Train Time/On the way to New Orleans

 
Soon after boarding our train, we made our way to our sleeping compartment, which is set up with two seats facing one another in the 'awake' mode.

These seats fold down into a bottom bunk, and the ceiling panel lowers to create an upper bunk.  It felt like camping to me - where there were lots of little hooks and cubbies in which to tuck your stuff.  It also reminded me of a ship cabin/submarine.  If you are looking for lots of room, you'll have to go to the observation car.  But first, it was time for dinner.

Since we got a late start, dinner service started immediately, and because we had a sleeping car all our meals were included.  The dining car staff seats you with other riders as you enter.  Riding Amtrak brought a surprising element to our trip - the number of people from other countries that we encountered. We were fortunate to be seated with a lovely couple from Warsaw, Poland, who spoke far better English than I do Polish (i.e. I really don't speak another language).  I had noticed the gentleman had giant sideburns - it turned out that they were going to get off the train the next morning in Memphis and Graceland was the highlight of their trip to the United States.  We learned that he worked for the Polish railroad system, and that he had over 600 Elvis recordings and movies.  It was really fun and engaging to have dinner with them.

On the way back to the sleeper car, an older guy with a grumpy face started complaining to me about the size of the sleeping cars and how terribly they were designed.  I listened politely until he suggested whoever made them this way should be shot, and then I smiled, said I really liked my car, and left him scowling in the hallway.

Sleep that night was fragmented and not restful at all.  I think it was the combination of being so excited, in a strange bed that rocked back and forth with the track, and the ever-constant train whistle; sleep wasn't really happening that night.  Still, I think it was totally worth it, and if we were to take a multi-night trip, it's likely that one would get used to the train whistle and the motion.

Very awake.

 

For the next day's breakfast we dined with a couple from Memphis who were getting off at their stop quite soon.  Then, Jeff and I enjoyed the observation car - wide lounge seats, excellent vistas of the rural south, and lots of time to dive into my two vacation books:  "I Am Pilgrim" and "The Vacationers."  Both are great reads, by the way.

Lunch was with a couple from Canada, and he too worked for a railroad, in this case the CNA, which he pointed out another train as we passed, and I saw the logo, which was familiar to my American eyes.  We were starting to sense a railroad employee theme here.

The train stopped several times to let passengers off/on, usually in back-lot, out of the way locations:

We arrived in New Orleans in late afternoon, and as we disembarked, both Jeff and I agreed we would incorporate train travel again in the future.

Next:  Bourbon Street, Frenchman Street, and spotting our fellow train passengers.

p.s.:  not really....