DSM to DFW

A view from just beside the moving sidewalk I went down about a dozen times.

And just like that, I'm officially off! Thus far, I've traveled about 1,000 kilometers southwest of Des Moines, where I'm currently sitting at a Coca-Cola "Around the World Experience" booth. Dallas-Fort Worth airport is lovely, and the moving sidewalks have been a great help in stretching my legs before my ten-hour flight to Finland coming up. Highlights of the trip include:

1) An over-the-top flight attendant, who made the safety features of the aircraft seem more like doing the YMCA than the droll and habitual ritual it's usually made out to be.

2) Stopping at the LEGO Store I stumbled upon here in DFW and getting lost in "master builder" mode as I monopolized an open drawer of LEGO pieces they had set out for public use.

3) As previously mentioned, wandering around the airport to stretch my legs, which has led me from sculptures and Italian sandwich shops to murals and candy stores where a small bag of Hershey's Kisses is $16.99.

It's been a blast, to say the least, and I can't wait to see what else is in store for this leg of my journey. I'll catch up with you all again in Helsinki!