Hi friends,
Greetings from Medellín, Colombia!
Last week, I traveled to Mexico for a writing retreat. Unfortunately, I booked tickets to the wrong city. Did you know “Oaxaca” is both a city and a state? Long story short, I ended up staying at two places: Oaxaca City proper and a beach town called Puerto Escondido.
Oaxaca City
My first time in a “co-living” space. Basically, a few friends came together and started a house. The idea is you work during the day, then you have activities at night. We went to an Oaxacan restaurant where I had red, black, and guava mole. We also had a family dinner. Since our resident staff member was Moroccan, we made tagine. Though the place is still under construction (60% complete), I really enjoyed the aesthetics.
They do a lot of little things well. Great website. Booking flow made easy. Minimum stay of 4 nights to encourage community. Upon arriving, they hand you a letter with a postage stamp with the rules. Your name is written on the door in colorful letters. After the tour, the host takes a “Welcome Selfie” with you and invites you to their WhatsApp group. I want to be an Airbnb host someday, so I’m taking hospitality notes. If you want to check this place out, I recommend booking on the Day of the Dead celebrations in November. I heard that’s a special experience. Link.
Puerto Escondido
My writing retreat was held at a private resort in Puerto Escondido. They prepped a lot of activities for us to try. I left the retreat feeling calm, reflective, and full of love.
Activities
Aguahara. You float around in a pool. They spin you in circles. Then you swish around in the water with two partners. Lastly you hold people like a baby and pass each other around. 10/10
Breathwork. You breathe in-and-out and hold your breath for a couple of rounds. 8/10
Ice Bath. You sit in a bucket of 45-degree water for 3 minutes. 3/10
Ecstatic Dance. They play rhythms. You move your body. No rules. 5/10
Deep Tissue Massage. You lie on a bench. A lady presses your neck and back. 10/10
Cacao Ceremony. You take a cup of cacao and hold it over your heart. Next you take a few sips. Then you dump it over the ground to celebrate the land. 5/10
Soundbath. You lie down on a mattress. A woman hits pots and plays a harmonica-like instrument. You lie there and listen. 6/10
Next time I’ll write to you about Medellín. I’ll be spending March in Australia (Sydney + Melbourne) and April in Japan (TBD). 🇦🇺🇯🇵
Have a wonderful week,
Leo A
Looking forward to hearing about Australia next month. That's a place that is high on my list.
"Ice Bath. You sit in a bucket of 45-degree water for 3 minutes. 3/10"
lol
Hold me and pass me around like a bby!!