7th of August, 2022.
Hitchhiking in Finland.
A few metres down the hotel, a car passes by with an elderly couple, but then they stop. I have seen them yesterday, at the hotel. They arrived by the time I was waiting for the rain to stop. They are going to Munio and say they can take me there. Yay!
I chat a little bit with the lady. Her husband doesn’t speak much English but he is really nice. She translates to him a little bit about my travels. They are visiting friends in Munio.
When we get to the town, they ask me where I would like to stay. I tell them I will cross to Sweden, so anywhere on the road to there. But they decide to take me to the border! They say it is only 2 Km so it is no big deal. Owm! Still, that’s very nice!
I get a bit nervous about getting off just outside the border. What if there are officers there? What if they decide to ask me questions? I know it is a Schengen area, so they shouldn’t, but what if? I don’t know if it is because it is Sunday or what, but there is nobody there. I know it might sound as I worry too much about this stuff but it is not so bad as it sounds. I just… think about it. I don’t panic or go crazy, I just think.
The husband helps me taking out my backpack and he gives me a strong hand shake and with an encouraging smile he says “ye”.
I cross the bridge. Not metaphoric. There is a bridge dividing the countries. Across the bridge, I enter Sweden.
I walk for a while. It seems I am the only human being in the planet. It is peaceful and quiet. I love it! A few cars pass, nobody stops.
After a short rest, the road starts going down, and I feel confident that I can walk for a long time now. Will I arrive in Muodoslompo by walking?
I don’t. Soon enough a car stops. Juri is going to the next town or something, and he says he can take me to Muodoslompo. He wants to do some shopping, but I tell him the shop in Muodoslompo is closed on Sunday. How I know? Well, my host owns the shop and she told me. She is off today, waiting for me at home. Laugh.
I tell Juri I know how to get to the shop but not to her house. I have her address, but not the directions. I can either call her and ask her to pick me up from the shop or Juri can drive me there. He tells me he can drive.
We arrive to the address, the last house on the street. I see Daisy outside and she is lovely! She is very happy to see me but much well behaved. I cannot get to the door because there is a fence around the balcony. I try knocking on the door but nobody answers. I call Susie from Juri’s phone and she answers. I tell her I am in front of what I believe to be her house. “Really?” – she says. “I was vacuuming the house so I didn’t hear it” – and she opens the doors. Hey hey!
10 Years Around the World 