Tokyo, here we come

Friday morning (June 10), and we pack up, check out and head for the airport, after getting breakfast. I have opted for the late shuttle (our flight doesn't leave until 1:35 PM), so I have a leisurely meal and take my time getting ready.

The airport run is straightforward; the lines to check-in are long (obviously this is a full flight), but we get through without a problem. Security is...security, but it's not all that bad, if you know and understand the process. (I still marvel at the folks who try to argue about things like unpacking laptop computers and removing shoes, and anyone who insists on wearing half a ton of jewelry on a plane deserves whatever happens to them at the scanner.)

We finally board - I've got a window seat, so I watch as our luggage is loaded and then as we take off. The pilot tells us that we will fly almost directly west, rather than making the northward loop; my guess is that all of the rainy weather in the Pacific Northwest is making it problematic for flying. It will cut down on the time it takes to fly over, so that is a good thing.

The flight entertainment system has 'issues' - we end up seeing "The Pacifier" (a fluffy Disney flick) and the first of the Bridget Jones movies instead of the scheduled "Sideways" and "Coach Carter", but X-Men still makes the cut. However, somewhat to my surprise, I manage to fall asleep, so I miss out on most of them.

We had one small piece of excitement 2 hours into the flight; the attendants come on the intercom and ask if there is a professional doctor on board, as they have a "medical emergency" up in Business class. Shortly after, the seatbelt signs come on (to prevent gawkers, I think), and then nothing more. A couple of people sitting closer to the front later say that someone was having breathing difficulties, but it may have been just a panic attack. We didn't have to turn back to SF, and no one was carried out on a stretcher when we arrived at Narita Airport, so I presume things turned out okay.

Food was good - Beef brisket and stirred-fried beef and rice were my two meal choices, and we had plenty of beverages. (I ended up not drinking any alcohol - I'm already asleep; I don't need anything else - but I did have lots of green tea, which is better for me anyway.)

We arrive at Narita Airport on Saturday late afternoon (the International Date Line strikes again!), go through immigration and customs (no big deal), find our JFMF language teachers and board the bus for the hotel. I am happy to discover that as we get close to Akasaka, I remember landmarks and some of the roads - that gives me a good feeling about my upcoming stay.

Ed Jones is waiting for us at the hotel, with money in hand. We check in, group together to go find dinner (Angie and I, and others, opt for a Royal Host across the street from the subway station - it's a Denny's-type restaurant, with American style food, but Japanese twists on some of them), then turn in for the night. Sunday will be our first full day here.