Xaro never wants to leave Valencia

Valencia, October 2023

Every time I meet up with Xaro, it seems like we spent a whole week together, although it was just a five-hour-long afternoon and evening. Ever since we met, twenty three years ago in Alberto‘s house in Madrid, we became exceptionally good friends. And Alberto, the photographer, soon after became my partner.

Xaro and I did lots of naughty things together and experimented around like hell, either trying to make money or simply living life to the fullest. But otherwise, Xaro, the Queen of Valencia, does not like to leave her city at all. Except for having gone to live in Los Angeles for a couple of month because she started going out with a Rock Star. What a bloody miracle it was, she came to my wedding in Berlin sixteen years ago!

Anyway, I had just come from a five-day fasting retreat in the mountains to spend a night in Valencia for an intensive full -day Iyengar Yoga practice. This Yoga style is, to my concern, the most challenging and therapeutic one. Especially if being instructed by a Madame Rottweiler, like in this case. Only opted for strictly disciplined students who accept hairs on their teacher‘s teeth! I must admit, I really suffered. Even had some tears rolling down my cheeks. But asked for a private one-to-one class straight after class. Just because it does really help me physically, which is the only matter that counts.

A week ago, the idea of doing a group fasting retreat popped up spontaneously, as I was again having problems with nausea caused by the medication. A total reset seemed the best idea to get things back straight, including the hydro-colon-treatment. Also, I wanted to get away from drinking too many glasses of white wine every night, to overcome my insomnia. It did not really work anyway and I was rather becoming a silent alcoholic.

Five days of drinking juice, water and sauerkraut broth showed much better results. The retreat was held in a remote house on top of the hilly backlands of Valencia. It was fully booked out and I shared a room with an elder lady from Madrid. In fact, most of the participants were Oldies but Goldies and knew each other from former retreats held in this place, being run by an Association. I am so endlessly thankful to this group, who inspired me going hiking up and down the mountains, especially when starting at seven in the morning in total darkness, to walk back during sunrise. What a beautiful experience. They were so fit and inspiring, open hearted and cheerful. Very, very nice group.

During most of the other group sessions, such as meditation, stretching or talks, I was brilliant in my absence. Either because of work ( yes, I did go on working! ) or because I needed my space and be alone. I even ended up sleeping in the meditation room with the view in photograph below.

I took Xaro out for dinner and ate my first food after fasting - vegetarian sushi rolls. What an excitement! Everything can be so amazingly exciting. It is simply a matter of looking at things in the right perspective.

What is YOUR excitement of the day?