2 Years Ago...

Tonight, Cary and I were eating Thai food and I began reminescing about my journey 2 years ago at this time. November 20-28 marked a really exciting time for me in 2006: My first visit to Europe.

The purpose of the trip was to attend the wedding of my high school best friend (or one of them), Steve. He met Marika while he was based in England for the Air Force, and now was the time to join the two together. Marika is from Finland, so the trip consisted of me flying into England and then meeting up with Steve, Clay, and Steve's family and continuing on to Finland.

Let me say this first: I have the GREATEST parents in the world. If it were not for them, the trip there would never have been possible at all. They knew that Steve and I were close through high school, and that attending his wedding meant a lot. They even allowed me to have an extra 2 days in London, so I can visit my absolutely favorite city in the world.

Here are some highlights of the trip. I started writing out the full events, but trust me: it is too long!

• I left on a Monday. I had a hard time letting dad go, as I am afraid of flying. I was determined to do it, but I was scared! I was going to be on a plane for 8 hours...by myself! No matter how afraid I am of flying, though, I refuse to not live life. I trust God. He will hold me, no matter what the situation.


• Finally got to London after landing about 10:30 and getting refreshed at the hotel, but since it was about 3:00 in the afternoon, not long before the sun was to start setting. I walked around Victoria Station and as long as I kept it in 'view' I felt more comfortable looking for souveniers.








• My credit card got declined! Apparently, I had forgotten to tell my bank that I was heading out of the country! No worries, though. My dad got the call, and he handled it immediately (Remember: GREAT parents!)
  
• The next day I went to hop on a big red double-decker bus and see London in style! It was a dreary, chilly morning, they way so many imagine London. Most of the time I was the only one on top of the bus (the ones without the top...), and I must have looked like a fool when it began raining! But this was my only chance to see this place, so I refused to budge (well, I did get off twice, once to visit Harrod's, and another to warm up inside a toy store in Picadilly Circus).







• I got a call from my mom that night (it was about midnight). I had been fighting the urge to call home because I was feeling slightly homesick. But her call was a mission: Clay's flight to England had been cancelled, and he was having to fly from Dallas to Chicago and then from there to Heathrow (everyone else was flying into Gatwick, like myself).


• The next morning I met up with Steve and Mr. Christensen. With them were Colleen (Steve's half sister) and Ellen (Colleen's mom). We all hopped onto a bus to drive to Stanstead Airport
  
• My main meal that day was half of a turkey sandwich--it was Thanksgiving here in the states, and I had to celebrate somehow!
  




• While at Stanstead waiting to be able to check in, I had my first cup of English tea--must add sugar! And so much shopping around us! We had to wait for about 5 hours, so the shops were a good thing!


• The entire time we were at the airport waiting to check in (Ryan Air does not allow it until 1 hour until the flight) we never saw Clay. We started to wonder if he was going to make it or not! Turns out, he was way ahead of us somehow....
  
• On the flight to Finland, I saw my first 'winglets' on a plane, and had my first Butter Popcorn Jelly Belly--but certainly not my last!


• Our hotel was tiny, but it was really nice for the nice 4 days. The symbol on it was an Apple (made it easier to find). I slept on the pull out couch with a cushion that was about 1/2" thick. When the guys (Steve and Clay) walked around, they had to climb up on the bed, or they knocked their heads on the tv hanging from the ceiling!



• The lifts (elevators) in this hotel were so interesting--they are like closets (and about the size of one too!) and you pull the door open like a regular door on a spring. Once inside, you can see the doors moving past you as you go up or down. One night Steve got off on his 3rd floor, and I still had to go to the 7th...so for those who know Steve, you know what happened next. As he got off the lift, he pushed EVERY button. And once the lift stops on a floor, you have to open the door to get it started again. So I was going up (very slowly), and swung open the door to get it moving again. Now, his sister, Colleen, has elevator nerves (I can see why!) and so she climbed the spiral staircase. This is how slow the elevator moved: Everytime I opened up the door, she was starting up to the next floor!


• We ate McDonalds for dinner that night--the last time I can recall eating a full meal at that fast food restaurant.


