After a week exploring a part of Tenerife that didn’t quite feel like ‘me’, I packed my bags and headed for a place that did. Maraya Coliving. I had stayed there twice before, and as I made my way there, I felt a familiar sense of excitement and comfort. I was going home.
Even though the house was full of new faces, the owners and managers were the same friendly souls I remembered. One of the volunteers, Natalie, was even there from my very first visit half a year ago! It was so good to be back. I arrived to a calm house, as most people were out for dinner. This turned out to be perfect. In the quiet kitchen, I met Kirsti, Amelie, Mariah, and Olivia. We ended up just sitting and talking over tea for ages. It was such a simple, lovely evening, and for weeks afterward, we all kept referring back to that ‘tea moment’ as the perfect, gentle start to our new friendship.
An Adventure to the Moon (and Back)
Once I had settled into the rhythm of the house, it was time for an adventure. One of the first days, a group of us went for a hike to the Chinyero volcano. I love hiking, but it’s always exhausting for me, and this was no exception! But the scenery was just as amazing as the company. The trail wrapped around the volcano, offering incredible views of Teide in the distance. We walked through so many different landscapes; one moment we were surrounded by fragrant pine trees, the next we were on dark, volcanic soil that felt like we were walking on the surface of the moon. It was one of those beautifully challenging days that leaves you tired but with a very full heart.
Diving Deep into the Blue
But the biggest challenge I had set for myself was a return to the water. I’ve always loved the ocean, but a trip to Mallorca a couple of years ago sparked a real fascination with freediving. A friend of mine did it, and I would just watch from the surface, wanting so badly to experience that calm, peaceful world down below.
I took my first course last year and was hooked. This time, I specifically wanted to do a course with Laia Sopena, a freediving instructor whose love for teaching is like a ray of sunshine. The course was everything I hoped for, but with an interesting twist—all the other students were Spanish! The entire weekend was taught in Spanish, and I was so impressed with myself that my language skills were up to the challenge. There’s a special kind of pride that comes from not only pushing your physical limits, holding your breath and diving deeper than before, but doing it all in another language.
Those first couple of weeks back at Maraya were the perfect blend. It was the comfort of coming home combined with the thrill of pushing my boundaries. Whether it was climbing a volcano or diving into the deep blue, I felt supported and ready for anything. And this was only the beginning.
