101. SAN FRANCISCO, BABY!

We started our journey on Saturday when we headed for Helsinki. We met up with Alexandra's lovely friends Petas, Emma, Hanna, Inga and Julia. Some drinks and burritos at Iguana along with discussions and laughs before we headed out to Vanda airport.

When you leave for the US you're supposed to check in 3 hours prior to take-off. Well, we were at Vanda in time of course, but the counters didn't open until 2 hours before take-off. System failure?

(before picture :P)

We flew to Frankfurt where we had NO time to get to the gate. And apparently that was the case for everyone else as well, so the cue to passport control for US travellers looked like a friggin' cattle house. System failure?

The Boeing 747(!) waited for some of the passengers and we took off for LAX. That was about 10 ½ hours of waiting, eating, sleeping, and the occasional(?) coughing by Alexandra. Definitely system failure on that, but the stewardesses were nice and provided her with water in copious amounts while she looked at her lungs resting in her lap. :)

About 4pm on Sunday we arrived at LAX and we went through immigration. Of course. And we felt raped. Fingerprints and photographs. Questions. Customs. Dogs. Definite system failure! We entered Babylon in peace but were doubted like everyone else. And Harju more or less almost missed his flight to San Francisco due to a locked guitar case and the customs officers who were very interested in his guitar that he had taken into the country perfectly legally.

We reached SFO a bit freaked out and tired but were met by Alexandra's relatives Vicki and Greta who kindly took us to the Best Western hotel El Rancho Inn & Suites in Millbrae where we got a complimentary night (that means FOR FREE so THANK YOU!)! Some Chinese take away from Chef Wang's together with Greta, Vicki and Tanja (thanks!) and we headed for soft beds to get a good night's rest.

(Greta, Vicki, Tanja and the food!)

Today we've woken up to the beautiful California skies and we had some breakfast across the street from our suite at the Millbrae Pancake House. Pancakes are a must-try but Harju and Anna agreed with Alexandra's previous experience - it's a must-try but it's bacon and eggs from now on!

(Anna thinks everything looks like on TV and she is convinced that the water weighs less here. Harju thinks the bananas (on his pancakes) tasted spicy, and of pepper. Alexandra found out that it's easier to cough unnoticed at the Pancake House due to the noise level. System success!)

Our plans regarding recording in Santa Cruz have fallen through so we decided to stay one more night at the hotel and see what the week and the Universe brings us. Today we're heading out to Fisherman's Wharf at least, riding some cable cars and maybe seeing Chinatown.

Until our next awesome blog;
Peace & Love!

//the phoenix crew.