• The next day, we learned where the wedding and reception would be at. We also spent a couple of hours at the Spy Museum...
  
  After the rehearsal, we had dinner at an Italian restaurant. It was fun trying to translate the Finnish into Italian. Clay, Colleen, and I shared a table with Marika's sister and her father (sorry! I forgot their names!) We laughed so hard--sweet people!
  
  The bachelor party we had for Steve consisted of going to a pub and played a game of Trouble. What a bachelor party for Steve!
  
• Once Clay and Steve left to get dressed for the wedding, Colleen and I went to Hesburger for a quick dinner. Sorry, Finland, but Hesburger can't hold a candle to the hamburgers in the US...or maybe I just got a bad one...
  
  The wedding had to be one of the most beautiful I had ever attended. Marika looked absolutely beautiful in her gown, the church atmosphere was breathtaking, and the bride and groom were perfect for each other. I love how personal it was: there were 25 guests total. I have attended many in my years, and this ranks among the top.






• The reception was held at a winery, and there was a ton of dancing and Finnish traditions. One of them was that the bride was kidnapped (and taken to the pub for a drink) and Steve had to come up with 30 reasons to give to his father-in-law as to why he should get to keep his bride. Trying to watch Steve translate to him was great. One of the reasons he gave--Because Marika is ticklish--and YES! he did tickle his new father-in-law!

While cutting the cake, whoever stomped their foot first after reaching the bottom of the slice was the head of the household...I don't remember who won that, but I can tell you, Marika is going to be! (sorry Steve, but I know you too well!)

• Clay was tired while dancing and was going to sit down and relax. Marika's sister pulled him back up and said to him "We're Finnish, not finished"...Great quote!!!!

• I bought a cute stuffed bunny in a store in Tampere, and named it Pintu. We found Steve's video camera, and sent Pintu on an adventure throughout the hotel...I wonder if they still have that...







• The next morning (or should I say noon) we woke up and all went to dinner at the Viking restaurant in town. Then afterwards, Marika walked all of us (minus Ellen and Mr. C) to the observatory. On the way there, we came upon a park that was full of art, including a tree that was carved inwardly in the shape of a body...very interesting!


• The observation tower was closed for a party, but the cool night air and friends made the walk very refreshing!


• The next morning, I woke up at 2:15 (what time is that in the US?!) and could not go back to sleep. Clay woke up not much later than that, and we turned on the tv and watched music videos for several hours until we heard signs of life from the other rooms.


• Together Clay and I parted ways on Monday to head back to London, where our flight to Dallas would leave on Tuesday morning. Ellen, Colleen, and Mr. C were off to Paris for a couple of days themselves. When mom and dad found out that they went to France, mom said, "well, if I knew they were going there, I would have sent you there as well!"...like I said--GREAT parents!
  


• Clay and I arrived in London mid-day on Monday after the 'cattle-prod' procedures of Ryan Air. We caught a train to our hotel (the same I had stayed in a few days earlier). On the way to the hotel, we decided to stop by Kings Cross--a.k.a.--The Harry Potter Train Station!

• Nice room, however, it was on the first floor, and we liked to have the window open. While waiting for Clay to switch our rooms, I spent much time literally jumping in and out of the huge window...the people at the restaurant across the field must have thought I was nuts!





• The next room had bunk beds--I claimed those for myself and Pintu (remember the bunny from above?...) Clay again got the big bed.


• We had intentions on going out and me 'showing' Clay London, but we were both exhausted. I remember being so excited about the Simpsons coming on tv at 7:00 in the evening, but once the credits were over, I was asleep!


• The flight home was 10 hours (that is not an exaggeration) and I was stuck in a seat between my best friend and some guy who wanted to chat the entire time...while I just wanted to read my book!!!

• After my parents picked me up, I remembered my favorite part about Thanksgiving: The cookies and IBC root beer--I was so thankful to be home again!

Wow...that's quite a story, even though they were just 'short' points...But all in all, the point of this story is: Happy Anniversary Steve and Marika! That, and I got some time to goof off in Europe with WONDERFUL memories!!!