I got to spend 7 glorious weeks in La Palma. I feel like a man renewed. With renewed health, heart and sense of purpose. Its curious to me that I wrote so little when I was in La Palma. The process I underwent while there was intense. A true evolution.

There are concepts that I realize I have from my childhood. The idea of going to Europe to "Find yourself." The idea of the unsullied wilderness. In La Palma, I've found both. A wilderness of humanistic living, unsullied by the American work ethic. I feel a little crazy when I return to the states from La Palma and try to talk to people about it. I sense there must be some sort of gleam in my eye but really descriptions no matter how emphatic do not do justice to the intensely sensual experience of living on this small Spanish island off the coast of Africa. The African sun, the loud, boisterous, welcoming Spanish culture focused on living, eating, working and most importantly playing. Friends, fighting, fucking, fiestas, black sand beaches, ancient forests, hills that rise above oceans of clouds,closeness... none of this really does it any justice. I think the only way to really know, is go to. So then you can return with the same wild light in your eyes as me :-) and then try to explain it to others.

After 7 weeks in La Palma I feel like some one broke me down and then rebuilt me with new bricks and mortar. I feel stronger, faster, surer than ever before.

I have a secret of lasting youth and that secret's name is La Palma.

With Love,
Raja Afrika