There\u2019s a Yoga retreat at lovely Sugar Beach Hotel on Playa Pan de Azucar, Potrero, Costa Rica. There\u2019s large circular pavilion, probably 50 feet across, where the 15 or so yogettes? position and absorb twice a day while listening to the crashing of waves.<\/p>\n
At other times they go on hikes, tours, maybe even zip lining. In the evenings, they sit at a long table in the dining area and, after a short verbal prayer, share a meal.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, while they were gone during the day, Susan jumped rope for an hour in the pavilion, then worked out for another. That\u2019s her meditation. I imagined her energy waves lingering in the space, surprising and enervating the quiet contemplation of students when they returned for their evening session.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d come up early to the cafe to work on my computer in the morning. Two of the Yogettes were already at the table where WiFi is best. A waiter turned on the local music that fills the cafe.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least I brought my headphones,\u201d said one, a thin man maybe in his 50\u2019s, about average for the group.<\/p>\n
After one minute, the other, a small dark-haired woman with a prominent profile replied \u201cI\u2019m going to the lobby. I can\u2019t stand this music.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d said the first, and they gathered up their things and left, which let me go over to my favorite chair to work and tap my feet to rhythms I enjoy.<\/p>\n
I was at the computer trying to find a something important we’d left behind, it doesn\u2019t matter what. Once again, the generous and efficient personnel of this hotel stepped up.<\/p>\n
Sven, Operations Manager,\u00a0\u00a0said a few things to Melissa, a new employee working at his side. She was instantly on the computer, located the item, and started making calls. In a half hour, they found what I needed in Liberia, clarified the ability for it to be picked up, gave me a map.<\/p>\n
I am Driver. I was ready for some alone time and took off in the little Daihatsu Bego. All 1,000 ccs of raw power, grabby brakes, bad balance and a tendency to put its nose down and swap ends when it hits rough pavement, kind of like it doesn\u2019t want to see what\u2019s coming next. But I had the windows down and the warm wind rushing through and I was on a mission.<\/p>\n
One lane bridges have to be timed just right to get over without waiting for oncoming traffic. Horses on the side of the road are usually staked down, goats and sheep are not. Bicyclists may have one or two kids standing on the frame while the largest kid pedals. And huge trucks and buses don\u2019t necessarily stay in their lane when coming at you, or when you\u2019re passing, because they don\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, while police standing in the road will stop you to see a license or passport, I didn\u2019t see any radar guns. I made it to Liberia in an hour when I was told it would take longer. I don\u2019t tell anyone here why that was possible.<\/p>\n
Back at the hotel, after a more leisurely trip that included a gas and grocery store stop (we never covered how to say \u201cThank you card\u201d in third grade Spanish), I got back to the hotel. I thanked the staff again for doing what I could not do on the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you so much for doing this,\u201d said Susan.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou would have done the same for me,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would have done it for anyone at this hotel, but could not ask for myself,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I didn\u2019t give you a choice,\u201d I said. \u201cBesides, I got to go for a drive. It was really all about me.\u201d Praise makes me uncomfortable. She and I are so much alike.<\/p>\n
This morning I went to the lobby to ask Sven, the Operations Manager, what time we needed to check out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d he said. \u201cCheck out is noon, but you may stay until one, one thirty. Whatever you need.\u201d<\/p>\n
We talked for a minute about his work as an operations manager for a farm in the highlands of Costa Rica where ferns for export were planted in the shade under a reforestation project, how he\u2019d been in charge of building a 30 hectare (75 acres) botanical garden, his opinion of various free trade coffee efforts.<\/p>\n
We were interrupted by the same small, dark haired Yogette from the U.S. who didn\u2019t like the music the morning before.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeven a.m.\u201d\u00a0 she said. \u201cDriver?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d asked Sven, confused.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sven looked at the clock on his computer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not seven yet\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe you could give him a call, just to be sure\u2026?\u201d It was said as a question but was clearly a command.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can do that, certainly,\u201d said Sven, and he reached for the phone. I let him get back to work.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time to leave Sugar Beach. Susan will cry a little; she becomes attached to good people easily, and those here have done so very much for us. But it\u2019s time to move on. We have one more stop we\u2019ll make someplace else in exquisite Costa Rica with its calm, sophisticated, and generous people. Pura Vida.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There\u2019s a Yoga retreat at lovely Sugar Beach Hotel on Playa Pan de Azucar, Potrero, Costa Rica. There\u2019s large circular pavilion, probably 50 feet across, where the 15 or so yogettes? position and absorb twice a day while listening to the crashing of waves.<\/p>\n
At other times they go on hikes, tours, maybe even zip lining. In the evenings, they sit at a long table in the dining area and, after a short verbal prayer, share a meal.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, while they were gone during the day, Susan jumped rope for an hour in the pavilion, then worked out for another. \u2026 Read more\u2026