Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Happy Anniversary!

Grab this related post Widget!
In July Cynthia and I celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary. Well, actually that's not true. On the big day we said "Happy Anniversary" to each other at the airport as she left for a solo trip to the States--a surprise birthday gift from our daughter.

Once she returned one thing led to another, so we finally got around to formally celebrating this week with a trip to Piedra de Agua, a beautiful spa just outside Cuenca.





For no reason I can conjure up except "WE'RE SO BUSY!!" this was our first visit after living here 3 1/2 years. I can assure you it will not be that long before we return because we had a blast!

There are hot springs running through the surrounding mountains at Piedra de Agua, and they along with special muds extracted from the waters are the highlights of one's visit. Several of the treatment rooms are built right into the side of a mountain, in fact. After showering and sitting in a group steam room for awhile we were led to the first pool containing what the spa calls "blue mud." What do you think? Looks pretty green to me-----.


Yikes! I look like an extra from a sci fi movie. After we showered off all the blue mud it was time for a red mud treatment. No question this time--that stuff is quite red.


I'm thinking about selling this photo for a public service ad reminding people of what can happen when you don't use sunscreen.

Shower #3, then into individual steam boxes for more detoxification.


The final step involved underground plunge pools--one hot, the other absolutely freezing. The idea here was to hang out in the hot one for 15 minutes, then the cold one for 2 minutes, then repeat the cycle. Cynthia must have misunderstood the instructions because she lasted in the cold pool for 2 seconds. I thought her eyes were literally going to pop out of their sockets. Sorry, no photo--she wouldn't let me post it if there was one.

Shower #4 (not sure about the detox but we certainly were clean!), then a lovely lunch before massages.


After emerging from the massage cave we opened a special bottle of pinot noir we had been saving from a wine dinner we attended in NC for our last anniversary (thanks Brandon & Jennie!).


We think being happily married for this long is pretty darned special so we like to commemorate the occasion by doing something memorable. This time we definitely succeeded.

Cheers!




7 comments:

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Happy Anniversary! Looks like you guys got married when you were children...42 yerras!!!
Many blessings and I'm glad you had fun.
FABBY

Edd Staton said...

We kinda were children although we certainly didn't feel that way at the time.

TerryDarc said...

Felicitations earth beings (and looking at those pictures, I am not sure that you are)!

42 is an extremely significant number, especially if you're a nerd!

In case you are not: 42 was the answer in the Douglas Adams, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. 42 was the answer to Ultimate Question of life, the galaxy and everything.

Read Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42_(number)

Edd Staton said...

I read through the link and still have absolutely no idea what any of it means.

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Hi Cynthia!
Hope your new year is wonderful, happy and healthy!
I'm sending you this note so you can come for a 'Gringa Tea' at my house, in the Oro Verde building, next Wednesday at 4pm. You can come with Dolores, she and her sister are coming too. Hugs,
FABBY

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Oh...I got a new cel pone and lost most of my contacts, that's why I can't call you. Please, if you can all Dolores, maybe?
I will give you pones and all but not through this via. My blog has my mail address.
Thanks
FABBY

Edd Staton said...

Fabby, haven't been checking my blog in awhile. As it turns out we were still in the States on the day of your tea so Cynthia could not have attended. I'll pass along your email address so you two can hook up for future events.