La Mirage …ooh la la
November 4, 2013
Sent by the previous email and now added to our blog.
Greetings from Cotacachi,
We had lunch today at La Mirage and met with the owner again who treated us to a lunch drink Grappa (misspelled). The food was wonderful and 5-star. On our table was a little American Flag and of course a Texas Flag. Once again we had the chef courtesy of an appetizer served in a playing music box. We sat at our favorite table # 4 which looks out over the garden. The peacocks roaming the garden were so much fun to watch. I counted at least seven. There were also large hummingbirds. We will be spending Thanksgiving Dinner at La Mirage. This may sound expensive but compared to Texas prices it is very reasonable except for the rooms which are very pricey.
Situated on an Andean hillside, and about 2 blocks out our back gate, La Mirage’s colonial-style main house is draped with bougainvillea and vines. In 1985, the resort was built on the site of a 200-year-old hacienda.
A big draw at La Mirage is the Spa. A glass roof covers its spa and indoor pool. Swaths of milky-white cloth fabrics drape from the ceiling in a Grecian-Roman style. Adjacent to the generous-sized swimming area is comfortable lounge chairs as well as canopy-covered semi-private sofas.
Clients booking any spa treatment have unlimited access to the eucalyptus steam room, jacuzzi, shower facility, relaxation lounge, heated pool, robes, and sandals. I also get 20% off spa service since we are neighbors to La Mirage. Again in Ecuador, it is all about building relationships.
Entering La Mirage Spa, your “kin-of-royalty” service continues as you select a massage, soak in a hot tub, or choose a treatment. Perhaps you will desire the Egyptian room for a Cleopatra experience, the “hot volcanic” treatment, or others.
On Friday I am having an indigenous healing power treatment of “purification of body, soul, and spirit”, by a female Shaman who will assist me through this fascinating treatment (which includes a twenty-minute soak in a rose petal-strewn Jacuzzi pool). The Shaman are specialists in using elements such as Fire, Water, and Earth that they employ in order to call the spirits for assistance. The natural healing power of the Shaman is obtained through magical substances such as Crystals, Candles, Smoke, and Eggs. More objects employ more power. Apparently, the Shaman always carries these objects around. Taking these concepts into practice using the Floating Tub, the Shaman Ritual, and finally the Aromatherapy Spiritual Massage. If this 90 minutes of bliss does not get me back in sync after all of the packing and stress of moving the pups….nothing will.
I nearly forgot Bill is getting Reflexology for his foot….sounds kind of boring compared to my Spa Shaman treatment. We will let you know how it went later.
The owner then drove us to a friend’s house to look at window treatments which with his connections he can get at a reasonable price. He told us not to buy anything without letting him know since he could discount us. He then drove us home.
Well, Bill has the fire going in the fireplace and it is time for an evening glass of wine!
Cheers
Texas Annie Ecuador
