A homeland this north, country dear fathers!

Part tres: On allain avaruus, ja tähtipolku kauas vie

"Look at the sky." Ambar linked her arm with Simon as they walked out of the hotel at Rovaniemi.

"It's beautiful," Simon looked up and squinted his eyes, "You can see the stars so clearly. How is it just 5 pm?"

They had landed in Rovaniemi a couple of hours ago, and had dropped their stuff at the hotel where they were staying for the night. They would be driving to Saariselkä tomorrow, after doing a couple of touristy things at Rovaniemi, like the Santa's Village which Luna had insisted on.

"The sun will barely even come up," Ambar nodded while looking at the sky. "We will have very limited daylight time while skiing."

"Good because then I'll have an excuse not to freeze to death," Simon laughed while pulling the jacket he was wearing closer to himself. "This jacket is probably so heavy for a reason."

"You'll get used to it," Ambar patted him on the head, ruffling his hair. "Like where is the hat? This is the one time you're actually not wearing a beanie."

"Right here," Simon pulled a ridiculously bright blue woolen hat with purple and yellow tassels.

"I should have never let you and Luna go shopping on your own," Ambar laughed as Simon pulled the hat over his head, "but it was worth it. This is way too adorable."

"Speaking of adorable," Simon pointed behind Ambar's head. They had been walking a catwalk that was lined with all kinds of tourist shops. Behind her, the one that Simon was pointing toward, was a shop that had a sign that read "Muumi".

"A Moomin shop?" Ambar turned around and dashed to the display window.

"I guess so," Simon followed her, "I was speaking of the shirt on the window. This was like an anime we used to watch with Maya while I was growing up. You know it too?"

"Of course, I know Moomin," Ambar answered, "Did I never tell you how I loved those books? The author was Finnish. They sell all sorts of merch. I always wanted those mugs, but Sharon said that they looked tacky."

"Well, let's go buy you some," Simon suggested.

"Oh, we're absolutely gonna buy some." Ambar grinned at Simon as she kept scanning the window, "Oh, and look at those baby clothes. We need to get them for Delfi and Pedro."

"They won't probably need to buy any clothes themselves soon," Simon laughed as they walked out of the store 20 minutes later.

"It's the least we can do," Ambar smiled, "This is so exciting. Hopefully, they return the favor someday."

"Hopefully we will be able to fit all this in our bags once we leave."

"There is always room in your suitcase if you make it," Ambar remarked, "I learned that from Jazmin."

"Is it just me, or did it get colder all of a sudden?" Simon shivered again.

"Not really," Ambar looked at a temperature that was displayed on a big light-screen at the end of the street. "But it can feel like it I guess since we just came from inside." She shivered herself a little bit. It was not like she was extremely used to these freezing temperatures herself. "Has something to do with the heat regulation of the body and homeophosphatic balance... or I don't know. Something with biology and maybe physics... ask Gastón, he might know."

"Is that a Starbucks up ahead?" Simon looked at the end of the street. "I need something warm right now."

"Good idea." Ambar said simply and sprinted into a run, "Last one there pays!!"

"Hey!" Simon ran after her, "We have combined finances!!"

***

"Olette siis menossa tapaamaan pukkia? Oh sorry. Väärä kieli. You are going to go visit the good old Santa?" Taxi asked said as Gastón, Nina, Matteo and Luna got into his vehicle, with a broken but understandable English.