The direct flight from Detroit to Nagoya on Delta is very convenient for several reasons. One is that once you get on in Detroit, you are done flying if Nagoya is your final destination. Previously we would fly from Chicago to Tokyo and then, after the long 12 hour flight, suffer through a 3 hour layover to catch the Tokyo to Nagoya leg of the trip. You are murderously tired and you still have hours before settling in at your hotel. But in Nagoya we breezed through immigration and customs and that is because almost all the other passengers continued on to the Phillippines. That made for a very quick document check process and soon we were on the shuttle bus to our hotel.

We stay at the AB Hotel right next to the Mikawa-Anjo Shinkansen station, very conveniently located. There are a few restaurants and small bars close by and our hands-down favorite is a delightful cafe called Choux and Cream. *I apologize for the lack of proper punctuation; this is being typed on a japanese computer keyboard and the letters and characters are a bit different. So, I can't figure out how to use parenthesis, quotes and others. (* Choux and Cream serves the usual array of coffees and other beverages, including top shelf liquor and wine and beer. From the outside it is pretty cute and it's obviously an eating establishment but it also looks like it's a baby-clothes shop. But wait, it's not; because those are not baby clothes prettily displayed in the front of the store, but doggie outfits and accessories of every kind. Here, the regulars are not only hip, young attractive single women and couples, but their dogs too. Yes, here you may bring your pup, as long as it is well trained and preferably outfitted with some piece of doggie apparel and/or accessory. While sipping on a kir royal, you can peruse the extensive selection of dresses or suits and collars and sweaters for your poodle or retriever. You may might think that Kaori, the attractive, charming 35-something owner runs the place but you would be mistaken for it is actually her two fluffy puffy black and gray poodles, named Choux and Peace, father and son. Cream was Peace's mother. Choux and Cream run in and out of the wide open doors of the cafe when customers arrive (there is a safe parking lot( and they will sit across the table from you on the white leather chairs, but only if invited. Choux and Peace also favor the barstools where they may garner a treat from their owner if they are being especially irresistable. I still have to find out how this situation is possible because there is a board of health in Japan too, of course. Photos will also follow.