Two weeks ago, I visited Rancho La Puerta for the third time—again, to be the visiting cooking teacher for the week—and it continues to amaze.
When I first visited, I absolutely loved all the fun that there was to do and enjoy every day, including all manner of fitness classes, talks/lectures, art classes, meditations, movies, and even bingo. There are three amazing spas to get pampered in, four beautiful swimming pools to lounge by, lovely meandering paths to wander, and plenty of spots, including your own gorgeous room, to read a book.
On my second visit, last year, I was present to the sheer magic of the place. In the cocoon of Rancho La Puerta, you feel simultaneously away from it all and at home. You feel both relaxed and energized. You’re surrounded by new faces that feel like old friends. It’s as if you’re on some magical astral plane, like you’ve slipped into another dimension, one that’s sprinkled with fairy dust. I don’t know how they pull it off—although I suspect it has a lot to do with co-founder Deborah Szekely—but the Rancho is truly unique. And very, very special.
You’d might think that all that—the sheer enjoyment of all the Rancho offers, plus the wonderful, well, gestalt of the place—would be a little less so with a third visit. But you’d be wrong.
The Rancho continues to amaze.
If anything, this time around I had more fun in the fitness classes and on the hikes (where I took these photos), I felt more at home wandering the Rancho’s meandering pathways, I made more new and important friendships, and overall, I felt even more sprinkled with fairy dust.
No wonder they have guests who’ve been there twenty, thirty, and even fifty times.
I aspire to be one of them.
Many, many thanks to Denise and the entire staff at La Cocina Que Canta for having me. Looking very much forward to seeing you all again next year.
