Woke up Monday morning not feeling very well. I think all the smoking (by other people) in the clubs and bars got to me. I forgot how sick it makes me! Showered in the apartment for the last time (and used the bidet just cuz), packed up, had some tea, and got ready to meet the girls for lunch. Stopped down in reception to push back our airport pickup. Erica's flight to Copenhagen wasn't until 5:30 and my flight to Helsinki didn't take off until 7:30. The apartment company gave us one free airport transfer (Heather used it) and Erica and I split this cost of 400 krowns - about $20.

Trang, Jessica, Meredith, Crystal, Erica and I went wandering for lunch. We walked through the square and landed at Zebra, the Asian fusion spot Heather and I ate at the other day. I got tofu pad thai, but it was not nearly as delicious as my long standing favorite in Madison - Vientienne. I wanted to soak up the sun but others wanted shade so we yielded to them. Our same waiters were there and charming as ever. I also ordered a fresh carrot-apple-pineapple juice. When I tasted it, there were no hints of carrot, but it was still delicious, and I got 2 because my body liked it.

Walked around a fresh market and a few souvenir shops after lunch. Everything starts to look the same after a while and I hate buying souvenirs for the sake of buying them. I need them to speak to me. Especially because I got friend and family gifts when I was here 2 years ago. No point in buying something else symbolic that will sit on shelves collecting dust. I did see a UNICEF store, which was new for me. I didn't know UNICEF had stores.

Erica and I headed back and our driver was waiting. He spoke no English. We drove through the winding hills out of Prague. Through a couple residential communities, one of which I stayed in when I was here 2 years ago, and got to the airport in about 20 minutes. The design of the check-in terminals is very smart. O'Hare and others should take a lesson. It was still too early for even Erica to check-in, so I lead us downstairs to the supermarket. Got a couple snacks and gifts. I had 2 small suitcases with me that I had to maneuver through the aisles so that was amusing. And as I was checking out the cashier was yelling at me in Czech. Clearly I had no idea what she was saying so I gave her the stink eye and she started muttering under her breath instead. Regardless, transaction went fine. Erica headed upstairs to check in and I headed to some shops to waste some time.

I eventually found my way to a coffee shop and got fresh squeezed orange juice. Set up shop and worked for a couple hours until it was my turn to check in. I was allowed 2 free checked bags on my way here, but on my way back they only allowed for one. I had anticipated this and packed one of them to be checkable, but it was still annoying to have to lug it around with me. The flight wasn't full which meant the gate wasn't full. Restaurant choice was limited but I knew I should eat something as I hadn't eaten since lunch and it would be 10:30pm when I landed in Helsinki. Everything in the airport would be closed. So I stopped at a pub and sat in the non smoking section, which was a row of tables outside the airport in the hallways, very quaint….not. I had been eating mostly vegetarian all week so I got a burger. Then I left to board.

I had an entire row to myself on the plane which is so rare! This was after an older Japanese couple argued with me in Japanese that I was in their seat. They eventually pulled out their boarding passes and realized they were in the row behind me, and apologized. They were quite cute actually because after the plane took off they moved to the row next to me and the man curled up in the seats and laid with his head on his lady's lap for the flight.

We landed and I explored until I found the hotel. It was down some stairs, through an exit, around a corner, down more stairs…eventually I arrived. All of the rooms are located on one floor, a basement floor. It's nice and feels safe enough. The walls are thin though and I can hear people walking down the hall. No windows. A room with a bed and tv and small shower. And wifi, which is important. They have a makeshift bidet too. There are 3 english channels on tv. CNN, a movie channel and a soap opera channel. One of the channels is the same as the English channel in Ecuador, with the same voiceover guy for that network's promo commercials, except it's all in Finnish instead of Spanish. CNN here is based in the UK and much more global than at home. Every story is about a different country. Rarely do they mention the US. Millions of tourism commercials too.

Wanted to get a good night's sleep so I can stay up all day tomorrow, and sleep good at home before going to work Wednesday. I need a massage.