Something ghetto in Stockholm? It's Aeroflot, of course! 021006

Hej hej!
Well, I have had quite a day. Last night I woke up at 1 a.m. and looked at the clock and swore that I had missed work and my plane today. I got up and started throwing things in my bag. I looked at the clock again and realized that it would be 13:00 if it were 1 a.m. I was so worked up. I went back to bed, but I really didn't sleep well. So, I'm pretty tired today. I'm looking forward to sleeping on the plane.

I went to work and thankfully got everything finished before I had to leave. I left at noon thinking there might be traffic on the way to the airport. Also, it is snowing, so I figured I might need some extra time. It only took 20 minutes. My driver was Polish from Warsaw. He was quite nice. I told him my maiden name… and he says, "Oh, like the deer." Yes, Sarno like the deer. Thankfully, the drive was uneventful. There was no ranting about Kurdish independence, talks about the sovereignty of Turkey, or discussions of Bush's policy, just a nice, peaceful ride to the airport. I didn't even have to fight with him about where the airport is as I often do in Russia. He even slowed down so I could take pictures in the center of Stockholm. I gave him a big tip for being so nice.

My flight was at 3:40 p.m. So, when I arrived the check ins for Aeroflot were not yet open. I sat down in the airport and people watched. There are tons of little beautiful toe headed babies to watch, so I was quite entertained. There are so many more babies here than in the US. Everyone is pregnant or has a child between the ages of 0 and 2. I've noticed this trend in London as well. Because of this trend, there are so many baby stores and maternity stores. I see them everywhere. So, finally the Aeroflot desk opens. Because it was in Sweden, it was actually efficient… Well, as efficient as Aeroflot can muster. My luggage was overweight. They made me check my carryon, so it brought me 13kg overweight. So, I had to walk over to Aeroflot desk and pay $50 extra. At the Aeroflot desk they had this sticker. This is so Russian. It made me laugh. It said, "If we are not smiling, we are just working hard to make you smile." Yeah… okay. Sure… that's what that must be! Everyone in Russia is working hard to make me smile…

Anyway, so I get through security… no problem of course. This is Sweden. Everything is fast and efficient. I get some food. It was not as good as the hotel breakfast, but it is still better than airport food in the US. I walk through the pristine, very Ikea looking airport. Finally, I get to Immigration. Again, this only take 30 seconds. As I enter the terminal, I see an old guy in an airport uniform (60ish) zip by me on a bright green scooter with a basket on the front. Interesting!

When I get in the terminal, I am surprised. Gone is the beauty and simplicity of the normal Arlanda airport experience. In its place is ugly orangey red marble. What?!? Don't they know that this is Sweden and fashion of that sort is unacceptable. I thought about this and reconciled it to the fact that this is the Aeroflot terminal. They must be trying to reduce the culture shock from Sweden to Moscow. Also, gone is the friendliness of the Swedish. In its place are cold Russian looks. At the desk, I talked to the old guy with the scooter. He had parked his scooter in the designated scooter parking spot. He said that they call the scooters "frogs" due to their green color and that Aeroflot was the first to introduce them in the airport. He said that his office was on the other side of the airport, so, this way, he could get back and forth quickly. I just can't imagine my dad buzzing around work on a bright green scooter with a basket.
Time to board. You'll hear from me in Moscow. I am always nervous leaving and landing snowy runways.

So, here we are on the plane. The plane is actually quite nice. It is only half full. The guy in front me smells like he hasn't showered in a month. I ask the stewardess if I can move forward, she says, "Okay." I listen to the boarding announcements. The announcer has obviously never lived in an English speaking country as when he comes to the English translation, he skips the words that he can't pronounce right. Thus the announcements end up funnily broken, i.e. For the seat belt announcement he says only, "Fasten strap." Sure. Okay. I listen to the Russian. For the next two hours, I am knocked out. I wake up in time to fill out my arrival card and help the Swedish couple next to me with theirs. They are not in English… only Russian.

I wait in "line" for Immigration forever. People butt in front of me. Whatever, Welcome to Russia. People smoke in line. Ugh! I'm missing Sweden already. I get through Immigration okay. The lady x-rays me with her cold stare and stamps my passport in the wrong spot. Hopefully, they won't give me too much trouble about this when it is time to leave.
Thankfully, my luggage is the first off of the belt! Yea! I guess the extra $50 pays off. Yuri is not there to greet me. Instead it is Sergei. As I step outside, the cold is like nothing else I've ever felt. December is child's play compared to February. The wind chill is -27 degrees C. You feel like you are being slapped on whatever skin is exposed. Dang, it must be crap to be an Eskimo, penguin or polar bear. This is no fun!!! http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/01/21/russia.cold.ap/index.html

I hope you are all well!
Warmest wishes, (hahaha)
Amanda

**Note: I left the cord to download my pictures from my camera at home. I will upload all of the pictures when I return to the States in March.