Well, landed safely in Helsinki, but the trip didn't go as smoothly as it could. First of all, I forgot to take my mobile phone with me. Being in Finland without a mobile, is like having a megaphone without batteries and a walkman without headphones. Also, while packing, the idea of taking my Finnish simcard didn't even cross my mind. Or travel card (Matkakortti) or the local debit cards. I appeal to my flatmates, that they'd slip them in a bubblewrap envelope and post them to me (Bitteee!).

Making it to the plane wasn't too straightforward either. Somehow I took the wrong train, not the usual Ringbahn – and was well on the way towards Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, before I realised the stations didn't match. As I didn't have any cash for a taxi either, I decided to take my chances, jump to the opposite train and head back to the Ring. Eventually, I arrived at the check-in desk only one minute too late, which was okay.

I think I should finally compile a pre-travel checklist. In a bit militaristic style, even. It should help, when my concentration fails next time.

I'm a bit worried because of all these small incidents. I see them as warning signs of sneakily growing detachment and absent-mindness.

As a kind of a bizarre external proof of all this mistuning, the displays and announcements in Helsinki metro were offset too. Kalasatama was called Hakaniemi and Kulosaari was Sörnäinen. Finally, at Herttoniemi station I yet managed to mix up bus numbers and met perhaps the two most uncooperative drivers in the service. In the end I just decided to take the blow and walk the last mile.

On a positive note, I managed to deliver a magnum size bottle of Rotkäppchen, without it exploding inside the baggage.

Posted by Mesq at 14:24 to mental, travel | Trackback