I have been riding the rails for more than 50 years, but I never tire of it. I still look forward to the "all aboard" call with the same excitement that I did on my first trip as a lad in 1953.
One of the nice things about traveling on Amtrak is the opportunity to chat with people from many places and climes. I have met hundreds of interesting people from all walks of life. I seldom meet a stranger.
Last November I took the Texas Eagle from El Paso to Dallas. During lunch I struck up a conversation with my tablemates. Our chat turned to a discussion of jazz, which I confessed that I did not know much about, but would like to learn more. As it turned out, I was talking to a professional jazz musician and band leader. He gave me a primer on jazz and subsequently sent me a couple of his CDs.
On a repeat trip in February I noticed a passenger who was reading Brother Fish by Bryce Courtenay, a popular Australian author. Few Americans have heard of Bryce, so I assumed the reader was Australian. However, she lives in British Columbia and was traveling to New Orleans. We had a robust chat about Bryce's books; we had read most of his works. She was near the end of the book, so she said that she would give it to me. Later, in the Lounge Car, I was presented with Brother Fish.
Meeting interesting people is just one of the many delights of train travel. Others include the scenery — arguably the best is observed from the California Zephyr between Denver and Salt Lake City; a glass of wine in the Lounge Car; an afternoon snooze induced by a carefree environment; dinner in the Dining Car; or snow slapping the bottom of the car as the Southwest Chief races across Kansas. I could write a book. Maybe I will. But that is for another forum.
Don't take my word for it. If you have not done so, take a long distance trip on Amtrak. If you have been there, done that, do it again.
Amtrak and Interesting People
Meeting Interesting People is Just One of the Many Delights
by Paul Smith
Dallas, Texas
I have been riding the rails for more than 50 years, but I never tire of it. I still look forward to the "all aboard" call with the same excitement that I did on my first trip as a lad in 1953.
One of the nice things about traveling on Amtrak is the opportunity to chat with people from many places and climes. I have met hundreds of interesting people from all walks of life. I seldom meet a stranger.
Last November I took the Texas Eagle from El Paso to Dallas. During lunch I struck up a conversation with my tablemates. Our chat turned to a discussion of jazz, which I confessed that I did not know much about, but would like to learn more. As it turned out, I was talking to a professional jazz musician and band leader. He gave me a primer on jazz and subsequently sent me a couple of his CDs.
On a repeat trip in February I noticed a passenger who was reading Brother Fish by Bryce Courtenay, a popular Australian author. Few Americans have heard of Bryce, so I assumed the reader was Australian. However, she lives in British Columbia and was traveling to New Orleans. We had a robust chat about Bryce's books; we had read most of his works. She was near the end of the book, so she said that she would give it to me. Later, in the Lounge Car, I was presented with Brother Fish.
Meeting interesting people is just one of the many delights of train travel. Others include the scenery — arguably the best is observed from the California Zephyr between Denver and Salt Lake City; a glass of wine in the Lounge Car; an afternoon snooze induced by a carefree environment; dinner in the Dining Car; or snow slapping the bottom of the car as the Southwest Chief races across Kansas. I could write a book. Maybe I will. But that is for another forum.
Don't take my word for it. If you have not done so, take a long distance trip on Amtrak. If you have been there, done that, do it again.