On the Train to Chicago
We’ve been terribly amiss, dear readers, in corresponding with you. The usual holiday hectiness, what with our overly active social life and all – plus the crushing demands of our career - have kept us away from the blog at danlangdon.com. But I did want to drop you a line and keep you all “abreast” of my progress
The train trip to Chicago was very pleasant, but I must admit that it got off to a rocky start: Something having to do with one of the coach cars kept us at the station until 9:15pm (our regular departure being 4:45) but the crew covered well: They brought the train down to the station (so we didn’t have to wait in the waiting room), and served dinner and drinks. We of course had a deluxe accommodation, and the colonel sat with us while the conductor and dining car steward came by, so that proper introductions could be made. Soon, we were happily engrossed in the latest “Vanity Fair” when the train started moving, and were sound asleep by the time we reached the Cascade Tunnel.
We woke the next morning in Idaho, still woefully late, but we were glad of it: That part of the route is usually seen only in the darkness which is a shame: The scenery was amazing. Amtrak should consider altering the schedule of this train, as the normal schedule would allow us just a few hours of mountain viewing in the daylight. As it is, we saw the Rockies in all their glory, and by the time we reached the drearier parts (eastern Montana and North Dakota) it was dark. We awoke the next morning in Western Minnesota, and spent the day traveling down the Mississippi to La Crosse, the zipped across Wisconsin, finally arriving in Chicago at 9:30pm or thereabouts.
Upon arriving, we hastened to the Palmer House and then to Trader Vic’s for a MaiTai and an order of their crab Rangoon, which are the best things out there.
A quick inspection tour of the loop hotels followed (but very quick – it was too cold to venture very far) and then off to bed.
Some Christmas shopping today, then back to Union Station to catch the 2pm Zephyr to Omaha.
The train trip to Chicago was very pleasant, but I must admit that it got off to a rocky start: Something having to do with one of the coach cars kept us at the station until 9:15pm (our regular departure being 4:45) but the crew covered well: They brought the train down to the station (so we didn’t have to wait in the waiting room), and served dinner and drinks. We of course had a deluxe accommodation, and the colonel sat with us while the conductor and dining car steward came by, so that proper introductions could be made. Soon, we were happily engrossed in the latest “Vanity Fair” when the train started moving, and were sound asleep by the time we reached the Cascade Tunnel.
We woke the next morning in Idaho, still woefully late, but we were glad of it: That part of the route is usually seen only in the darkness which is a shame: The scenery was amazing. Amtrak should consider altering the schedule of this train, as the normal schedule would allow us just a few hours of mountain viewing in the daylight. As it is, we saw the Rockies in all their glory, and by the time we reached the drearier parts (eastern Montana and North Dakota) it was dark. We awoke the next morning in Western Minnesota, and spent the day traveling down the Mississippi to La Crosse, the zipped across Wisconsin, finally arriving in Chicago at 9:30pm or thereabouts.
Upon arriving, we hastened to the Palmer House and then to Trader Vic’s for a MaiTai and an order of their crab Rangoon, which are the best things out there.
A quick inspection tour of the loop hotels followed (but very quick – it was too cold to venture very far) and then off to bed.
Some Christmas shopping today, then back to Union Station to catch the 2pm Zephyr to Omaha.
posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay @ Wednesday, December 22, 2004
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