take a train trip

We loved Amtrak! It was a wonderful, relaxing way to take a family vacation—and I say that even though we did not get a sleeper unit. We slept in our seats 2 nights. It was absolutely the best trip we’ve ever taken!!

My first trip was from Boston to Virginia last summer on my own – lovely ride, read and slept and met a few interesting people.

My second trip was last fall with my boyfriend, going from New York City to Toronto, Canada. The fall scenery was breathtaking, especially in upstate New York and around Niagara, but the trip took several extra hours, had delays for track work, and was generally exhausting! And…horrible train food. Lessons learned = bring more of my own food, and don’t expect to get to the destination on time.

I think I’ll take the Amtrak from Pittsburgh to Boston this August when I go to the APA conference… cheaper than flying or driving, and less trouble.

I’m asking for a train trip for Christmas!

Going on a train trip from Sydney to Perth in a Gold Class Kangaroo cabin, eating delicious food and reading Austen or Forster or James or something fitting for a three day journey. My boyfriend loves trains, so that’s a plus. It’s just too bad that the cost is something like $1200 a person!

but barely.

Amtrak is not known for its punctuality, with good reason. Our departure from Sacramento to Seattle was 2 1/2 hrs. late, as was our arrival back at Sacramento. The dining car menu reads like one from a fine restaurant, but the food was more like something you would find in a cafe in a hospital basement somewhere. The “roomette” in the sleeper car was like a coffin, and the “bed” was really a rack left over from the Inquisition.

But on the plus side, the stuffed chairs in the lounge car were comfy, and the scenery rolling by the large picture windows was wonderful.

I’d love to go to Edinburgh via train, but the cost is more than if I took a plane there, and it would be quicker. Stupid isn’t it? I don’t understand how they can charge as much as they do for train fares, it’s crazy.

is scheduled to leave at midnight.

How romantic is that? Maybe I’ll have to buy a fedora and a trenchcoat.

:)

tickets in hand.

^{i think i can}

i think i can

i think i can
I THINK I can
I THINK I CAN…

^{next month!}

:)