Recent content by julieandrews

For me I would consider having to either see a significant part of the state/country or spending a few hours on the ground outside of an airport/train station to count. So travelling through by train counts for me as you see so much of the countryside and towns and cities as you pass through...

The story was even reported in Britain this morning – was very surprised to see it! http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?C...p;in_page_id=34

Hi everyone I’m thinking of taking a trip on the Coast Starlight later this year from Seattle to LA, but I want to stop off at maybe 2 different places along the way for a night or two in each place to see some other less well known destinations. What places would you recommend? I’d like one...

I’ve only ever overnighted for one night at a time and haven’t used the shower as I don’t like having to use a shower that’s not part of my room and I figured that I could last 24 hrs without showering - I'm not a naturally smelly person. Thats where babywipes come in handy, people like me with...

I always end up staying late in the observation lounge every evening having a drink and chatting, my room is always made up when I get back. That would be close to midnight

Also on the topic of rail freight in Europe, I can only speak for the UK and Ireland as this is where I lived the most. In those two countries freight is mostly run at night so day time passanger and nighttime freight don't interfere with each other. Obviously long distance routes in the US run...

The fact is that domestic air travel within France is at an all time low due to the excellent train service. The train is the #1 choice when travelling within France. The Eurostar is now getting to be more popular as a means of travelling between France, Belgium and the UK than flying. I work in...

Chances of that are actually quite high! Mayor of London lives in my area, I saw him down the local supermarket last week being accosted by little old ladies who were demanding that he check out some grievance of their and phone them back pronto. Mayor of London is actually a very accessible...

I can vouch that the trains are very sociable!! I'm from the UK and took my first Amtrak trip last year, every single evening I found someone to hang out with in the observation car and every meal time bar one I sat with an interesting bunch of people. I even found some romance on the train! You...

Late last year, I took a trip from Emeryville to Chicago and stopped for a few days in Denver. On the EMY to DEN stretch, I had a roomette in the 2nd or 3rd carraige from the front of the train. The overnight ride was quite smooth and I got a good nights sleep. Different story on the DEN to CHI...

In the UK we don't like metric either - and we finally got official permission a few weeks ago from the EU to keep buying our bananas in pounds and our beer in pints. Yay!!!! :D :D

Yes it's GSM - didn't realise that the US mostly used a different system, I thought that the world was trying to align all communications stuff so we'd all be compatable! I guess that means that a lot of US people visiting here won't be able to use their phone - or tons of other countries for...

on my one and only Amtrak trip from Emeryville to NY I had a phone, ipod, digital camera and PSP I could barely get any phone signal at all on the CZ. Not sure why this was as it's a UK phone which means that I should be able to get on to any available network with roaming. Other people on the...

I went Business Class on the Pennsylvanian from Pittsburgh to NY and had ACRES of legroom. Put it this way, when I wanted to get out of my seat the lady beside me didn't have to move at all - I could just walk out of my seat without her moving a muscle. I'm 5'6 and could just about reach the...

I think maybe the quiet cars are better suited to people travelling on their own? It's human nature to talk and if you're travelling with somebody you know, the temptation to talk to them at some point on a long journey is pretty strong so maybe people travelling with others would be better off...