The flight to Malaga leaves at sunrise. Ken and Ritva took a cab to the airport and Ken managed to sleep a bit during the long drive, but still being awake almost all night is definitely too much for an old person like Ken. Luckily there is Ritva, whose brain still works without problems.
Ken and Ritva´s apartment in Estepona is huge and luxurious and decoretad in a tasteful boho style.
The building is located up on the hill and surrounded by heavy walls with guards.
The private pool of the house complex is clean and peaceful. There’s a life guard and a pool bar.
- So this is how the rich people travel Ken thinks and tries to sleep a bit while Ritva works on her presentation.
Now that Ken is gone, Kaarna is free to secretly SUP board down the river Vuoksi.
Ken always forbids her from doing that because there are dangerous twirls in the water.
For Kaarna’s disappointment the river is not exciting or dangerous at all.
But it’s still nice to be able to enjoy a real summer day in the end of August. Especially when all the insects are already gone like they should be at this time of the year.
In the morning in Estepona the heat starts to rise quickly, but breakfast still tastes best on the balcony.
Ken already misses porridge, but assumes he can survive a week without it!
Ritva will spend her days at the congress center, but meanwhile Ken is free to explore the town.
Estepona is a city of dozens of murals and hundreds of flower pots.
The old part of the town is super pretty and more peaceful than the new part with ugly block buildings.
The noisy and melting hot city center isn’t the most enjoyable place to spend time. And the dog poop everywhere on the streets is just a cherry on top!
Ken’s body really can’t take the moist air combined with the heat that rises above 30°C (~90°F).
He goes to swim to cool himself down, but even the Mediterranean feels like it’s boiling!
On his way up the hill, Ken tries to stay in the shadows of the trees as much as he can.
After he has walked all the way back to their apartment he is truly thankful about the airconditioned rooms and quiet and clean neighbourhood.
The contrast between the environment of the normal people and the rich people is significant. It makes Ken sad and angry and also ashamed of his current fortune.
Ritva’s congress culminates in a gala.
She puts on an evening gown and looks so cute that it makes Ken cry a little.
While Ritva is celebrating with other doctors, Ken takes a look at the shops in the center. Thanks to the airconditioned stores, the heat won’t kill him tonight!
The downside of this is that he buys stuff that he doesn’t even need.
Meanwhile at home against all odds the summer still continues! (Our climate is a real mess nowadays.) Kaarna drives Herbert to a nice lake shore with a fire place.
She reverses the van next to the wood shed, and Herber hits the eaves!!!!
What a dreadful hole! Kaarna panics and all she can think of is that Ken must never know about this! She calls the most sensible and calm person she knows.
Hector manages to calm Kaarna down:
- It’s only tin! The most important thing is that you are in one piece. Ken’s car insurance will cover it. Don’t cry, it’ll be fine.
Kaarna tries to relax and enjoy the last rays of sunshine. But she knows quite well that Ken loves Herbert more than any person, including Kaarna herself.
Finally Ritva is free from her doctoral duties!
It’s the last day in Spain and Ken rents a Fiat to get to experience his beloved countryside.
He hasn’t driven on the mountain roads in many years and it’s a bit scary.
They stop many times to admire the views and even manage to see vultures in the sky above them!
Ken and Ritva hike a difficult path to The Canyon of Buitreras.
Ken truly feels like he has entered a paradise!
This forest is a place of happiness and the canyon is filled with super clear and wonderfully cold water!
Nature attractions are always way better than the urban ones and definitely worth all the sweat and pain along the path.
Since Ritva is not a physically talented child, Ken takes care of her during the hikes and swimming.
This short holiday in Spain has been wonderful - a welcome extra to lengthen the ever so short Finnish summer.