Land-cruising on the Amtrak from South Florida to New York at the end of September was a most enjoyable adventure. Train travel is unique and takes time, but given the state of airlines at this juncture, Gerry and I decided it was time to jump aboard.
Our boarding station was in West Palm Beach and to say it is easy is an understatement. The station is small, so it is simply a matter of ticketing, getting bags checked, locating your car and stepping up.
We opted for a roomette and were advised to check our large bags and bring only a small tote aboard. Taking them at their word (they are the professionals, right?), we did our best to comply. Honestly, it wasn't as easy as it sounds. It is amazing how much a person needs for a 24-hour journey up the eastern seaboard.
The roomettes in the sleeping car are quite small, but adequate and better than attemtping to sleep in the coach car.
Gerry and I faced each other and enjoyed relaxing, reading and gazing at the changing countryside. There are electrical outlets, so I brought a small DVD player. The stops at various stations provided an opportunity to either step off for a lovely stretch or merely catch a glimpse of architectural differences in station design.
Meals are included with the ticket price and are nice and sometimes we found ourselves meeting interesting types. If you are not comfortable dining with strangers I suggest you speak with the train attendants about the possibility of a special arrangement. There is an attendant for every sleeping car, so ask when you need something.
The bath presents another situation of sorts.
A shower is provided, it is not in your roomette, but down the hallway. Bring flipflops, but they provide soap, towels, etc.
Now, to the other bath feature. There is no delicate way to convey, so here it is. The commode is right in the roomette with you. I mean right there, covered with a secure lid, but you have no privacy. We opted to step into the hallway for each other and made it work. The sink pulls down from the wall and, like the shower, Amtrak provides towels and soap. Basically, it is very similar to the toilet in an airplane, just imagine that it is placed right next to your seat and you have the idea.
From West Palm Beach, Florida, the train arrives at Penn Station, at Madison Square Garden. Be prepared for a bit of confusion and waiting in the luggage claim area. Not too drastic, but after 24-hours on a train, we were ready for our hotel and to set about doing what we do in one of our favorite cities.
One more thing, I took motion sickness tablets just like I do on the sea. It's amazing how much motion you feel when the train ramps up to a higher speed. We arrived in the Big Apple one hour early, believe me we rocked on the tracks.
Land-cruising is fabulous and we have more things in the queue. -- Pam
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