trains, planes, & automobiles...

Okay, okay... minus the planes.. but what an adventure it was getting to NJ yesterday! Phew!  I had my first ever Amtrak experience. (sidenote: I decided to leave my car in Norfolk over break and hitch a ride with a friend who was driving to Baltimore, then take a train from there to NJ)

And what an experience it was! Who knew the fun you could have on public transportation?

I decided to keep a running list during my 2 1/2 hour long ride. Before this list let me explain that I have never been in the Baltimore Penn Station before and had NO idea what to expect.  Was it like an airport? Was it like NY Penn Station? Was it even a building? Do I "check" my bags?  Who knew???

Turns out that Baltimore Penn Station is a building, a little like NY Penn Station, a little smaller.

Now for all the funny things that happened to me today (in my mind I laughed a lot...)

• a man at the newspaper station convinced me not to buy the apple crisps I was trying to purchase with my coke and Real Simple mag.  Without looking up he said to me..."These are $4.99.." I took it as a hint that I should not buy them..
• a fellow Mountaineer approached me and started to talk WVU.. thank God for WVU apparel in public places. :)  He was too cute.. and 75 years old, married, with two grown children.. only 2 grandchildren.. his son is 45 and unmarried.  
• I encountered a handful of Spaniards who were in America on holiday.. their English was excellent! But they did create quite a frenzy in the seats next to me.
• Grandma to my left speaking on her cell phone at a completely inappropriate decibel... apparently the money she loaned her friend was still available if she needs it.. 
• Grandma to my left hangs up... glances at texting Spaniard and gives her unapproving opinion of the Text Messaging trend.
• European teenage girl.. maybe she was 20 something... lunges down the already cramped aisle
• 3 sneezes from the man behind me..
• me sitting in an aisle seat....ouch elbows..
• 2 more sneezes from man.. swine.
• I think I hear Uncle Louis from Christmas Vacation a few seats ahead of me.. turns out its not Uncle Louis... just his voice.. as he talks to stranger next to him.."In 1950 when I was fighting in Korea..."  "I think Obama is making a huge mistake in Afghanistan.."   "Tiger Woods... what a jerk."  Way to hit on all of the hot topics Uncle Louis.
• I start to wonder if there is such a think as a snack car on this train somewhere...still somewhat a mystery.
• I learned the ins and outs of the universities in Spain, Germany, and America.  Also how to cheat in college in Germany.  
• Yes, it is official, there is a snack car on this train.. in fact they sell Bud Light cans. Interesting..
• Yes! Although I got separated from my mountaineer friend, we met up again at Metropark!  He made me smile :)

What a day.. what a day!  I didnt realize I'd learn so much from a 2.5 hour train ride.  Thanks Amtrak for getting me home safe and sound.

You may ask what I did with all my luggage.. cause I was also a bit unsure what I was going to do with it... but here is my big suitcase... in view from my seat... the red one on the left. ;)