the hill to lunch (they are building a new kitchen and dining room in the main part of the spa, so we walk up a little hill to the building called L’Orangerie. It’s sitting on a hilltop by its cousin, the Chapel. Both buildings were actually those back in France. The owners purchased the buildings, had them shipped over and then reassembled here at the spa.). We sit on the back terrace, with a view of the grape orchard and rolling, cultivated hills that are somewhat reminiscent of eating out at the agriturismo outside of Siena. Not bad!
The spa itself, nestled in the hills:
After lunch we head out for a circuit training class. Gotta pack it all in! A pretty good workout, and then Tay has her first massage of the visit and I have reflexology. Getting used to the differences between here and Golden Door. Interesting contrasts….Some time in our room, unpacking, and then up the hill again for dinner and to meet some of the other guests (tables are set family style this meal). Everyone seems lovely and we trundle back down the hill and have a quiet evening before the big day ahead!