Coming to America

Well, we’re back in the US of A (all except Alex, who is staying in Prague to work for Radio Free Europe). But that doesn’t mean the adventure is over. Let’s do a return trip running diary, Bill Simmons style.
8pm: the eagle has landed! Good flight, good movies (Milk, Quantum of Solace, Gran Torino), good times. One problem: my ears won’t pop and now I’m deaf.
10pm: Problems ensue. Four people lost baggage and Dulles is causing us to lose our minds. In Prague, its 4am. We are not happy. Casey might kill the British Airways representative, and I just yelled at my mom for no reason. Not our best hour (that would be at the Largest Dance Club in Central Europe).
11pm: Finally in shuttle to hotel. Silence abounds. Will looks like he just survived the first manned space flight. Get to hotel, take much-needed shower, pass out.
7am: Why in god’s name am I awake? Oh well. Go around DC being a tourist. Walk by White House, am told to leave along with everybody else (Obama’s press conference was supposed to be outside). Return to hotel and watch CSI marathon.
Noon: DC is around 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Get cab to Union Station.
Sidebar: who is running Amtrak? The Manson Family had a more effective operation. The number of angry employees, homeless crazy people, and other randoms has made this a total tranfest. I haven’t been this annoyed since Wrigley changed their gum packaging. On the good side, the number of Crotchety Elderly Black Men Who Are Secretly Knowledgable(think an old Samuel L. Jackson) is also high. That’s a good sign. And I saw an elderly Asian woman wearing a skull and crossbones purse. 4pm: on train to Toledo (a thirteen-hour trip). Whoa. We’re being told not to take pictures of the DC metro crash. We’re on the first train allowed to go by. On a lighter note, we were also told to wear shoes. This trip might be my undoing.
That’s it from me. I hope everyone else has gotten home okay, and hurray Prague!