Heading to the Vikings: Nordic Life

Thanksgiving Day and I'm strolling myself through airport security to fly to the friggin' cold.

Since I do not celebrate Thanksgiving nor Christmas, I choose to travel during these holidays since the price is much lower and, as long as you do not take any layovers in the states, the flights are less chaotic and you get to a destination that has limited tourists! So now those group tours that are $25 with 30 people turn into small 3-5 person groups or even just you saving yourself from paying the $150 private tour cost!

I did this for the first time to Quito, Ecuador and it was amazing! It was a little rainy but I got to enjoy the city and tours without fighting over seats, photo bombing my shots and there was no vehicular traffic! Today, I head to the Nordic countries. And how the hell did I come up with heading to the cold north in December?????

Well, first off-I've never met anyone who has been (minus one Caribbean-American guy that plays a band in Norway every now and then).

And secondly, there are 4 seasons in this world and I'm sick of everyone always wanting to only go to 'tropical destinations'! I wanna go where folk know how to live and enjoy the cold!

*I really want to go to St. Petersburg and Moscow, but yeah, not happening right about now.

So my trip is planned (thanks to the new ChatGPT's additional assistance) and I'm ready for the snow and 20 degree weather ahead!

Oslo, Norway & Helsinki, Finland & Tallin, Estonia & Stockholm, Sweden.

*Yeah, you had to look up Estonia, huh? Small country that is in a rock's throw of Russia although they have now joined the EU and NATO.

IAD Dulles was pretty empty today. Everyone who is planning on celebrating Thanksgiving are now on the road to their loved ones to eat and watch American football. Me- at 2pm, I'm sitting at the Capital One airport lounge with my prosecco and small bites (same friggin' food they served 4 weeks ago when I was here) and not much jibber 'jabber to mute out the quietness- Well, that was until about 3:30 pm when everyone else flying out of the states decided to join me.

For the first time, I'm flying KLM and I'm very pleased: Because of stupid Avianca and their pitiful act they call service, I thought ahead and grabbed a free sandwich and a pastry from the lounge just in case the flight didn't offer any food like Avianca. I also pre-purchased Wifi since Avianca didn't have TVs on their flights neither and for a 7 hour flight, I need something to watch. Luckily, KLM does! They have super comfortable seats, pillows and blankets for all (Avianca charged $10), text messaging and movies complimentary and food service for dinner and breakfast on the flight.

Worth my hefty post-COVID inflation ticket cost!

The plane was less than half full but so far, a smooth ride.

And then....

"Ladies and gentlemen. Please place your seat belts on. Airport control reports turbulent weather for about 10 Mins."