The Healing Powers of Mud!

 

. Recently we set forth on an exploratory trip in our adopted country of

Costa Rica

for possible locations for our 2007 Learning Safaris.  Our destination was Rincon de La Vieja in the North Western part of the country:  The resort, "Hotel Borinquen" is a Mountain and Hot Springs Hotel and Spa and one of 3  destinations we will be using for a Couple's Rainforest Romance Retreat in the new year.  What a great place for female and couple's pampering at any age, complete with exotic massages including a Chocolate Massage...My first ever and Yum!  How wonderful to have chocolate that doesn't go to your thighs but on them! Rincon de La Vieja literally means "Face of the old woman".  Aah perhaps the old woman came here and indeed found her fountain of youth.

This tourist area is set amidst an  active volcano and an incredible state park with  beautiful waterfalls and wildlife.  It's also great Cattle Country.  In fact one of the hotel's tours,  takes you through primary forest and on to a 5000 hectare farm where yes, you can see the "Rush of the Buffalos".

You get the feeling you are in the middle of nowhere.  In addition to the hotel's zen like sanctuary, one of the spectacular treats of this resort is a natural,  stress reducing and wellness gift provided by  mother nature.  "Bubbling mud pots and small geysers".  A recent article in our local paper, the Tico Times, reported recent scientific studies that indicate that the small,  microorganisms in this special brew may just hold solutions for global warming.  Yet another case for saving the rainforest!

While the smell of sulfur from the bubbling earth makes you feel like slightly like you're in a complex owned by "El Diablo", the healing properties of the forest green mud are utterly  amazing.  Your skin feels refreshed and taut as though the stress was literally peeled away. There's also the side benefit of  Laughter. As shown in the photo above, you cannot help but release your cares as you share a new face to friends.  Warning:  As the  forest green mud dries and turns crusty, you might be confused with that old woman or the top of a volcano.

We have lived in Costa Rica 9 years and travelled here before that.  A great find and yet another new treasure discovered.

   

Hot Update:  Our 2007 Retreats have been Scheduled. Mark your calendars for the following dates:

Detailed Itineraries will be posted shortly.

"Go Wild-Go Great!  The Journey from Now to Wow"tm  A

Costa Rica

Retreat and Learning Vacation for Mind, Body and Spirit:

April 17-24th:

September 29th - October 6th:

"Women in Transition: The Journey from Now to Wow"tm

April 17th - 24th

October 20-27th

"The Rainforest Romance:  A Retreat for Couples"

  July 21s-28th