Michigan. I know it like the back of my hand.

Michigan has its quirks and whatnots. Biggest thing being our distinctive shape which comes in very handy when you don't have a map. (See what I did there?) among other things we have black beans growing out of our thumb, the "Big House" actually refers to football and not a prison sentence, and not a-one male will be of any use on November fifteenth.

All great stuff, but even as a Michigan resident, I just found out the UP--not the pixar film, the Upper Peninsula--is actually kind of famous for saunas. Maybe I can get a little recreation and relaxation in back at home. I hit up one of my last sauna visits yesterday evening with an experience I won't soon forget. Aufguss sauna time.
Don't try and translate Aufguss because English just draws a plain blank. Here's what you can think of it as: Dowsing hot stones in scented water and air circulation. Sounds super fun, doesn't it? Niklas said I needed to try it before I went back but as it started he said, "Get ready, it's going to be intense." Wait, what? Was this going to hurt? I did not sign up for pain. I already know that to end your sauna experience you're supposed to jump into ice water, hence the exaggeration on supposed to because no matter how hot you are, that ice water is still heart stopping. First death by pnemonia and now inferno, what these people do to get the heart pumping...

So we sit down in the ninety degree celcius (roughly one hundred and ninety-five farenheit) room with all the benches situated around a pile of rocks. It's a bit warm. And cozy, the entire room filled up since this only happens at interval times. By the time the staff member came in to start the Aufguss I was already sweating, but it was nothing compared to this guy. He looked just like Bob Ross. Creepily like Bob Ross, if he painted his happy trees in a long t-shirt drenched with sweat. He tells us his name and that he's picked mango for us as he starts to splash the water on the rocks. He did that three times and after each he would take a towel and spin it in the air to circulate the steam. First he whipped it over his head like some manic cowboy, then he flipped the towel at each and every one of us.

 Holy fweet Sesus. It was like all the air got sucked from the room and the only thing left was stinging heat for you to attempt to suck in through your nose. Forget about opening your mouth. Herr Ross, Why are you flapping your towel around and pushing this molecular mango-scented war fare at my face? This is supposed to be good for you?
As for the people who put their arms above their head? I can only assume they were clinically insane thrill seekers who had gotten bored putting their hands up on the Milenium force. I had to work to keep my head up.

And then it was done. He opened the door, everyone flooded out and I just sat there for a second thinking, "I did it!" and quickly after that, "Huh, so that's what it's like to be inside of a dragon." And for the rest of the night I smelled like mangos.

If anyone knows of this in Michigan, I would be more than happy to hear about it. Finding fun stuff like this in your home area is a neat experience. Like finding out your mom was the lead singer in an all girl rock'n roll band.
 ...A girl can dream...