May 12, 2006 — Two women I met recently, a Canadian and an American, picked me up this afternoon and showed me some places that they and other foreigners have found around San Juan Cosala. We explored a meat market, a flower shop, a seamstress, a bakery, and other shops around town. We stopped in at Anita’s Animals, a shelter for many cats and dogs. Then we drove steeply uphill through the Raquet Club, an upscale gated development, and turned to go to the Monte Coxala ecological spa.

What an amazing place! It’s still being improved on and expanded. We met Lola, the manager who speaks excellent English, and she showed us around. Here, she’s on the left and Jeannie and Ann are on the right.

Yes, that’s an Olmec-style head in the background. Here he is again:

You can take a hot bath inside his head.

And here is the view out over Lake Chapla to the other shore from up there:

Lola gave us brochures describing the many treatments they offer there. Hot springs, massages, facials, and more. How will I pamper myself first? It’s a hard choice but at the moment I am most curious about the choco-therapy which would, among other things “give the skin softness with a velvety effect.” When I eventually get there, I will gloat, I mean report, here.