Train Trip

I had to get from Boston to Seattle. I chose a mixture of the train from Boston to San Jose via Chicago and LA, then the plane to Seattle. This meant I got five days and three nights on the train. I got myself the smallest sleeping berth Amtrak offers. I can highly recommend it.

It started at midday from Boston on the Lake Shore Limited which got me to Chicago at around 10am the following day. I left mid-afternoon on the South West Chief which arrived two days later in Los Angeles.

Boston to Chicago was interesting, very scenic, but then we hit the farmlands and flats around Chicago and it got quite repeative. Acres and acres of corn, then we got into New Mexico and Arizona which I really enjoyed, lovely scenary.

Last part of the trip was on the Coast Starlight for a short day trip up the coast to San Jose. That was interesting, for some of it the train runs on the absolute coast for stunning views.

I love taking the train, its slower and you get to see things. I kept feeling like I was peering into everyone's backyards and in most cases, I was. You get fed, I had a bed and two chairs to myself. Admitedly, for two people I suspect it may have been a little cramped, but for myself it was great and price wise, considering it was 3 nights, 5 days, meals each day, cost wise it wasn't too different from staying in a hotel.

Once I arrived, I had a few days in San Jose where I met up with Ashley. It was the 4th of July, so we went out for fireworks on the bay... as you do. We were standing a hill overlooking Silicon Valley, geek heaven.

I was only there for a few days, then it was on the plane and off to Seattle. I was suprised to suddenly see mountains out of the window - my knowledge of the US is quite lacking.