There are ants the size of cats in my bathroom...

...But at least I have a bathroom.

Yep, if I had a blog, that is what the title would be for the first day of my Costa Rica wellness retreat + spa trip. Its not a bad place but the "hotel" definitely is a world of peace, love, harmony and ants the size of cats that I've never known.

Safety concerns me a bit since there is no peep hole and no dead bolt on the door. Most of the yoga-ites...is that what they are called or would someone find that offensive? Let me start that line again. Most of the highly experienced yoga professionals may have no problem with that but its not making me that warm and fuzzy. Thank god I'm not from Manhattan, I may have had a full blown panic attack regarding the room locking situation. I've decided to move something in front of the door, I'm blaming my paranoia and lack of trust on being from New Jersey. Perhaps I need this wellness retreat for more reasons than one. You moms out there will appreciate my healthy paranoia.

Its been raining pretty much non-stop....but it is the raining season and I am in the rain forest so I guess one should expect that. The views of the land, mountains and the surrounding town are gorgeous. The retreat itself sits upon 12 acres in a relatively poor town outside San Jose. There is plenty of lush landscaped gardens of flower and fauna to help you forget where you are. There is a very nice pool and a hot tub (to wash the granola off....haha). They have some beautiful open air yoga/meditation halls with breathtaking views. I had lunch in the dining hall and must say I was impressed. A combo of really good costa rican and american food....I may not need that box of Cliff bars I packed after all. The coffee is fantastic as well, Juan Valdez and his posse from Colombia have nothing on Costa Rican coffee.

From my little hut...yes literally it's a little hut with hard wood floors and a running toilet (again,happy to have a toilet)...... I can hear tons of birds, wildlife and probably a multitude of insects that would eat my cat-sized ants. I haven't seen anything in the way of animals yet, unless you count the humongous ants. I'm hoping to run into a sloth or two, ok well not literally but you know what I mean.. And maybe see some of those cute little cappuchins (no, not little foam covered coffees although that would be nice too... monkeys silly).

Well now that I have shared I think its time to go grab some grub...or maybe at least talk to a real person. Wellness.... Hmmm.... This should be fun.

Ps - no volcanoes, that excursion is only on Fridays and I'll be gone (darn it!!). I do have the zip-lining canopy adventure planned for Monday and (cross your fingers) the beach excursion planned for Wednesday. They will only go if four people sign up. I may have some un-wellness-like outbursts (that's right, plural) in the morning yoga session if the trip to the coast doesn't happen. Previous to my Costa Rica arrival I spent three lovely days in a little surfing town known as Melbourne Beach, just south of Cocoa Beach on the Florida space coast. My room was on the ocean, and it was hard to leave it!!!!! But adventure and wellness await in Costa Rica so alas we parted ways.

There is a live band playing the Tequila song somewhere within earshot...I wonder if they take requests. ;-).

And yes, if you haven't figured it out yet you have been not so randomly chosen to receive my may never do it again, random thoughts travel blog e-mail. Hopefully its more interesting than your daily spam...it will definitely be less frequent.

Ppss- do not tell my mom about the lack of a dead bolt. She wouldn't sleep for five days.

Off to find my zen. Now where did I put it...... ?

j