Hotel California (Zephyr)

 

The journey continues! I met a lovely, older, talkative, Amish man waiting to board the Zephyr. He was excited to tell me about his travels to Boise, Idaho for a week before he headed off to the Grand Canyon! It certainly sounded good to me! He talked of his travels with a light in his eyes and a giant smile on his face.  Before we finished our conversation we were herded in different directions for the duration of our trips. The California Zephyr is a much bigger and infinitely nicer train than the Lake Shore Limited (which I have learned is nicknamed the "Late For Sure Limited"). As my Sherpa didn't make it into Chicago on time, I schlepped my bags through the narrow corridors of the very last train car, the 533 Sleeper, and found my room (rather roomette, as Amtrak calls it). There were no mirrors on the ceiling, or pink champagne on ice (nor will there be a bird symphony at 4am or an attack cat). Initially it reminded me of what I think the inside of a mausoleum might look like, with  two very small compartments, one top bunk and one bottom bunk that is created when the seats flatten out. It could probably fit two coffins, but nothing else.

(This is one half of my Roomette...the other half is a mirror image.)

 

My first impression was that it was so very small and isolated. However, it now seems spacious and deliciously silent. I can sit and stare out the window without hearing anything but the sounds of the train on the tracks. If I want to meet and chat with people, I can go to one of the lounges or the observation car. I have a ridiculous amount of "stuff" with me to keep me busy in the form of books, movies, TV shows, crossword puzzles, playing cards, Guitar Hero (on my phone), etc... but I have used surprisingly little of it. I am content to sit and watch the world go by! One thing that has been frustrating is that it is very hard to take a good picture through the dirty train windows, especially when the train is moving. Tonight, while watching horses gallop over rolling hills with an orange sunset in the background, I wanted to scream, "STOP! I want to get out and take pictures!" There are farms (I love farms) with old houses and red barns that beg to be photographed. Is there a reason why barns are often painted red?

At dinner tonight I met a couple from Ohio and a woman from Omaha. The couple is taking the train to Denver and then renting an RV to tour National Parks for three weeks. I wish they'd take me with them!

So far I am having a wonderful and relaxing time on the Zephyr. There are great people and sights, hot food and showers, and the wonderful realization that I don't have to do anything for the next two days!

 The route of the California Zephyr.

Current location: 10 minutes from Omaha

  Tonight we will be passing through Fort Morgan, the home of Glen Miller. 

Here's another...