Welcome to guilt free vacationing. . . What is that you may ask, well it is where your water is heated by compost, the electricity comes from river powered generators, and the food is grown in gardens on site. Everything is recycled, reused, or re-purposed so go ahead and relax, your on an eco tour feel free to indulge in a hot shower or take an additional slice of homemade cheese.
Rancho Margot is absolutely beautiful, with breathtaking landscapes that you can just sit for hours in the hammock and look at. A constant heavy mist hangs in the air moistening everything, and you are constantly wet, but it's great. Like Seattle with way better scenery.It's all lush and green here, and nature just sooths the soul with it's simplistic beauty . . . .
Upon our arrival we checked in and were driven by electric golf cart to our bungalow which is a small hut with two queen beds, one bathroom and a quarter porch complete with hammock, rocking chair, dining set and foot stools. The buildings are light and airy, open with incredible views and such life. Birds, bugs, and rushing water are the constant music that fills the silence. I love being this involved in the Beautiful Creation that God made. No concrete sidewalks, horns honking or neatly manicured lawns. Just raw, wild vegetation and you!
Their website is http://www.ranchomargot.org/ - check it out if you want to learn more, or to visit . . .
You get a tour of the Ranch to learn about all the eco friendly processes they are doing and it just makes you have faith in man again. Nature and nurture are happening, man living along side God's creation instead of trying to rule, remake or destroy. There is such peace in tilling the soil, like creating goodness from dirt. It's work, dirty and back breaking, but I think there is a connection with how we are meant to live, instead of a disconnection with virtual realms and cell calls. There is Wifi at the ranch, but it is slower, like the pace, and I think Cell Service is select. No calling out, reaching out or escaping. You come to enjoy the moment, like the verse "be still and know that I am God," and it is such an amazing experience.
Our Guide of the Ranch was Jimmy, an Eco-tourism student who'd been living at the ranch for two months, who is Costa Rican. He showed us all around, the medicinal garden, milking stations, garden, soap processing plant, and answered all our questions with calm assurance and patience. During our Ranch tour I had to ask about the mountain that is a massive image in the background of the area. "It's the Eternal Children's forest," he explained and the name just caught my imagination. Eternal Children's Forest, what stories could be created from such a title. What already existed? Throughout our stay, that mountain remained a fixture of fascination for me, and I spent hours wondering what secrets it held with such a name.
-(I later learned that the mountain was actually purchased by children through fundraising when they learned about the destruction of the rainforest. When word got out about what they were doing, other children joined the cause). An amazing true story, but I still believe there is more to it that would make Peter Pan jealous.
Tomorrow we all get to go down and help with milking the cows. I GET TO MILK A COW! I'm so excited I'm even willing to get up a six to do it. Can't wait . . . . (can you tell I'm a country girl with too much city living?) . . . .
Another note before I close for the evening, the faucets have F and C on the knobs for Frio and Caliente. It took me a while to figure it out, but then the light dawned and I was like "ohhhhhhh". Although common sense registered and I knew which one provided hot and cold. In the Rainforest, a hot shower is a wonderful thing. It is so funny to think how hot it is on the coast and yet here, I'm cold. I never thought it possible in Costa Rica. . . .
No comments:
Post a Comment