JAPAN!

 On April 9, 2026 we left our cats in the exceptional care of Kirsten and Maline Heike and flew United to Tokyo.  The first leg was from San Antonio to Denver.  We were concerned about making our connection, because we departed 45 minutes late.  Not to worry!  Our flight out of Denver was 2-1/2 hours late!

I brought bags of Easter candy for our flight crews and they thanked us profusely.  On the second leg, I was offered a first class dessert, but I declined because I was full.  Later, a flight attendant gave me a set of pajamas from first class!

When we got to Tokyo we had wheelchair service through baggage claim and customs.  That was very advantageous, because they expedited our way through the tangle of the airport and the rules and regulations of customs and immigration.  Not to mention, it was a long distance!  We found our ground transportation without much trouble.  The drive was supposed to take one hour twenty minutes, but it took 2 hours.   I was beginning to wonder if we would EVER get to the hotel in Yokohama.  

I must say, the drivers in Japan seem to be very good, and the highway systems are very efficient!

We got to the hotel about 8pm, and we were more than ready for bed.  The Hilton here is very luxurious.  The elevators!  You can’t even tell that they are moving—and we are on the 23rd floor!

And the toilet is a bidet.  The seat is warmed!  When you approach it, the lid automatically opens.  I have never used one before, so I have been experimenting.  Poor Paul didn’t realize what it was at first. What he thought was an arm rail was actually the controls!  So every time he sat down he thought the toilet was acting arbitrarily. 🤔  

We have a window wall that looks out on Tokyo Bay.   The city is lovely at any time of day.  It was dark last night by 5pm, but it was light at 4am.  So I got up and took pictures while Paul slept in.

Tomorrow we can board the Westerdam at noon, so we will have a leisurely morning.  The cruise port is a ten minute taxi ride away.








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