Recently I spent a couple of days at Villa Maria Del Mar, a retreat center on the coast of Northern California. By late fall, it’s usually quite chilly along Northern California’s Pacific coast. The weather warms up somewhat only close to noon when the sun finally decides to show up. This suits me just fine, though, as I personally like cooler temperatures anyway.

From its name (Villa Maria Del Mar is Spanish for “Maria’s House of the Sea”) one will naturally suspect the Catholic origin of the place. Indeed, this retreat center, located some two hours drive south of San Francisco, dates back to the Santa Maria del Mar Hotel, built in the 1890s by the Catholic Ladies Aid Society of San Francisco. In 1963, Sisters of the Holy Names purchased the hotel and has operated it as a retreat center since.

Even if you are not into history or religion, you’ll probably still be impressed by the architecture and the surroundings of this retreat by-the-sea. Look at the pictures I took:

Though the residential rooms are sparsely furnished, perhaps a bit too old or too basic for some, overall the property is well maintained and kept clean:

From the windows of your room, the water views and sounds of the waves are just incredible and these alone make this place special:

Well placed religious art pieces add to the mystery of the retreat center:

My favorite spot of the place is its outside grounds: the beach, the lawn, the trees and the gardens, especially the generous, open garden area just off the main hall, that sits atop a cliff directly facing the ocean.

There, once you open the doors to the garden, the salty wind and the sound of the roaring waves will hit you right in the face! Sitting under the huge cypress which I quickly nicknamed the “Hearing Wave Pine,”deafened by the roars of the sea, I could not help but started to explore my deepest sentiments in the most comfortable way I know of – through poetry:

Into the Hearing Wave Pine autumn winds fly,

Around the tree, water wails and pelicans cry.

Here, restless hearts have no places to hide,

Amidst the blast of the thunderous ocean tide.