at the Tree of Life

No pictures, haven't figured out the camera situation.
My flight got all messed up, so I got on the plane at 7am (CST) and got to Patagonia at 1:30 instead of 10:30 (MST).
It is beautiful and warm here. More later.

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I am really pleased with this place. People are nice and not too hippy-ish or flighty. They are just themselves. I don't have to pretend, really. The apprentices seem to be young and the resort guests are older (makes sense, younger people have less money and are more in learning than relaxation mode), generally.

It is interesting to hear people say things in person that I have read on the internet, and didn't really believe, or thought were kind of silly. But they have good intentions, so I just say, "Oh, really, interesting," and do whatever I want. They might be right, anyway. 

A lady (a guest) thought I had insect bites and I told her they were vaccinations, because I was going to Peru. She seemed a little disgusted and said none were required when she went (thirty years ago; yellow fever vaccine either didn't exist or wasn't an issue there back then). I said some parts require yellow vaccine, which is true. But I didn't have to get the other ones, I just would rather get a small dose and be resistant than risk dying when I encounter the real, strong virus. I told her my dad almost died of typhoid, and she said that maybe I was more resistant then--she kind of missed my point, that it would be silly to not take advantage of something my father couldn't have that could have helped him a lot. And then some lady overheard part, where the other lady said she never got any vaccines for Peru. And not knowing anything else, she said real firmly, "Good." Sigh. So you do have to pretend apparently, if you accept anything at all from Western medicine. I despise doctors, but it would be silly not to take advantage when they are being useful for a change.

The food here is really great--many of the veggies are fresh from the garden, and are so good to eat. I can feel my health starting to improve already, and get back up to where it was before. I don't feel compelled to stuff myself like when I was at home and so bored--bored with my job and cabin fever. I did eat a bunch of dried fruit I had brought with, but now it's gone so it won't be an issue. One thing though, is that the entrees and desserts are too fatty, it's just not my style. The desserts are often "phase 1" (see Cousen's books for an explanation), which means they aren't very sweet. I might buy some fruit from the local health food store to eat instead. 

The town is about a mile (?) away and there are several shops, including the health food store there. It's very small, there are maybe 800 people in the town and 40 at Tree of Life. I walked to the town today, barefoot until my feet hurt too much to keep going. This guy tried to tell me I should keep my feet wrapped up in socks with moisturizer, but I told him I'm trying to build up callouses, so that I can walk anywhere without a problem. It felt really great and liberating until the tiny hot pebbles starting burning my feet. But so I built some stamina today :) The big smooth rocks also feel really great, like a massage. But you have to walk properly, letting your feet roll and relaxing into whatever you step on (except for thorns maybe--unless you have the callouses for them, I don't). Otherwise it will be incredibly painful, same as anything else you do with your body. Like breastfeeding--incredibly enjoyable, but if you resist it, very painful. 

It gets close to 90 in the daytime and I love it. I had been so sick of being cold all the time. It gets cool when the sun starts to set, though, so I'm glad I brought all my layers. It is desert but green and luscious and beautiful.