Part
Three – Chicago to Washington
This
the only one of the three main legs that arrived basically on time.
It
was while I was having lunch in the dining car that an other older
couple overheard me talking about my cruise and piped up that they
too were on the Grand Princess but had never heard of Cruise Critic.
When
you go to eat on the trains unless you are a foursome they will seat
you at the first available space at a table – with one exception I
had great table mates and made early friends with Doug – a retired
family doctor now living in the Seattle area who was in the sleeper
across from me – first time for him on a train for many many years
– he found it some what to his liking – the small confined space
of our sleepers he overcame by spending much of his time in the
lounge car – he also spent time reading books on his e-reader –
he finally detrained at Orlando where his daughter met him and who
then go to Sarasota.
My
breakfast choice as I mentioned early was French toast and that was
on the menu on this train – why Amtrak can't have the same basic
choices on all of their trains I have never understood.
While
on the Empire Builder we had a great crew on this train they weren't
as nearly friendly or talkative.
As
it was a noon time arrival I didn't get lunch on board so I decided
to eat at one of the restaurants in Washington D.C. Union station
which is as much a shopping and eatery as it is a train station –
choose to eat at McDonald's. How is it that McDonald's advertises the
$ menu and there aren't any of those at this one.
I
have checked into the Club Acela lounge which is what the first class
lounge is called here – stow my luggage, quickly check my emails –
this time the wi-fi was actually working. While I know it will be
cold outside I decide to head out and get some fresh air – I was
originally going to head for the National Mall but with a bitter wind
in my face I ended up checking out the area to the left of the
station as you exit – it is called the Capitol Hill heritage
district – lots of old homes – everyone of which seems to belong
to some never heard of before lobby or special interest groups
judging by the small nameplates on the front door – contrast that
with the huge banner that hung from the International Union of
Teamsters building lauding the Obama/Biden team as great friends of
working Americans.
Came
across St Joseph's Catholic Church which dates back to the 1800 and
which had the late Senator Robert f Kennedy as both a church goer and
participant in parish activities – picked up a copy of the church
bulletin to give to my godmother Rosie who is a lot more Catholic
than i am these days.
So
after coming in from the cold I return to the lounge and await the
departure of the Silver Meteor for the final leg of the trip to Fort
Lauderdale – and we waited and waited and waited – finally
announced that boarding was delayed at least 45 minutes – my now I
am in need of some food – while they will serve us supper on the
train since we don't know when we will leave I opt to grab a quick
small bite to eat in the food court.
We
finally get the word that boarding will start around 8:15 PM – some
45 minutes late and we will then proceed directly to the diner and
our supper.
Next
Part Four: the final leg Washington to Fort Lauderdale.
Cheers!
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