Eleven Days of Summer in Finland (Journal Included)

For more information about specific places, such as contact information and web site addresses, please see the "Schedule View."

For more pictures, please view the "Trip Album." Alternatively, to view the pictures, including the captions, please view the photos on my page at Flickr.com   

Day 1

When we got to the airport, we pointed out to the United Airlines representative that the connection in Munich was very tight (arrival at 8 a.m. and departure at 8:55 a.m. ) and we knew would have to go through a security checkpoint. We knew that there was another flight about an hour later and we asked if our reservations could be changed to that flight. She replied that her computer showed our original connection was approved by United, because the arrival and departure gate were close together. None of us believed that was the case, but she was only doing her job. We figured that IF the plane left on time and IF there was a tailwind, we would make the connection.

A friend had given my mother tickets for the United Red Carpet club, so we went there to wait until it was closer to the time of our departure. It was a very nice lounge with free snacks and soft drink, plus a comparatively affordable cash bar. It was certainly more pleasant than the seating right at the gate. If you travel a lot, I think the annual fee to be able to use those lounges is worth it.

The plane boarded on time,  around 5:10 p.m. Alas, as it is so often in Maryland summers, there was a thunderstorm rolling through the area and we ended up departing an hour late. That sealed our fate for missing our connecting flight in Munich.

I watched one movie on the plane: Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others). It was a good movie, albeit depressing. I don't remember much about the food that was served on the plane. I remember that overcooked pasta was in there, but that's about it.