We started out this morning at 4.... which actually means I woke up every half hour from around 12.30. We had to settle our bills and be on the shuttle to the airport by 6, so an early start it was.
Things went pretty well until we stepped outside the hotel to join the group that were also leaving for the airport and the shuttle pulled up. To me, it appeared that the number present exceeded the natural law of available seats on a wee bus. I expected another bus to arrive..... I was disappointed.
The driver got off and all our luggage was piled up. We got on the bus. Others got on the bus. More people and their bags, got on the bus. It was full. THEN each of the seats in the aisle were snapped out and provided additional seating. The Bus for 18, suddenly became a bus for 25! It was tight and hot and cramped. Then... this very Irish accent pops up from the very back seat "sorry folks (insert Irish lilt) I have left something very important in our room". He had to get out! From that back seat!
Obligingly, everyone seated up the middle isle hoped up, snapped the temporary seat back into position and proceeded to get out of the bus. The poor Irish man was saying 'sorry' to everyone all the way out the tight, tight bus. His wife was saying from the back seat 'oh my, he is usually so organised' and the kids adds 'what's he lost this time?' Mum says 'oh, be quiet Brandon!'
All Mrs Browns Boys sounding! The only thing missing was 'be fekking quiet Brandon or I'll knock your block off!' ..........biffo!
Everyone hops back into the bus only this time they are one seat further back and it is like speed dating, with a totally new person squished up against you, looking awkward and careful not to invade too much space. I was lucky. I went from a larger, large woman, to a tiny woman, so my speed dating was awesome!
The bus lurched along and I am pleased there wasn't a hill start in sight as that bus was chokka!
The airport was magnificent, new (like everything else) and totally over the top. We met up with the rest of our group and the 9 of us set off for Helsinki on a 6 hour flight, that was particularly uneventful (just as well since we flew over Iraq, Iran, the Kush, Russia etc!!!).
Helsinki airport was less of a magnificent building and very totalitarian. Function being the order of the day. We went out and about in the city and taking into account it is Sunday (and no alcohol is sold on Sunday) it is pretty sparse of people for a capital city.
Some of us ate our evening meal in a lovely eatery and some of us ate at McDonalds. Nothing to add there!
Today we are off to look at schools, so I have my camera loaded and ready to go.
Things went pretty well until we stepped outside the hotel to join the group that were also leaving for the airport and the shuttle pulled up. To me, it appeared that the number present exceeded the natural law of available seats on a wee bus. I expected another bus to arrive..... I was disappointed.
The driver got off and all our luggage was piled up. We got on the bus. Others got on the bus. More people and their bags, got on the bus. It was full. THEN each of the seats in the aisle were snapped out and provided additional seating. The Bus for 18, suddenly became a bus for 25! It was tight and hot and cramped. Then... this very Irish accent pops up from the very back seat "sorry folks (insert Irish lilt) I have left something very important in our room". He had to get out! From that back seat!
Obligingly, everyone seated up the middle isle hoped up, snapped the temporary seat back into position and proceeded to get out of the bus. The poor Irish man was saying 'sorry' to everyone all the way out the tight, tight bus. His wife was saying from the back seat 'oh my, he is usually so organised' and the kids adds 'what's he lost this time?' Mum says 'oh, be quiet Brandon!'
All Mrs Browns Boys sounding! The only thing missing was 'be fekking quiet Brandon or I'll knock your block off!' ..........biffo!
Everyone hops back into the bus only this time they are one seat further back and it is like speed dating, with a totally new person squished up against you, looking awkward and careful not to invade too much space. I was lucky. I went from a larger, large woman, to a tiny woman, so my speed dating was awesome!
The bus lurched along and I am pleased there wasn't a hill start in sight as that bus was chokka!
The airport was magnificent, new (like everything else) and totally over the top. We met up with the rest of our group and the 9 of us set off for Helsinki on a 6 hour flight, that was particularly uneventful (just as well since we flew over Iraq, Iran, the Kush, Russia etc!!!).
Helsinki airport was less of a magnificent building and very totalitarian. Function being the order of the day. We went out and about in the city and taking into account it is Sunday (and no alcohol is sold on Sunday) it is pretty sparse of people for a capital city.Some of us ate our evening meal in a lovely eatery and some of us ate at McDonalds. Nothing to add there!
Today we are off to look at schools, so I have my camera loaded and ready to go.
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