Emmaus Travelers
Visit to St Peter’s Maracas Bay
Sandee and I awoke early and packed the small van excitedly. It was a weekday morning so there was an added pleasure of making a trip to the beachfront church knowing that others were going off to work. I placed two portable chairs in the back of the van with the intention of sitting on the beach.
It was a scenic relaxing drive over the hills, once we got past the morning traffic route. The first sight of the sea, as we started our descent of the hills, filled us with a feeling of carefree pleasure. The church is small, historic, pinkish cream with a majestic steeple at the front.
We arrived only to find the gates to the church padlocked and a young man leaning against a wall who eagerly told us ‘you see that lady over there’, pointing in the far distance of the beach, she is the person with the keys and she goes for a morning bath, in the sea every morning, she will come back in a few minutes.
The few minutes turned out to be about 25 mins. I was scheduled to give a day retreat to men of the valley. They arrived while we were waiting. The waiting time allowed us to calmly walk along a small jetty that jotted about 200 feet into the sea. Halfway along the jetty there was a romantic gazebo with seating along its perimeter.
The gates were opened, after being told by the ‘returning from her sea-bath lady’, that she was not informed of our use of the church, hence the tardiness in opening. Inside the church is very charming and quaint. The day retreat was very transformative and the surroundings added to the reflection and seemed to empower deep vulnerable sharings. ‘Did not our hearts burn within us?’
Sandee calmly sat under a shady almond tree on the beach reading her book during the retreat. She joined us for a late buffet lunch, provided by the men of the valley, that favourably compared to any five-star restaurant meal. The retreat over, I joined Sandee under the almond tree.
We sat there until the cool of the evening, chatting over the bottle of wine we took, looking serenely at the waves break gently along the shore.
As we gathered our things to depart, we found ourselves pondering why we didn't engage in such experiences more frequently. The day had been truly transformative, enriched by both the conversations we shared and the picturesque surroundings. Curiously, we couldn't help but wonder why the beachfront hotel appeared abandoned and in disrepair. I mentally marked down the task of scouting online for alternative accommodations nearby, where we could unwind with a refreshing beverage and perhaps even extend our stay overnight.
The following day I reached out to a charming guesthouse that overlooks Maracas Bay, Maracas Bay View. The manager, Simone Thomas, hospitably invited me to come visit and experience their breathtaking view of the Maracas Basin. She informed me that they cater for people of all ages and guarantee cold refreshing drinks and cocktails.
They are ideally suited for a North Coast vacation with accommodation for everyone.
They also host private and public events.
I made a mental note to pay them a visit and enjoy an exotic cocktail with Sandee the next time we visit the St Peter’s church on Maracas Bay. I encourage you to do the same.
You can check their website at maracasbayview