June 3 ~Arlanda Airport~

Yesterday after we came down from Mt. Floyen, we walked back to our hotel picked up our luggage and flew from Bergen back to Stockholm.  We were staying at a Raddison hotel in the airport called Sky City. It worked out pretty good since we are leaving for home today and it has been very convenient.  We just got off the plane and walked to our hotel.  We did have a brief brush with the authorities.  In our haste to get from the plane to our rooms one of our carts with luggage was left behind on the elevator.  It took us about 10 minutes before we realized it was missing.  We checked all 3 rooms and then located our claim tickets and went out to search.  Ed was first to notice that security had blocked off the elevator next to the reception desk.  As he walked by I guess he happened to see Aunt Dood's purple suitcase on the cart.  He was able to explain how the cart was inadvertantly left behind and the Bomb Squad was cancelled.  Whew, that was embarrassing!

There were two play areas at the airport for the kids to burn some energy before boarding our plane for the states

This was the Junibacken play area from Pippi Longstockings

 Our flight leaves at 2:20 p.m. so we spent most of the morning spending all of our excess Kronor buying souvenirs.  The flight home was uneventful.  Lily slept the leg from Stockholm to Iceland and Luke slept from Iceland to Dulles in DC.  Iceland Air is a great airlines to fly.  They are very kid friendly and provide personal entertainment screens at each seat. The kids got a free hot boxed meal, adults had to pay.
 On the long flight I had time to reflect on what a wonderful opportunity I had been afforded.  We had always traveled when the girls were home and I thought we had visited some pretty neat destinations including Myrtle Beach, the Outer Banks, Florida, a western loop that included Pike's Peak, Mesa Verde, Salt Lake City, Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore and once we even flew to the Bahama Islands.  In return, my girls have given us opportunities to see Hawaii and now Sweden, Norway and Ireland.  Yep, I am thinking that I am indeed blessed beyond measure.

Time to rest up!
This Icelandic Lullabye was written on the pillows on our plane.
Bye bye and hushabye
Can you see the swans fly?
Now half asleep in bed I lie,
Awake with half an eye.
Heyho and welladay,
Over hills and far away,
That's where the little children stray
To find the lambs at play.