I knew the Canary Islands existed and where but that was about all I could tell you before looking deeper into this trip. With a little research to avoid an island with big resorts and tourists, we decided on the island of Lanzarote and the town of La Santa. Our only priority was to continue on our progress towards surfing enlightenment and enjoy the ocean side. We arrived in town and immediately felt the pace had slowed down to sleepy, if not asleep. We loved it.
The wind was forecast to be off the charts. Each day the sun would shine behind a blowing mist of water and sand setting the vibe to a hazy glow of surf and sea. Gale force winds combined with what sand was left on the beach blasted our skin for a daily removal treatment before entering the water. It was impressive witnessing the wind use its force over the water and waves but for a new surfer, it was a bit overwhelming. Our fabulous instructors gave us the confidence to paddle out and make strides towards greater surfing enlightenment. For Heidi, a broken blood vessel in her eye wouldn't even slow her momentum towards a higher state of mind. We were grateful for what we learned and felt positive about our future sessions in the water.
The evenings on the terrace will be a lasting memory of this trip. As we watched the surfers appear among the waves we wondered why one would seek out the solitary places in the world. Why is feeling alone and deserted on a giant volcano in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean better for our soul? La Santa is similar to many places in this part of the world but for some reason, we will remember it as the last quiet refuge among one of surfing’s greatest locales. A place to peacefully refresh and revive the soul.