AND THEN THERE WERE

2...DAYS

Before we go home from our mission here in Finland!

We noticed that the days are definitely getting long-er and longer! this was the sunrise at 6:30 a.m. By 5:22 a.m. the sky was light. We are really going to M.I.S.S. this!!

Because we are on the afternoon shift this week, we had decided to head downtown Helsinki one last time to visit a couple of our favorite SPOTS. The TORI is one of them. The first cruise ships arrive this coming Sunday, May 1st! Things were a hoppin!

We walked over to our favorite FINNISH / RUSSIAN SHOP across the street from the big white LUTHERAN CHURCH. We sat and watched as they brought out the REINDEER and put it in front of the store. It is a popular tourist attraction and foto op!

It was a beautiful spring day for being out and about!

Had to get a foto of Wayne with some of his 'favorite' rocks. Actually, any rock he sees is FAVORITE!

Back to our little Finnish / Russian shop! This is the owner of the shop....well, her family is. She is from St. Petersburg, Russia. They have had the shop at this location for the past 13 years. We told her we would be going to our home in America in two days but that we would COME BACK when we are in Finland (maybe in about 2 years). She was happy about that. She is holding a couple of things that I purchased.

She was gracious enough to let us photograph two of our favorite Russian hand painted black lacquer boxes she has for sell in the store. This one was 650 euro! All hand painted. Would love to have this one.

And another favorite......this one was 750 euro! Gorgeous. Also hand painted.

WHAT IS THIS you say. What has this got to do with our trip to downtown Helsinki? Well, wouldn't you know it would have to be an adventure....after all we have been lucky for the past 2 years with no injuries from the ice and snow. And here we are two days before leaving and I had to have an accident! Yipper.....As we were getting on the '26' to take us to Sello where we would catch the train, I stepped up to get on the bus and fell flat on my face. To quote Wayne...'in a pile on the floor'! Not fun. Apparently there was a big hole in the floor of the bus just as you get on. My shoe apparently caught on it and down I went. Scratched up my hand.....

I know it doesn't show real well, but gave me a little 'burn' mark just below the temple of my glasses.....

and worst of all I ended up with a BAD SPRAIN on my ankle! Now, come another 2 days and it should be 'ripe' for hurting, Wayne says! In 2 days where will we be....you got it....trying to run from one terminal to another to catch our connecting flight from Heathrow to Dulles International. This may call for one of those little 'buggy people carriers' in the airport. Not sure I will be able to run with this.

And one final SPRING foto of our chair arrangement outside of our apartment.

All in all.....it was a great day and 'THIS TOO SHALL PASS'!