Ninja Guardian Angels

The unplanned adventure began exiting the plane. At first the wheelchairs didn’t arrive. When the plane was emptied, we began to walk. We were met halfway through the jetway but a lady pushing two wheelchairs. She wheeled us one at a time to a place just off the jetway where we met a third person in a wheelchair.

The poor girl had to push each of us up a steep ramp into the terminal. She apologized and told us without much conviction that two people would be along to push us as she departed with the other wheelchair.

We sat and waited until the lights in our part of the terminal began turning off. We were at the far end of the terminal. We decided to push the wheelchairs using them as walkers hoping to intersect our pushers.

It was a very long walk to immigration where there was no handicap, business class, special access, or wheelchair line as in every other airport we’ve visited.

We were in "all passports" line behind a few dozen others, the two of us with wheelchairs. Carol went under the barrier (a complete no-no) and approached one of the Border Police. He sought help from his senior. After explaining our abandonment, the senior officer called for wheelchair assist.

At least a half hour later, there was no one in the huge immigration hall but CJ, Carol, four Border Police and however many immigration agents remained in the booths.

At that point the four Border Police decided to push us to the taxi stand. 

Imagine exiting customs and being pushed through the terminal by two Border Police, and two other Border Police carrying our luggage. We looked to be under arrest.

The poor fellows didn’t know the taxi stand location. On the second try, they secured a taxi and we were on our way after thanking our four guardian agents dressed in black and toting guns.

There is a lot of snow on the ground. Then again it is Finland in the middle of their winter. We've left nearly 40-degree Adelaide and arrived in -3 degrees Helsinki, mid-summer to mid-winter in one day. Long days to short days in one day.

At least our suite at the Radisson Blu Plaza is nice. 

The hotel restaurant is closed for a private event, so we have dinner at the recommended South American restaurant, Maya Bar & Grill, across the street. This small bar turns out a huge quatity of drinks as see saw while waiting for a table at the booked-out place.

CJ's dinner is a Brazilian stew. It contains multiple types of meats and beans including excellent chorizo. It comes with a side of yellow rice, oranges, and jalapenos. CJ's chili margarita is excellent.