Leave MSP at 3:10 CST. Hug my mom goodbye half a dozen times. Smooth travels from MSP to Amsterdam (AMS). Suppose to meet fellow traveler at AMS and continue travel together from there. Her flight is delayed due to an emergency medical landing in Ireland, misses connection. I chat with Pa via Skype and take self-portrait in AMS.

I continue on very empty 747 to NBO with beautiful Dutch flight attendants dressed in baby blue. De-plane, and immediately go through passport check. Older Dutch couple and I clearly have no idea how to navigate the paperwork. We are summoned by Kenyan government official, and follow him down hallway while he asks us to pay him the $50 visa fee. Our passports are stamped and we're on our way. Pick up my luggage, which includes last bag put on carousal. Wait in customs line while folks have luggage inspected. Summed by another Kenya gov’t official and am waived through line, 100 lbs of luggages unopened. Get taxi ride to hotel, send emails regarding transport to Wilson airport the following day. Take a life-affirming shower, sleep restlessly.

Around midnight it begins to rain in Nairobi.