Feliz Mayo! I cannot believe the month is almost over and June will be upon us soon. Lately I have been dreaming about a trip we took in May six years ago to Mexico in celebration of Hubby's birthday. I love to go off-the-beaten-path in Mexico, and this has to be one of the finest spots I have ever seen. Called Hacienda de San Antonio (love the name!) and situated in the state of Colima, on the west coast halfway - mas o menos - between Mazatlan and Acapulco, it was originally built about 120 years ago as a coffee plantation. Later purchased by British financier, Sir James "Jimmy" Goldsmith, it is now lovingly run by his family, Alix and Goffredo Marcaccini, as a luxury hotel. One of its defining traits, I feel, is the dramatic view of the active Colima volcano, which is often seen smoking in the distance. You can choose to be adventurous and take a horseback ride through the working plantation and ranch, or hike partway up the volcano (the government has set a limit on how high you can go). Conversely, you can just sit by the gargantuan pool and drink rose all day. Either way, la vida is pretty dulce.
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| Courtyard into Hacienda de San Antonio |
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| Roof-top deck |
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| Interesting pommel on this Mexican saddle |
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| Dining al fresco after the ride |
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| This was an Out of Africa moment for me |
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| Overwhelmed by it all, I had to take a siesta |
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| I cannot get enough of the volcan de Colima |
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| Hasta pronto, caballeros |
On a side note, I read Annabel: An Unconventional Life many years ago and find it a very interesting read. I especially enjoyed her memories of staying at Cuixmala, another fabulous estate of Jimmy Goldsmith's, that is near Manzanillo, a two hour drive from Colima. On our next visit to Hacienda de San Antonio, we might try to swing down to Cuixmala to check it out. Stay tuned.
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