We have an easy ride today – or so we think! 40km from Falkenberg to Varberg. Pfft. That’s nothing. We’ve been doing 50km and more everyday for the last 5 days. We can do this with our eyes closed. With one leg, even.

My, how the mighty fall when they get cocky. Have we learned nothing from watching Survivor??

We were very happy that we woke up to sunny skies as it was storming something fierce all night long. Howling winds and buckets of rain. Ick. We rejoiced in the sunny skies and resigned ourselves to the fact that they came with wind. If it wasn’t a crosswind, it was a headwind. 40 km of fighting with every pedal. C’mon legs, you can do it. Shut it, brain – yes they can.

After 30km we got to level up! It decided to start raining again. No. Not raining. Pelting. Coming down in ferocious drops. Luckily, as quickly as it started, it stopped. But…now we are soaking wet, tired and being violently dried off by the headwind. We are cold.

I only mention the slightly negative to reinforce how happy we were at what came next. (I get it sounds like I am complaining – and I guess I am a bit, but I’m really not!! As hard as today was, we would absolutely rather be here cold and wet than not – honestly!!)

Our hotel in Varberg, Sweden houses the most amazing and unique spa we’ve ever seen. The Lenin Spa. As in Vladimir Lenin. Yep. That one. Built in the cellar vaults of this 18th C hotel, it is a direct replica of Lenin’s favourite bathhouse in St. Petersburg. And wow. What a place!

We were quite happy (ecstatic, really) to be getting warm in here. Wall to wall and floor to ceiling it is covered in blue tiles. Lenin busts hiding in every corner. Russian propaganda and artifacts adorning the walls. The whole place lit by candlelight, giving it the best kind of moody ambiance. We could choose (although why on earth would we choose; we did it all because we’re greedy) from two different types of footbaths, a dry sauna, an aromatherapy steam room, various showers, a cold plunge and a bubble pool. Absolute heaven.

The only reason we left was because our stomachs were insistent on being fed. Sigh.

How good was this spa? We would almost consider going to see the original one in St. Petersburg. Relax. I said almost.