rancho la puerta

In my rush to get ready for der Schweiz, I didn't have time to fill you in on my little girls (and Dickie Boy) getaway in July, so I'm bringing you the first (of a few) today.

For awhile, my mom, sis, Dickie Boy, and I have been wanting to do a girls (and DB) trip to a spa.  When Gretch had a bit of free time in between jobs (she's leaving the world of advertising to become a teacher this fall!), we decided this was the summer to do it.  So this past July, we headed to Rancho La Puerta in Mexico for a week of activity, relaxation, and detox.

Each morning, after some coffee and fresh fruit in the lodge, we started with a 6am hike. 

morning fog nestled in between the mountains

watching the sunrise from the top

wild horses

At 8am (having already had a very good work-out), we'd head to breakfast.

Pool-side, we dined on copious amounts of locally-grown fruit, homemade organic muffins and breads, made-to-order omelettes, and fresh green juice.

Each morning was packed full of invigorating (and at times rather hilarious - see below) exercise classes.  Our favorites included hip-hop, circuit training, strip-tease dance, and - of course - cardio boxing.  

Afternoons were spent more leisurely: attending a lecture, partaking in a stretch or meditation class, or simply exploring the beautiful property.

By 5pm, it was time to shower and get ready for dinner at the dining room.  When the weather was nice (which was no less than every day), we'd dine outside under the shade of the trees.

Always a delicious three-course affair:

mushroom and field greens salad

yellowtail with snow peas and mango salsa

passion fruit panna cotta with dark chocolate

Now that's mine kind of spa food. :)

By 9pm, we were usually exhausted and ready for bed.

Rancho La Puerta, while certainly a "spa" in many ways, also has all the benefits of being a non-spa: breakfast and lunch are buffet-style so you're not limited to a set number of calories (good for some, not-so-great for others), villas are rather decadent and resort-like, AND you're allowed to drink - you just need to ask (red wine is good for the heart, right?).

More details on this adventure, particularly how Dickie Boy fared (hint: very, very well), to come.

xoxo

KK