I landed in Finland a bit after 1 pm and was out of the airport closer to two. My friend had surprised me and informed me that she will be picking me up from the airport with her small baby. I traveled with three luggages and a laptop bag so the pick up was highly appreciated. As it was Monday, I knew that most of my friends would be working the whole day. This is why I asked the one friend I knew would be at home, if I could spend few hours at her place. Luckily she was not away (I was not sure if it was a skiing holiday week i.e. spring break like people in other countries call it) and I could spent the few hours there before my train left the station.
We talked, walked and ate. We had good time :) I stayed up the whole time, just to make sure that I would sleep in the train. I had bought a night train ticket, because there were no day trains going up north. Also I would have more space to have my luggages in sleeping compartment (if there were no one else with me). The time flew by, and my friend (and her boyfriend and the baby) dropped me off to the train station. She helped me to get my stuff on board (I waited at the right spot, but the wrong car stopped in front of me. Luckily it was just one off so I just hopped in) and we said our goodbyes. It was a bit of a hassle to move in the small corridors, with other people waiting for their door to be opened. I got a bit injured while getting all my luggages and I to the correct car and room.
The conductor had locked the door (they used to be held open the last time I traveled) but luckily I saw him just as he checked the corridor and he heard me (I was not that quiet while moving all my stuff). Once I got to the correct door, he already had it opened and marked me as arrived. He also helped me with my luggages by lifting one to the room and other down small flight of stairs. While I was making sure that all my luggages were inside the room and that I would be able to close the door, I overheard that the reason the rooms were locked (only to be opened by the conductor when the ticket is seen). Apparently someone had gone in to a compartment/room without having bought a bed and had waited there, sitting on the bed, for a conductor to arrive and the bed had already been sold to someone. This means that the bed was ruined and could not be used.
After I had settled down, I went to find the restaurant car. I was not sure of the direction so at first I went to one direction and then changed my way as someone told me it was in the other direction. Then when I had walked through a few cars again I asked from a person coming out from a room if they knew, and they told me that it is in the other direction. So I got my evening walk, by walking up and down the train. Luckily once I got the restaurant car there was no line and I was able to get something to drink (tea for the night and juice for the morning). I went back to my bed and went to sleep. I did not sleep through the whole night, I did wake up once in a while, but as a whole it was a good night.
In the morning my alarm clock informed me that it is 6:15 in the morning and it is time to wake up. I started to dress up and noticed that the train was slowing down. My first thought was that we must be late as we are not supposed to arrive to Kemi in another 13 minutes. To my surprise we were there! I had just woken up and we are at my destination. First I thought that my clock might be wrong, so I just hurried and carried out all my luggages. Luckily (well I bought the bed really close the door...) I did not need to carry my luggages far. I just put my clothes on and made one last check before jumping out of the train.
My clock was right... The train had just been early! This is so weird! On time or late. That is what usually happens. So I was outside waiting for my sister to arrive...
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