So here we are, day 2 and the first full day at Rancho La Puerta. It doesn’t feel like it’s already been a year since Mom and I were last here; it feels more like a few months, not twelve. Time is weird like that—like we never left.

This is my second time here, so nothing is exactly new, but everything is still just as beautiful, lovely, and relaxing as I remember. I actually slept last night! Not great in the sense of feeling refreshed, but I did sleep. My dreams, though… wow. Weird, vivid, and left me feeling a bit icky this morning, so much so that I had to call home just to hear my husband’s voice and shake off that residual dream funk.

My subconscious was playing out some old trauma in the form of present-day situations. I guess the travel adrenaline, lack of sleep, and time change made it easy for my mind to play those nasty tricks while I slept. But hey, a call with my love, a hot shower with the Ranch’s amazing rosemary sage body wash, and a strong cup of coffee washed all that imaginary nastiness away.

This morning, Mom and I took our time doing whatever felt right. I slept in until 6:45, which is practically noon for me. Usually, my mornings start with a giant, lovable paw to the face and a dog sniffing me awake, asking if it’s time for breakfast and morning walkies. I miss that kid.

When I finally made it out, Mom had left me a note that she’d gone to breakfast early, so I missed her by a few minutes. We talked over breakfast about keeping in touch via text but also enjoyed the nostalgia of the pen and paper note she left in my front door. She had also had weird dreams—something in the water, I guess.

Breakfast was just as good as I remembered! I definitely took too much, but thankfully, I had a little furry friend who was more than happy to help me out with my eggs and pancakes—though the fruit was a hard no. LOL. It reminded me of my childhood cat, Portia, who would come running anytime we cut into a cantaloupe. Not this cat. This one was all about the carbs.

My favorite thing here is the scrambled eggs from the salsa table. You can load them up with pickled onions, ranch salsa (nothing too spicy—it’s way too early for that!), cilantro, and tomatillo salsa—OMG, yum! And the fresh tortillas? They warm them up on the flat top, melt mozzarella inside, and throw in some sautéed veggies if you’re feeling fancy. Wash it all down with some fresh-squeezed OJ and a shot of their “cleansing juice” (which tastes way better than it sounds).

I’m sitting here wondering how in the world I’ll be ready to eat again by noon for lunch, LOL. But knowing me, I’m sure when the time comes, I’ll be more than ready to woman up and dive back in!

I forgot this place is pescatarian, but I remember not missing meat much last year. If last night’s basil pesto shrimp over garlicky mashed potato puree was any indication of the dinners to come, I’m all in! Everything here tastes like actual food—fresh and flavorful, unlike the water-flavored produce from back home. The salads here are next-level: greens, fresh cucumbers, avocado, strawberries, and feta with a tangerine vinaigrette. Simple, but every bite bursts with flavor because the ingredients are just that good. It’s a reminder of how much I crave having our own garden someday, even if just for some fresh herbs and veggies.

At least this week, I’ll be eating well and often—way more than at home, where I’m terrible at cooking balanced meals, especially with greens. I rarely eat three meals a day, let alone this many healthy ones. You’d think I’d gain weight with all this indulgence, but last year I actually lost some, probably because of all the walking. This place is massive, and getting from one activity to the next is basically a workout. My steps this week will probably outnumber what I’ve done all year.

After breakfast, we went our separate ways. She headed to yoga to connect with herself, and I, determined to do absolutely nothing productive, found my way to the art studio. Last year, they had jewelry making, but I didn’t see it on the schedule this time. Still, I found some beads and set myself up outside under a pergola, sorting through tiny pieces and getting lost in a zen state. I forgot my glasses, so I had to do the lean-back squint maneuver to see the beads, but it was oddly therapeutic. I bagged up my little treasures to work on later, saving a few bucks on jewelry and getting my DIY on.

Feeling the need to kick off my Sunday Funday, I headed to the Bazaar del Sol for that cool glass of rosé—only to discover they don’t start serving until 10:30. Who knew? I think I’m the only one here thinking about day drinking while everyone else is crushing sunrise hikes and back-to-back classes. Meanwhile, I’m wondering when the clouds will part so I can lay by the pool and questioning why the hot tub is not open at night when I’d rather be soaking with a glass of red.

Here I am now—full belly, sun shining down, and counting down the minutes until I can grab a nice glass of rosé before heading to the pool with my Kindle. After spilling two pages of mental drama into my journal, I’m reminded of why I wanted to start journaling in the first place—for my mental and emotional health and to capture these little moments as a travel log to share with you. Now that 30 minutes have passed, it’s officially rosé o’clock. Cheers to more moments like these, and I hope you enjoyed reading along. Stay tuned for more adventures to come!

Embracing the flavors, moments, and magic of Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Baja California, Mexico—where every day feels like a beautiful escape.