Reunited!

You can't tell but she's purring up a mighty storm in this photo. I've been away since Saturday in (or on my way to/from) South Bend, Indiana for my grandmother's funeral. 

Now, before I come off as heartless or something for not being terribly broken up about my grandmother, you have to understand that I am one of many grandchildren and the combination of the hundreds of miles of distance between us and her general antipathy toward children (yes, even though or maybe because she had nine of her own) we were never really close. I was there to pay my respects, to support my mother and to see some far-flung family members for the first time in a long time. That's just kind of how it is, and I wish the whole grandparent thing had worked out better (I never really knew any of mine--one because of estrangement, one because of an early death, one because of an early decline into Alzheimer's and one because of....her) but it didn't. So that's why I don't sound like someone who just lost a grandmother.

Anyway, because I'm generally Not A Fan of air travel (for many and varied reasons, the major two being death and destruction, followed closely by how much of a freaking hassle it is), I decided to take the train. The Capitol Limited is a train route run by Amtrak between Washington DC and Chicago, with stops at some major towns/cities (including South Bend) along the way. It leaves DC shortly after 4pm and arrives in Chicago shortly before 9am the following day. The return leaves Chicago a little before 8pm and arrives in DC at about 1pm the following day. Always looking to try something new and intrigued by the prospect of two full nights of sleep in the same week (there and back), and having noted that even first class accommodations (a sleeper car) were competitively priced with last-minute air travel, I decided to give it a whirl.

I don't know why people travel any other way. I cannot say enough nice things about Amtrak and the service. I snapped a few photos, I don't know how well they turned out though. Basically, with the sleeper car (an extra charge on top of your VERY reasonably priced ticket), you get a little private room with two (very large and comfey) airplane-style chairs facing each other. Those chairs can be pulled out to make a twin sized bed at night time. There's also a pull-down bed from overhead that makes the second bunk (if you're traveling in a pair--if not, you get your choice of bed!). You also have all meals included--and these are real meals, ordered from a menu complete with daily specials while sitting at a table with REAL silverware (none of this plastic crap) and tablecloth. In both directions I got the herb roasted half of a chicken with mashed potatoes because I've been on a real big roast chicken kick these days. You get a salad and dessert as well. Breakfast is also quite nice with lots of choices, made to order. Just lovely. The sleeper car attendant takes down what time you want your bed put together and takes care of all that. On the way there, I chose the top bunk, on the way back, the bottom. I think the bottom was all-around better and more comfortable but who can resist the top bunk?

I loaded up my iPod with Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica (yes, yes, I know) and just kind of relaxed. I got to bed early both nights, and woke up having slept for 8 or more hours feeling like a new person. It was great.

 

Entering my little sleeping area.

 
 Top bunk!

The funeral proceedings itself were simple but nice, and even though the circumstances were sad, the family was happy to be together again. It's always good to see them and every time I do, I resolve to get out to Indiana, Nebraska or Idaho (where they all live) more often.

 

Comments

[Dottie]

You were so close to my abode in Chicago!

I've taken Amtrak many times, but only for short trips. The overnight accommodations sound lovely, very similar to the overnight cars I experienced in Russia. I slept like a baby on those trains.

[dukiebiddle]

My only problem with long distance train travel is the hassle of all the espionage and intrigue, which always seems to culminate in a fight to the death with an assassin on the train roof at full speed. But hey, I guess that's what you have to deal with if you want to engage in witty flirty banter with Eva Marie Saint in the dining car.

[Catherine]

Awesome duckie. Precisely my reasoning for choosing the hat I did (didn't turn out so well in the photos, but it's the same Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca style one I wore on the tweed ride.

And I know dottie! At first it looked as if I'd be by myself on Tuesday (Indiana relatives returning to work, out of towners going back out of town in the morning--and me with a 9pm train) so I considered taking the South Shore Line to Chicago for the day and getting on the Capitol Limited there. But it turned out that my mom changed her ticket to the evening and my Idaho relatives were saying until Wednesday so I stuck to South Bend. Another time, I hope.

[Karen Voyer-Caravona]

There is nothing like travel by rail. It represents the ultimate in civilized living. What one gives up in speed one more than makes up for in style. I hope to convince my husband we need to take a trip by Amtrak somewhere. Anywhere. We have a very nice historic station in downtown Flagstaff.