One of neat things about the Creative Joy retreat was staying at the Garrison Institute in Garrison, NY. Just about an hour (without traffic) north of NYC and right on the Delaware River, it was foremerly a monestary.
Not only were the grounds stunning, the history and architecture of the buildings provided tons of incredible places for photo opportunities. I was a bit nervous about an all vegetarian menu for 4 nights, but everything was so delicious! There was protein with every meal & I especially enjoyed their lunchtime cookies.
The main chapel area is where all of our large group meetings took place & was one of the few places with A/C (so we’d often go in there just to cool off and escape the 90+ degrees outside).
There were 3 floors above the main level that were all dorm rooms that were very minimalistic. I forgot to snap a photo, but I had a lovely 2nd story view of the trees from my bed. There were community bathrooms which worked out just swell, and the rooms had these neat old wooden latches instead of actual locks. We all had to learn a little bit of vulnerability as we left the rooms unlocked all the time, even when we slept.
In the basement was our auditorium/gym, where we did morning dancing or met Marianne for a yoga session. They place was perfectly suited for our group- providing mats, tons of reclining chairs, and floor cushions for all the rooms. Overall, it was a neat experience to stay at such a unique facility and I really enjoyed my stay here as it challenged me to leave my comfort zone & my many creature comforts.
GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: Headed to the movies tonight with hubby.
