My round trip ticket is either $60 or $67 - depending on whether I buy it soon enough - and the trip is 45 minutes less than if I were to drive.
Trains are fun for traveling - watching the scenery whiz by and seeing rural Florida as it has been since the mid 1800's. In case anyone was worried, there is a lot of Polk County left to build on. There is also a lot of Polk County that has not changed in 150+ years. Something I find to be awesome.
There is one drawback to the train, your fellow passengers can be challenging. Yesterday's trip was that experience. I hope that young lady's friend does indeed meet her at the train station. I'm glad that when she turned 30 her body finally filled out, I'm sorry she thinks all white people are bad - she doesn't even know me!
The train I catch begins its journey in NY, so she's a little tired by the time Tampa passengers load up for the last 5 hours of her journey. The return ride is very different, the passengers and crew are awake, alert, and still in that mildly euphoric state one has when an adventure has just begun.
Likely this wears off around Savannah for those taking the ride all the back to NYC.
The Tampa departure is ALWAYS late leaving - which is fine, because the journey is usually the same length of time, a little more than four hours. I can track the incoming arrival from the Amtrak app - which means I don't spend 2 hours waiting at the station - something I've done only once - because I am a learner.
I wish the bar car was open to those in standard seating, but it's only open to those in the carriages, and buying that ticket is an expensive option for a 4 hour ride. I think of Cary Grant in North by Northwest responding to Eva Maria Saint telling him "I'm a big girl"... and Cary replies, "Yes, and in all the right places."
Since I can't get to that action, I bring my own - and have. Chicken Salad and Bourbon is an afternoon thing. BTW, I've never seen anyone close to Cary or Eva on the Amtrak. I dress to travel because you never know when a talent scout for one of the big movie studios will be riding in coach on the Amtrak. I could get discovered!
The clackety-clack of the ride is pleasant - I usually get a 20-30 minute nap in along the way. This and 2-3 hours of uninterrupted work. There is mobile phone service the entire trip, so I can turn on my hotspot and get things done during the outbound journey. On the return I like to read, and nap.
However, and I am not being judgmental or more-holy-than-thou, I do have a couple of observations and recommendations for those of you who do travel, and are not upgrading to a private room, therefore you're out amongst the people. Be prepared for...
1. A lot of people have no manners, lack full and complete civility in public behavior, believe their personal drama is the interest of others or believe their personal drama should be the interest of others and therefore they share (via FaceTime and Speakerphone) their important calls about Child Custody, Marital Infidelity, That-Bitch-Ho-MFer, and their lost earbud that fell down into their "boobies" and is now loose on the train floor.
2. Clothes you would find risqué on the beach, are norm de norm on Amtrak
3. Learning that apparently staying in a pointless 12-year relationship with someone who is narcissistic, rude, controlling, and disappointing, because you were waiting for them to change IS NOT UNIQUE to me!!
4. Being high is just normal, so are f-bombs in casual conversation.
5. White Trash is a real thing - and it has company!
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