Kittos!

I'm in Helsinki, killing time before I board my flight to Delhi. This airport is remarkably clean, quiet, comfortable, and classy. There is a chef at a counter and plenty of bent-ply to go around. Even the restrooms look like an expensive full-height ikea closet series. I have been spoken Finnish to 99% of the time, which is kind of cool, considering everything is in English here. When I look confused, they simply repeat what they said in Finnish again, and then eventually one time in English for good measure. Malika really wanted me to say kittos (thanks) so I have practiced a bit. I exchanged some dollars for euros for rupees, which like the old Italian lyra, is an alarming large amount of cash in the local currency.

The plane ride was great (minus being frisked by Helsinki security), and so far the coffee is the strongest drip I have ever had. I have a window seat on the leg to Delhi, which will be really interesting. I didn't get to see Finland from the air when we arrived, but I should get a nice look on the way out. We should fly over Russia (at least it appears so), and we should come in low over the Himalayas (I hope). I'm really excited and nervous about getting into Delhi - this is by far the most "unknown" part of my journey, as far as I'm concerned. I know this will be a place like none I have ever seen. I hope I'm ready for the heat...and the crowds...and the air. At least NYC was a good primer.