25.Life, I love you.

Simon and Garfunkel-knew me.

Even my cobblestone streets.

I apologize.

I've been terrible at keeping you updated.

It has been a bit hectic.

My last day of this.....

Pure Joy.

........is tomorrow.

Helsinki, Finland.

First stop on our Scandinavian Vacation. We took a bus to Helsinki. Yes, it was full of Sketchy Russians, we were in the very back against the window where the seats don't recline, and the entire bus waited for us, while our coordinator made arrangements for them to meet us and pick us up in Helsinki from the airport, back to St. Petersburg. We're Americans..we do what we want. On the way back, when one of the officials at border control came on the bus the driver told her there were five Americans. I leaned over to Linlea and said, "We've been declared." Usually, you only have to declare items if they are over 1000 dollars or something like that..she really was just telling her all of the nationalities on the bus, but I felt acknowledged. Anyway, on the way there we ended up behind a bunch of English students studying in Saint Petersburg and it made the ride more entertaining.

One of the students was Finnish, and directed us to the train station upon arrival in Helsinki. Took a ferry to a old military island, went to museums, a awesome Rock Church, saw another Russian Cathedral..another. It was unique and beautiful in a new way. Very old. Saw the National Cathedral of Finland, ate some great chocolate and the best black licorice of all time, got to do temple work, stay in the temple housing, and make a couple new friends that are members. Finland was great, beautiful, and a fantastic breath of fresh air. Not to mention gulp of fresh water - you can drink from the faucet! Cleanest water in the world. Yummy.

Gorgeous dock on Suomenlinna. A old military fortress island.Not just in small farm towns in UT, is it legal to drive a 4-wheeler on the street.
Flower boxes that remind me of Marja.
A ceiling in the Stockmann Department Store.
My rubber boots. Best shoes ever. Complete with 30 ruble sketchy inserts that are super comfortable - best traveling shoe ever.
Great scene.
For Age my animal loving BFF. Wandering Suomenlinna.
Finally in Helsinki! Fantastic clock tower and cranes!
Ruined symmetry. One of my favorite pictures.

Estonia/Latvia trip. Out of order..but it was a 4 day jumble.

Russian Cathedral in Tallinn. We can't get away from them. Good thing they're gorgeous.My favorite area. Mid-evil city wall. Tallinn.
The group.
Old house of a Civil Engineer/Architect. Tallinn. Fantastic. Pure Joy.
A building in the Estonian cemetery with some sweet stairs and a new metal roof..
First excursion with the boots. In the cemetery.

Waiting for the bus after a failed attempt to find the hospital in Riga..The group in Tallinn!
So...I secretly did go to Greece like our first plan for vacation! (jk. Still Tallinn)
Me and Linlea. One of the first super excited moments in Tallinn. Hence the backpacks.
Cemetery in Estonia with Kara. I love her, and her hat.Fantastic Linlea and Jack Nicholson in a guard house in Latvia. Why not?
Here's the fantastic missionaries in Estonia that I am very grateful for.A restaurant in Latvia..too bad it wasn't a real hospital!
Sweet backdrop - 2 of my favorite things. Sweet clock. Super sweet crane. Riga.
I don't think this looks like me for some reason I have half morphed into a bunny..but, I have a super awesome cape!
Barely a mobile being and I miraculously still hit the target a few times.
Labyrinth anyone?