Day 2

Today we had a nice flight to Amsterdam. We left Minneapolis at 7:00 pm, so it became dark within a few hours and people began to sleep. But we were literally "flying into the next day," so at about 1:00 am, sunlight began streaming through the windows and they served breakfast! Alan stayed awake (with small naps) as long as there was sun, and therefore jumped into the Helsinki time zone right away.

We waited at Amsterdam Airport for what turned out to be only 3 hours, and then we took a short 2-hour flight to Helsinki.

Mats, a man who works for Sparklike (the Finnish company where Dan will be training all week), picked us up at the airport.

The streets are winding and curvy, with fast-moving traffic and many pedestrians in Helsinki. The Hotel Torni (which I learned means "Tower") in newly renovated, very modern, and beautiful.

We learned quickly that in Finland, MANY more people can be crammed in an elevator than back home, and it is still socially acceptable. Ever since these initial "sardine" experiences, we have preferred to take the stairs.

Alan doesn't seem sure when to sleep or eat, or why the sun is out when it would normally be night time. He woke up twice last night to eat, but for the most part slept during the hours between his feedings.

This evening we took a short walk down the street from our hotel and ate supper at Wayne's Coffee. It's different not being able to read the menu! Good food, though.

FDR has rented us a double room, and we slept well tonight.