Years ago I learned to ask my Higher Power to give me a surprise when I go on any vacation, or maybe more than one surprise, that’s even better! It happens every time and I wanted to pass this fun tradition on to you, my Dear Reader. Perhaps it comes in the form of a little surprise, or may be really big. Either way is fun, and I was not disappointed in Cancun, Mexico. The biggest surprise was my family gifted me a facial at the Spa facilities located at the resort we were staying in for five nights. Let me tell you that it was one of the nicest things I have done for myself! Come and walk with me, and experience it with me.

Image that you take my hand and together we walk down the steps to the lowest floor of the hotel building. Ceramic tile covers the floors in a soft cream, and the walls are painted a very pale off-white. It’s nice and cool in the lower hallway and together we step through double doors to enter the lobby of the Spa. Several staff members greet us with a smile, and after checking in for our scheduled appointments a young woman named Brenda takes my hand and leads us both into a large room with lockers, chairs, and candles. She instructs us to take off our wraps that cover our bathing suits and then quietly leads us to a door to a hot, dry sauna.

“I will be back in five minutes, ” she says, as she holds the door open for us. We step through and sit on the wood bench seat, feeling the heat surrounding us immediately. Feel the sweat start to roll down your back and legs, and then your face begins to glisten with moisture. We look at each other, smiling as our bodies begin to relax.

Brenda returns and once more takes my hand, and as we step out of the sauna she opens another door only two feet away. Steam rises thick, like a white fog rolling in, settling all over our bodies as we once again sit down on a bench. The steam is so thick we can hardly see each others faces. Sweat is pouring out of all our pores from all over our bodies now. It is hot, hot, hot! But oh, so relaxing.

In a few minutes Brenda softly opens the door and asks us to follow her out another door that takes us to an outdoor hot tub with water jets on every side. Large lounge chairs made of stone and ceramic tile lie underneath the water. A large Palm tree grows near, on the other side of the ceramic wall, and we can hear the ocean but cannot see it. To the left of the hot tub is a cryo, or cold plunge, a four foot deep cement and tile rectangle filled with cold, cold water.

“First, you step into the cold plunge and submerge yourselves, ” says Benda. “It is very good for your muscles, your body. Then after a few minutes sit in the hot tub, anywhere you like. I will return in about twenty minutes.” And leaving us, she steps through the door.

We look at each other, then look at that cold water, our bodies tempted because of the steam room, and the heat and sweat we are still experiencing. We dip our big toes in the water and softly suck in our breath! Cold! Ice cold! Then together we step in and down we go, covering our heads, hopping up with an audible gasp. We repeat this three times and laugh out loud. Then stepping out of the cryo we step into the hot tub. Heaven! Resting, relaxing in the water, lying back on the long stone chairs, and the ripples all around us from the jets, we close our eyes and simply listen, hearing the waves of the ocean crashing several yards away from our warm, wet, fluid cocoon. Time simply does not exist for a few minutes.

Brenda opens the door and this time takes my hand, and I take yours, and she leads me us down a hall and into a room with lounge chairs, soft and comfortable. We settle in and she places a cucumber slice over each of our eyes, followed by a cool cloth. Then retreats from the room, saying she will return shortly. True to her word she arrives and takes my hand and then your hand. I slowly let go of your hand because now we are going into separate rooms, to lie on the massage table for our facials. My skin care specialist, Yohanna is waiting for me, and I am sure someone like her is waiting for you. Yohanna instructs me to take off my wet bathing suit, lie back on the table and cover myself with a white sheet. She quietly leaves the room and I do as she asks. She quickly returns and places a large, very warm towel over the sheet I am covered with. Oh, this is heaven again!

Sitting at the head of the massage table she begins rubbing my face, neck, and clavicle bones, (collarbones), with a warm oil, then switches to a cold oil, and then back to warm again. She changes to a moisturizing cream with a thick, soft substance, one that feels like the consistency of peanut butter. By this time I am almost asleep. Time has stopped once again. For fifty minutes this talented professional esthetician gently and rhythmically continues to rub my skin. I am as pampered as any woman could be. And I am not sure if I will ever wash my face again!

The facial is completed, my bathing suit is almost totally dry, and after putting it back on and covering it with a soft, white robe I walk out of the massage room. Johanna is waiting and taking my hand leads me back into the room with the lockers, chairs and candles. You are there waiting for me and we can’t quit smiling at one another. We share a wonderful secret. Self care is fabulous! Facials are fabulous! And this surprise was a marvelous two hour event! Who knew such a wonderful time waited for me in Cancun, Mexico!? :O)

c   Love, Joan