We're home

At 10 PM, 26 hours after we left our hotel in Japan, we arrived home. Aside from the length of the trip, nothing remarkable happened. We spent many hours in airport lounges, which was quieter than sitting at the gate, but with fewer shopping opportunities.

Two things about Minneapolis Airport. First, there can't be a better place to clean customs anywhere in the US. We were through no more than 20 minutes after the plane landed (too bad we had a 4 hour layover). Second, they have very high-end vending machines, including an i-Pod machine where you can swipe your credit card and get a Nano and a protective case.

I must also add that the Northwest international service was excellent, but the plane from Minneapolis to Philly was dirty (inside I mean), no pillows of blankets even in first class, awful food, and the shabbiest, noisiest baggage claim wheel I've seen anywhere. I couldn't believe it continued to work for long enough to get the baggage out.

So we're home. Time to dig through the mail, get Celia, re-enter our lives here.