Going Home

 November 20, 2022

My last morning on this continent I woke early.  After slipping upstairs for a bit of coffee, I went back down to begin the job of packing.  Normally, packing for going home is easy, simply smash everything in, as it's all going in the laundry when I get back anyway.  

On this trip, however, I'd let myself get a bit carried away with shopping.  Gifts for the kids, a couple of warm sweaters, a raincoat for the incessant rain in Bergen, and Christmas decor.  It simply wasn't going to fit in my single suitcase.  So I reached out to my brother and his wife for an extra suitcase that they didn't need.  Late morning my brother arrived to bring me to the Helsinki airport.  He allowed a few extra minutes for me to load up the surplus booty, and then we were on our way through the snowy roads to the airport.

I'd paid online for the extra bag, about 100 euros, so getting through the new Helsinki self-service check-in was a breeze.  And before long I was on board, just behind the left wing, on my Icelandair flight to Reykjavík.  The plane was practically empty so there was plenty of room for me to nap if I chose.

Before we departed our plane sat idle out on the tarmac, waiting to be deiced.  Then, when it was our turn, a large, gangly machine came and thoroughly doused us with the orange liquid.

Finally we were airborne for our four hour flight to Reykjavik, Iceland.  I could now, "sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight".

In a short while we were flying above the clouds, surrounded by sunshine of an unknown hour.  Flying west, with the rotation of the earth, always confuses my brain.  I try not to look at my watch and just live in the present.

Soon we were dropping altitude and the flaps were down for our landing in the strange looking land that was Iceland.  

Some day I'll take the time for a proper visit to this country and see the wonders of its volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls, but for this trip, it was just a short layover, and then I was on my way again.  This time my seat was a row closer, putting me over the left wing.

Over the frozen north of Canada we flew, before arching down to the Pacific Northwest and home.

Finally back to "our own" beloved mountains.

To me, a great trip is like a good sandwich.  The bottom bread is the anticipation of everything that the trip will hold.  The filling is the exploration, the beauty, the learning, and experience of the travels.  The top bread is home.  I've learned this about myself; I could never be a nomad, living an "open-face sandwich" kind of life.  I need the consolation of home, with its dear places and even dearer people.

 

Return to Finland

 November 17 - 19, 2022

After a decent night's sleep, I went down to a good breakfast.  Radisson Blu has a very busy breakfast room with multiple food and drink stations.  A notch above most chain hotels that I've been to.  It was crowded though, so I got a table in an overflow area in the back, making it a hassle to go back for more food or drink.  

When I'd had my fill and finished off several cups of coffee, I went and zipped up my bags and hauled them to the lobby.  I hadn't paid for an airport transfer, but had noticed a sign in the lobby for an airport bus that went every half hour.  So around 9:30, I walked out to the curb, boarded a bus and bought a ticket for about $7.  It was considerably cheaper than prepaying through Hurtigruten, and 45 minutes later, I was dropped off right at the Bergen airport.  And before long, I was in the air for the short flight.  I had a great view of the many islands and rugged mountains.

When booking this trip, I found it was more expedient to get a round trip ticket to Finland, so instead of flying from Bergen home, I was returning to Finland for a couple more days with my Helsinki area family.

Settled back in to the cozy basement guestroom, I joined my sister-in-law and her family for a relaxing Friday.  Anne and I did a little local shopping, stopping for lunch at the Nepalese restaurant we went to on the earlier portion of my trip.  I bought a few more gifts for the grandkids, but had the most fun shopping for candy.

Supper with family was followed by an evening of visiting and playing games.  And of course there was candy on the table.  I rarely play games, and had intended to just observe, but I got talked into playing and really enjoyed it.

Saturday morning some of the kids joined us for a delicious brunch.

While we were eating it began to snow.  Big fluffy flakes that soon turned everything white.

Anne had a busy afternoon planned for us, so once the dishes were done, we headed into the city.

