Monday, 1 October 2012

Super-liner Roomette 10, Car 1130, Amtrak Coast Starlight

My blog writing has become more neglected as I write this 3 months later sitting in Vancouver Airport awaiting our flight to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Oh well.


On the morning of our departure from Portland, Stell hands me an envelope. Inside is a postcard, a still from Some Like it Hot on one side, on the other the address of a Superliner Roomette onboard our train to San Francisco! We had already booked the train tickets, but she had upgraded us as a surprise. When we arrived at Union Station, we were directed to the first class lounge, in which I lost my cool at the complimentary beverage counter. As we boarded the train we were shown to our room and unpacked our bags. The room had a panoramic window, which made the views all the more amazing! Before shutting ourselves away for the 18 hour trip, we headed to the dining car for lunch. We were seated with a very cute Chinese grandma and her grandson, who was just slightly too old to be holidaying with her, and remained silent throughout. I had sandwiches and cake and Stell braved the meatloaf. We then retired to our room for an afternoon of guide-book reading, and eaves dropping on fellow first classers. 

Mid afternoon we enjoyed a wine and cheese tasting in the parlour car. We also explored the first class area, and found both the board games cabinet and the onboard movie theatre!! The views of northern California were lake and forest filled and we spotted Mt Scott during sunset. After we enjoyed a very questionable evening meal and the Game of Life, we returned to our roomette to find a bed in place of our chairs and a bed that folded down from above that I had to strap myself into for the night. When we awoke the luscious greenery had been replaced with dry grass and vast fields. We washed and dressed as best we could, and were sad to say goodbye to our timewarped life aboard the Amtrak Coast Starlight.




Next should follow Los Angeles... If I can remember it!