Tired and jetlagged I step out of the taxi and instantly I feel gratitude. I inhale the smell of eucalyptus that surrounds me. I exhale and know I have been delivered to a place of honor and hopeful cure for exhaustion.
I have been greeted by a young man with a tray of white washcloths, immersed with eucalyptus. We wipe our face and hand. The smell lingers! The journey begins...
I hear waterfalls, birds chirping and relaxing music, all which are enticing me to enter the front door. At this point I realize the hotel is practically transparent. I can see the Pacific Ocean before I even step inside. I can now fully open my eyes there is so much to absorb.
The Lobby
Once inside I begin to focus on the Lobby, which is pristine clean. Walls are round, slightly textured, very creamy and extend to the skies to about 40 feet. This serves as a serene back drop to a comforting focal point. This focal is a circular bowl water feature set concave into the floor, stretching 18 feet in circumference and has a pebble tiled bottom with a depth of about 10 inches.
Four tall columns with lighted lanterns at the base surround this water feature to exaggerate and support this beautiful water art!
The energy pulls you to it and encourages you to test the water......and I do just that forcing me to take off my shoes, I step in. The pebbled texture massages the bottom of my feet, while the cool water is soothing.
Check In
The check-in is smooth as suggests the first impression and the walk to our room is scenic. Open aired hallways and corridors supply a great view of the mountains on one side and the ocean on the opposite all along the way. The mood and ambiance continues to soothe us.
The Room
We arrive at our room and are very pleased at first site. Soft tones of cream repeat the walls from the Lobby. Floors are softly textured, painted and stained creamy with accents of a pebbled design, bordered around the floor. We feel as if we are honored guests.
Upon our bed was a message written in edible sunflower seeds that said "Welcome Garlands". The edible letters were about 12" in height and extended full width of bed. Then I see a full length mirror...very important to us women as was the lighted make-up mirror that I saw upon entering the pristine clean bathroom. All the attention to detail has exceeded my expectations, but I am anxious to see more!
The Grounds
Exploring I am eager to investigate what was between my room and the ocean, for I had only a glimpse upon my arrival. Due to the hotel's calming effect I strolled at a relaxed pace and totally enjoyed my walk to the beach. The grounds were immense in size and they had carefully integrated massive amounts of palm trees into a dessert setting. The merging of tropicals with cactus was not only convincing, it was amazing.
Two circular mega pools surrounded an open air restaurant as it rested like a floating island. Still encouraging my curiosity was the king-size, canvas draped beds that I kept seeing in the distance. I could now actually lay down on one of them and soak it all up. I could feel the cool breezes of the ocean. But I needed to touch the ocean, so I continue walking and finally approach the Pacific. I turn around and to my delight I see what I had just experienced.
A thing of Beauty is to be enjoyed forever and I will indeed never forget "Hotel Pueblo Bonito Pacifica!
By Jeanne Garland
Interior Designer
A.S.I.D, T.B.A.E., T.A.I.D