At home I'm not usually involved in politics, but here in Finland, I'm happy to join in any peaceful cause that doesn't go against my beliefs, if it means spending more time with family.  Anne expertly handled the snowy roads and got us parked downtown Helsinki for the day.  Well bundled against the cold, we first joined a rally supporting the rights of oppressed women in Iran.  

There were many yellow and blue flags, showing support for Ukraine as well.

From this location, in front of a shopping mall, we walked to Senate Square, where a crowd was gathered in front of the massive steps of the Senaatintori, also referred to as the Government Palace, or the Senate House.

This gathering was protesting the heavy-handed government regarding, among other things, the current protocol on vaccines.  Across the world people were gathered for World Wide Freedom Day, but with varied agendas.

Finnish people aren't known for huddling close together, so it got a bit chilly standing still on the frozen ground.  Much of what was said was in Finnish, so the time got long.  Still, it was enjoyable to spend time doing something less touristy.

Nearby was a huge, creatively designed public library, where we went to warm up.  It was quite an incredible building that I neglected to take interior photos of.  With at least two levels, part of the floor swooped up like the deck of a ship.  Anne knows a lot of people, so we joined a friend of hers for supper at the cafeteria.  Then a gentleman, with aspirations for public office, joined us.  When he and Anne got very involved in a long conversation, her friend took me on a tour of the library.  

From the upstairs windows we could enjoy views of the snowy streets below.

With days so short, it was dark already in the afternoon, but there was still several hours for enjoying Helsinki and for some last minute shopping.  I was on a quest for some husky dog stuffed animals for the grandkids who were caring for my Tia back home.  White lights were strung up everywhere, and shop windows were festively decorated.

The light snow had turned to ice on the streets and sidewalks, so walking was quite treacherous.

Given the hazards of walking around, we finished our evening off in a warm, multi-level department store.  It was there I found not only the stuffies I was looking for, but several adorable Christmas decorations. 

Stores were closing by the time we headed back to the parking garage.  To save some walking, we boarded a street car and rode it for several stops.

Back at the house, we had a little time in the evening for visiting in their cozy living room, while enjoying a warm, spicy cup of glogg.  Then, it was off to bed for my last night in Finland.

Final Day, and Back to Bergen

 November 16, 2022

Soft pink clouds greeted the dawn on this final day of our journey at sea.  Dark waters were topped with a checkerboard pattern of waves.  The clouds dissipated, and by late morning we sailed beneath a bright blue bowl.

The coastline of Norway is simply peppered with islands and fjords.  Many of these are connected by undersea tunnels, but there are still so many bridges.  

We were scheduled to arrive in Bergen at 3:30, but our rooms had to be vacated right after lunch so that they could be cleaned.  The ship staff took our larger luggage, to be picked up later in the terminal, but we had to pack around our carry-ons.  The photo below, taken at 2:00 was the last for this trip, as it wasn't practical to walk around with a backpack. 

Finally off and bussed back to the city with our luggage, I was dropped off at my pre-cruise hotel, The Radisson Blu in Bryggen. 

Overpriced for a tiny room and a bit odd with its maze of hallways, I liked that it was right in the middle of everything.  Once I got my things settled into my room, I headed out for a walk and some supper.  Walking along the main street of Bryggen, I looked down the narrow alleys between the historic buildings, before walking around the harbor.  The night seemed magical with all the pretty lights.

I found my dinner at Egon, a large, and very bustling, restaurant that had many little rooms for seating.  The lobby and a display window were decorated cheerily for Christmas.

I got a cozy spot in a corner, which was nice, as of course I'd hauled along a book to read.  The specialty white pizza was delicious.

After I'd eaten way more pizza that was good for me, I let it settle as I shopped around a bit on the main street near the harbor.  Most shops were open, and so compelling with their well-lit displays.

By this point in the trip my bags were getting pretty full, so I managed to just window shop before heading back to my hotel for my last sleep in the beautiful country of Norway.