kelly harrold is a brave woman.

(The title is a little personal there, I hope you understand it kelly. The rest of the world, just pretend this entry doesn have a title). So, Helsinki. I arrived and fell in love. My flight was interesting. Hmm, well I ordered my tickets through STA (don`t do this again) and the airline printed on my order confirmation does not exist. Sweden Airways, actually it was Baltic Airways...I think it was just a small typo because I mean those two names are so similar, right? But, I made it and that was the important part. So. My hostel was on the northern curve of the 1952 olympic stadium! I was only slightly excited, I arrived and decided that all I was going to do in Helsinki was run. Unfortunately I am in terrible shape, as you all know, so that didn't happen. However, I did get some mighty runs in. I think running is a wonderful way to see a city, providing you don't get lost and I was fine because of my excellent direction senses...haha. But, really I didn't get lost.

It is fall here. The leave are falling and turning to deep and beautiful colours. The air is crisp, just how I like it. My scarfs are becoming more and more functional and not merely an effort to look like a native. It is colder, but I am still warm. Laudry at my hostel was not too expensive so I did a real load...wash and dry. It was probably the most statisfaction I have had in a long time. I put on my sweat pants and got into bed when they were still warm. It made me feel so at home, except I am in Finalnd.

I feel that when most people travel their bag gets larger and larger. Maybe the number of bags even increases. Some how that is not the case. My bag is getting smaller and smaller. I am not even trying. I think part of this is because I am becoming and more efficient packer however, really I am just depositing items at various homes. I have lost two items which I am kind of sad about. My sweater which I left on the subway in frankfurt right after getting off the plane and now I have lost my ski socks. I think they ended up in someone elses bag at my first couch surfing experience. I love ski socks. They just make me feel so at home. However, I guess my warm sweat pants fill that void. Except they are no longer warm and it would kind of be nice concidering I have my third sinus infection of the year right now! I am pretty good at having them. Mmm. My pants. So, one item which made my bag shrink in their death were my jeans. I only brought one pair with me...I brought my least favorite pair so that if I really didn't want them I could just leave them some where. I almost left them in Austria but, threw them back in at the last moment because I thought Finland might be cold. Which it is. Then, I did the wash and to my surprise the zipper snapped so I guess that solved my problem. Except I kind of want them now. I am down to a pair of sweat pants, two skirts, and a pair of shorts, and many layers of leggings. I figure if it becomes too cold I will just increases the number of leggins to three. I will have to max out at 5 I believe.

So. For the title. So, I loved my hostel in Helsinki. But at night...hmm. That is another story with a slightly different ring. So, I woke at 4;34 so the sound of my bed hitting aginst another bed. I though someone was dieing. However, I dont think that people generally make sound effects when they die and if they do they are probably not saying ..oh god.. .AHHHHH.. and ..yeah, one of the 9 girls in my room was putting on a sex show. Except none of us had paid and I don think anyone really wanted to see or hear it. I surely did not. It took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on. I was a little scared. I looked over to see what was going on and quickly returned to my covers for hiding. At one point the guy she had brought home (TO A DORM HOSTEL) got up and went to the bath room. I thought about jumping up and closing the door as to lock him out of the room. But, I was affraid I might contract an STD for touching the door knonb. Ms. Rob told us that they can be transmitted from hand to hand.... Then he returned and they went back to it. This was sick. I paid a lot for my bed, I guess you might pay more for porn, I would not know. I should have asked that Aussie guy how much his porn costs. Then I could have paid them, even tipped because this was live, not recorded. So, the sounds and ticking of the bed started again. I thought about throwing up on them because I was about to. or throwing something at them-but, I probably would have missed. So, I used my words, just like my mom always told me. Words have power... I declared that they were disgusting and that we are in a hostel and could they please go to the lounge. To which they stopped. I think they were maybe sober enough to understand me at that point. So, night one in Helsinki was not great. The next night I thought about putting a sign of the door which said please no sexual activity...but, judging from the ages of my roommates I though I was going to be okay. And really I was. No men came into the room. However, I did wake up with a tan bra and black underwear on my pillow. Sick. Apparently Helsinki is the sexiest place on earth, not Paris or where ever they say it is.

And now I am about an hour away in a little town called Porvoo. I will stay here two more nights I think, I got in later last night, and then I will catch a night train up to the Lapland, where I will freeze with Santa and see the artic circle. Then I will head down to Stockholm.

It is nice to be in a small town again. Pasta and garlic for 2,40 euros makes 4 meals. Lots of tissues, I love my sinuses. No one thinks I am American, a canadian asked if I was from canada...it is strange. Water. Gloves and Hat.
Love,
Claire