Japan Day #1

A few misadventures before we could start our trip.

Meadow had to work before we left, and Hazel had kindergarten testing first thing. This means we were SUPER late getting out of the house. We also discovered Hazel's raincoat was way too small, and we had rain predicted every day. Geoff thought we could just "pick one up in Japan". Meadow thought we should stop at Target. Meadow won, luckily. We never saw a raincoat our entire trip. In and out of Target in FOUR minutes! I am very proud. I think that is a record.

We get to the airport maybe 31 minutes before our flight leaves. Geoff drops Hazel and Meadow off at the terminal and goes to park. Everything is going smoothly until we get the "Please see agent for assistance" message. Not good. The line is long. Our INTERNATIONAL flight is leaving. We still have security. Bogus. Turns out, you have to check in like an hour before your flight leaves. We don't make the LAX flight, no double-decker plane. 

Luckily, there is a PDX flight in just over an hour, and the PDX to Tokyo flight is wide open. Perfect. We do that, get checked in and mosey to our gate. Unfortunately, SLC-PDX is pretty full and we barely squeak on the plane. But we get on and everyone is happy. Hazel sat by two strangers (strangers!) who were super nice and helpful.

Portland is lovely and has a great airport. We buy a Japanese phrase book and some pretzels with fondue and wait for our flight. Hazel and I also raced in a deserted part of the airport. She would run on the moving sidewalk and I would run next to it. I am sure this was not safe, but it sure was fun.

Finally time for our flight and we all get Business Class! This was Hazel's first big Business Class trip and she did great. She says she likes coach better because, "you can put the armrest up and snuggle." Snuggling is great, but I would rather sleep. 

Business Class!

We watched some movies, ate some food, had some tasty beverages and napped. When we woke up, we were in Japan! And it was the next day. So technically, this was day -1 or 0. Depending on your method of counting.

My memories of arriving and security and luggage are all pretty vague. We were completely out of our element and the only way we found our bus (and deciphered how to get tickets) was a helpful kid from our flight.

Our bus ride to the hotel. FYI, this bus ride cost as much as our RT plane tickets.

We found our hotel, dropped our stuff off and went to find food. The guy at the table next to us was teaching English. He was born in Provo and raise in Hawaii. Small world.

Mister Donut

 Hazel and I shared a giant ice cream.

We wandered around. Found a little convenience store (claiming to be a grocery store, pshaw) and stocked up on snacks. Wandered more and then decided we needed to sleep.

To be continued....