The Train Trip
We decided to another "first"! We took a train trip from Cincinnati, Ohio with the final destination being Tampa, Florida. We boarded a train in Cincinnati. We looked like immigrants! We had "roll as you go" suitcases--a wonderful invention! We had a small pillow. I had a second roll as you go bag that resembled a carpet bag suitcase. We had small rolled up blankets like the cowboys carry in those old westerns. The only thing we were missing was the horse! We looked like we were headed for Ellis Island! As we moved along the sidewalk to board the train the first thing we saw was a man with several tattoes and a nail through his nose! I thought to myself, "What in the world have we gotten ourselves into"? We boarded the train and got to our seats. We didn't have a sleeper car which in retrospect I know we should have definitely gone for! This became more and more evident as we made our way down the tracks!
We picked up a drunk in Virginia. He provided a couple hours of entertainment. I tried to warn the African-American family who was sitting behind us. He wandered back and saw them. We sat and watched as the man walked toward the children and said, "Dance like Michael Jackson for me". I thought to myself, "Okay, now we're going to witness a race riot"! The man left, and one of the women ran to get the conductor. The conductor came back and told the man to sit down and be quiet. As soon as the conductor was out of the car the man wandered up to the restrooms which are located at the front of each train car. He went into the Women's Room then the door slid open as we watched him bounce out of there and into the Men's Room across the hall. This happened a few times then the man sat down. In a short time, however, he stood up and began his run through the cars with the conductor always at least one car length behind him. This cat and mouse game went on in our car for a few times then the man finally sat down. Eventually he left the train, and our journey continued all the better to be rid of him!
We ventured to the Snack Car. There was a man in there with a videocamera. He asked us to join him. He was very nice. He said he was kind of like a "On The Road with Charles Kuralt" type who rode on trains videotaping his fellow travelers as he interviewed them. When I gave my opinions he disagreed with everything I said. Evidentally everyone is entitled to their opinion, but he is self-appointed critic! He added that he held contempt for the media after which I reminded him that he was a film-maker!
Later on in the journey the train stopped for one of several times. Apparently, a driver tried to drive his car around the crossing bars on the road, and we hit him! He was fine, but his car was demolished! The train moved on! The food in the Dining Car was very good. Most of the people we talked to were very nice.
One lady got on at one point and asked all the time she was on the train if the person she was calling on her cell phone could hear her. I don't know if they could hear her, but we could! Ah, public transportation! More grist for the writer's mill!
Recommendations: If you take the train, take plenty of reading materials, get a sleeping car, take your own bottled water, or take an airplane!
We picked up a drunk in Virginia. He provided a couple hours of entertainment. I tried to warn the African-American family who was sitting behind us. He wandered back and saw them. We sat and watched as the man walked toward the children and said, "Dance like Michael Jackson for me". I thought to myself, "Okay, now we're going to witness a race riot"! The man left, and one of the women ran to get the conductor. The conductor came back and told the man to sit down and be quiet. As soon as the conductor was out of the car the man wandered up to the restrooms which are located at the front of each train car. He went into the Women's Room then the door slid open as we watched him bounce out of there and into the Men's Room across the hall. This happened a few times then the man sat down. In a short time, however, he stood up and began his run through the cars with the conductor always at least one car length behind him. This cat and mouse game went on in our car for a few times then the man finally sat down. Eventually he left the train, and our journey continued all the better to be rid of him!
We ventured to the Snack Car. There was a man in there with a videocamera. He asked us to join him. He was very nice. He said he was kind of like a "On The Road with Charles Kuralt" type who rode on trains videotaping his fellow travelers as he interviewed them. When I gave my opinions he disagreed with everything I said. Evidentally everyone is entitled to their opinion, but he is self-appointed critic! He added that he held contempt for the media after which I reminded him that he was a film-maker!
Later on in the journey the train stopped for one of several times. Apparently, a driver tried to drive his car around the crossing bars on the road, and we hit him! He was fine, but his car was demolished! The train moved on! The food in the Dining Car was very good. Most of the people we talked to were very nice.
One lady got on at one point and asked all the time she was on the train if the person she was calling on her cell phone could hear her. I don't know if they could hear her, but we could! Ah, public transportation! More grist for the writer's mill!
Recommendations: If you take the train, take plenty of reading materials, get a sleeping car, take your own bottled water, or take an airplane!
posted by The Celtic Contessa at
5:08 PM
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