A large wooden football (soccer ball) rolled into our neighbourhood Friday evening. It rolled back out today. It's a custom-designed and -built Finnish traveling sauna created by a charming and talented national champion triathlete named Samuli Keisus.
I saw Samuli about four months ago parked on the Paseo with a more traditional-looking Finnish sauna (although also on wheels), but he was gone before I had the chance to check things out. This time, however, I was on my way home from the gym when he pulled in right near our building to spend the weekend. We talked a bit and Sunday night I returned to give it a try. I loved every minute of it.
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| CARE TO JOIN SAMULI INSIDE HIS FÚTBOL? |
Samuli's construction firm
(check it out here) specializes in, among other things, custom saunas — for sale and rent. He's been traveling Europe to promote his saunas. I paid all of 2 euros for more than a half hour of bliss; and I was invited to jump in the sea and return to the sauna a couple of times. I might still be there if I hadn't already been late for dinner.
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| BASKING IN THE WARMTH: YOURS TRULY, SAMULI, AND A LOCAL FRIEND. |
Samuli told me that in Finland, most people enjoy saunas communally, family friendly — and naked. He hasn't had any nude-sauna-takers here in Fuengirola. I was given the option.
He still hasn't had any nude-sauna-takers here in Fuengirola.
Theres a big ball joke in here somewhere
ReplyDeleteJohn:
DeleteA big, sweaty ball joke.
You were in the right place at the right time! for John Gray - "Enjoying Big Beach Balls".
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteI finally got to John's post after I read your comment. I'd say, 'What a funny coincidence,' but that's where our minds usually go anyway!
great photos
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteThanks. It was a lot of fun.
Oh those silly Finns, they are known for their morbid wit.
ReplyDeleteI think nudity should be the rule in a sauna.
In my gym the sauna in the men's room seems to have the unwritten rubric you have to be clothed completely.
Spo:
DeleteIn the gyms I've belonged to in the past, the rule was actually written. My current gym doesn't have a sauna. But I really enjoyed the fútbol sauna, even in my shorts.
Blond, blue-eyed and built like a brick ------ house!
ReplyDeleteRon:
DeleteAnd intelligent and charming. Poor guy. It's an uphill battle.
Such a tiny space! Was 3 a crowd?
ReplyDeleteJim:
DeleteThere were actually four of us and it was roomier than it looks.
At first I thought this was a "Tiny House, a fad growing in popularity here in the States.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteThe soccer might ball might be stretching (or squeezing) the idea of a tiny house. But some of his other models would probably be close.
And here I thought you'd hate every minute of it. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCranky:
DeleteIt was torture, but I managed. Some of the things I do, I do solely for my readers.
Oh, the sacrifices you make!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I typed three or four other comments before erasing them and settling on this one. Ahem.
DeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteSo you can appreciate the self-control it took for me to write an appropriate blog post.
Absolutely.
DeleteSomehow I missed this post... I have all kinds of questions, but none have to do with balls (don't have much reason for that)... but things like... steam, water, temperature... how does he manage it all?
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteIt really follows the traditional sauna. Note in the photo of the interior: There's a wood-burning stove. Wood goes in the bottom. There are lava rocks on top that heat up. There's a copper pan with handle that's used to pour water over the coals to produce the steam. No thermostatic control. You just pour when you want more steam heat. The ventilation pipe through the center removes the smoke produced by the wood-burning stove. The saunas themselves are beautifully and finely designed and constructed. The basic works are fairly simple. Even I was able to pour the water over the coals when I wanted more steam! It was easier than cooking!