I can't believe it has already been two weeks since we started off on our trip to Idaho!  Sorry that I haven't posted although I think of different stories I want to post quite often.  Our adventure started at 6:30 AM on 29 July when my friend 'I' picked us up and drove us to the airport near Helsinki.  It was a couple hours drive and was uneventful.  When we got to the airport, I was under the impression that Alpo needed to be in his crate the entire time, so we put him and his crate on a cart and took him in with my three huge suitcases which he barked nonstop.  When we got checked in, I was informed that Alpo should be taken to the gate in a couple more hours and that he doesn't need to be in the crate yet.  We spent the time walking around the airport and played with some of his toys outside.  I was really quite nervous for him as I knew he didn't know what was happening.  About 75 minutes before our flight took off, I took Alpo to the check-in desk and was escorted to security.  They checked his crate and then Alpo was put in the crate and taken away.  I then went through security and prayed that he would be in Seattle when I arrived 18 hours later.  The trip itself was uneventful.  I did get some pictures (which I will add later) of the luggage guys putting Alpo in cargo in Helsinki.  In the airports, I met and small-talked to strangers...normal travel stuff.  When I arrived in Seattle and once I went through passport control, I asked about Alpo and they told me to go to a certain office and show the paperwork, which I did.  All they wanted to see was the indication that he had his rabies shots up to date.  The other paperwork I had was not looked at by anyone, but I'm glad I still had it.  While I was getting my luggage in customs, my name was called and someone had just inspected Alpo and I asked how he was.  I was told that he was in good spirits and was wagging his tail as they did the physical inspection.  Once I left customs, I made my way to the baggage area (in the states, once you go through customs, you have to give your luggage back and pick it up at a different point) where I was told Alpo would be waiting.  I got there and took him out and we were both excited to see each other.  The two men that carried him down, did not ask for any paperwork, but I guess assumed that we belonged together the way we were acting.  Alpo did quite well, the crate did stink and he was very, very thirsty.   I gave him a bottle of water I had saved from the plane and within ten minutes, he threw it all up.  We arrived in Seattle on a record-breaking day--it had never been that hot.  I tried to use my new phone and it wouldn't work and my Aunt and Uncle were waiting for my call.  I finally got Alpo, his crate and all my luggage moved to a waiting area and started a conversation with a guy who eventually let me use his cell phone to call my aunt and uncle.  Aunt A came with an "Alpo bag", which consisted of:  food, water, disinfectant, paper towels, rubber gloves, etc. so I was able to clean the crate before he had to go back in--I was so grateful for her thoughtfulness.  So, this part of the journey was over.  Check back for what happened next!

 Today, four of us went on a boat cruise in the center of Finland.  It was a fairly small boat, but still very nice.  We went about two hours in the water heading to a vineyard--stayed at the vineyard for an hour and then returned.  Then we went to the neighbors place and played some music (I listened) and then a traditional Finnish sauna.  It was a very nice day!