I first want to say I thoroughly enjoyed this trip on Amtrak. This is quite long but so much happened :blush:
This was my first time riding for two days in coach plus my first time east and south. And first time having a connecting train.
Before the trip I was very anxious about the Chicago station but it was great and I found my way around the station just fine. But I can see how some people could become confused.
I started out in Denver, decided to check my bags after debating for weeks about it.
The CZ was a few minutes late getting in to Denver. I had my Ipad which I really enjoyed using on this trip.
Once we boarded the CZ we sat in Denver for a while. I had a nice but very talkative seatmate.
After leaving Denver, not sure where or what time, we struck something and stopped. Once they checked everything out we were on our way.
I know at some point I was worried about making my connection in Chicago.
The ride to Chicago was pleasant.
I'm going to put this situation here but I cannot remember if it was on the CZ or the CONO but it was odd.
During the afternoon, I had gone down to the lounge to buy a soda. I used the restroom down there before ordering and noticed this toilet was very clean.
A bit later I decided I wanted a snack and went back down. After receiving my snack I sat down at one of the tables on the far side of the ordering area. No one was down there, I thought quiet and very pleasant. In just a couple of minutes the lounge attendant came and said I didn't want to eat down there. Of course I asked why, he kind of mumbled about the smell from that thing, which I took to be the toilet. I didn't smell anything. I realized he did not want me to sit there, so I went upstairs. I was a bit annoyed because the upper lounge was full and noisy. I'm thinking this might have been on the CONO crazy train. As I had to sit with someone when I moved upstairs, she was drinking and the people in the table across had a big bottle of booze. I thought this was a no no on Amtrak but ignored it. Some attendant came and told her to put it out of sight or they would take it from her. Later on I smelled cigarette smoke in our coach car but an announcement was made to not smoke.
Arrived in Chicago at 6:30. Instead of checking out the station I asked where and ran up for a smoke, then waited in the boarding area. As it was time to board I wished I would have bought some dinner to take on the train with me.
I had a gentleman seatmate who was very quiet and was not in his seat for most of the trip to New Orleans.
The CONO was late leaving Chicago. And this was a crazy train.
When they announced dinner I decided to eat in the dining car. I went in and they sat me at a table with two other people. Pretty soon the attendant came and asked about who was in coach and sleepers. As I said coach she asked me to move to a different table, okay :huh:
So I sat at this other table by myself for dinner and no one else came in. It was kind of weird and I felt a little odd. But I still enjoyed my dinner.
When I returned to my seat there was a woman in the seat, not the man who was there when we boarded. I asked her if the man had moved, she said I didn't see any man here. I said, well, there was a man here and he had some bags here. She said again I didn't see any man and there aren't any bags here. I said again, I'm pretty sure this seat is taken. She would not move and said she would if he came back and then she asked where I had been
Of course a little while later here comes the man and she moved.
During the night, somewhere, it looked like we were stopped at a station. We didn't move and didn't move and then the power went out. Everyone mumbling about what was happening. I had noticed the toilets closed sign and then watched many people go down, I assuming to use the toilets!
We sat there forever with no announcements of what was going on. People were getting restless, one woman in particular was angry. The car became very stuffy, then the smell from downstairs started coming up. I thought I might have a panic attack because I realized there was no escape.
At one point an attendant came walking through with people asking her what was going on, her only reply was a half, I don't know.
Pretty soon I hear a woman saying, we are on the train, we are not moving, we don't know what is going on and you need to come help us. I believe she had called Amtrak. Of course no help came.
After hours a man who looked like a mechanic came in to our car. The angry woman confronted him and they had some angry words. I thought oh boy. The main thing she was getting across was, a simple announcement of what was going on would have been appreciated.
We finally got moving.
The next day I again enjoyed the scenery. Had a good breakfast in the dining car. In the afternoon they came through and passed out snack packs a bottles of water. I am glad I had thought to ask for some for my ghost man seatmate. Even though he was quiet he seemed happy for the snacks.
We arrived in New Orleans at 6:30pm? When I finally went outside for a cab there were none. There was a big game that night, traffic everywhere.
I finally caught a taxi and arrived at my hotel. Had a great dinner across the street. Showered and settled in and really enjoyed laying horizontal on the bed. It's funny because the beds were spring beds and it still felt wonderful. :wacko:
The next day, being by myself, I walked down to the Cafe Du Monde and the French Market. I walked to Canal Street and on the way back got caught in a downpour, umbrella in the hotel room. Instead of huddling under and awning I made a dash for the hotel, 3 blocks, I was drenched but it was fun. Finally my mom and sister arrived in the afternoon. We walked on Bourbon Street, had a great dinner.
The next day we boarded our ship. Had a great cruise, visited Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. It was really nice this trip, we had rain in New Orleans and at each port which kept the temperature down. Ate way too much food.
On the cruise we were watching Miami news and hearing about Hurrican Isaac. Relieved it was not coming towards New Orleans, would later find out differently.
Cruising down the Mississippi River was awesome, I really recommend this cruise. We stayed up to see us entering the Mississippi.
After disembarking we went to Harrah's to kill time before train and plane.
At the New Orleans station on boarding, the attendant mentioned something about being moved around. I asked him about this and he said because of the storm they were moving employees around, he usually worked the lounge. He didn't seem to thrilled about being stuck in Memphis. I was surprised to hear the storm was coming there. Relieved to be getting out ahead of the storm.
The trip to Chicago on the CONO was fairly uneventful but very nice. I was lucky to have a seat to myself the whole way but an hour before Chicago. On the way out, CHI-NOL I was seated in the bulk head seat by the stairs, I liked this seat so it was my go to in NOL and Chicago. I like the leg room in these.
The train was on time. In Chicago I stayed at the station and just walked around it, ate and sat and played with my Ipad. The Chicago station is like a maze almost, not really but seemed like escaltors everywhere. One thing I really liked was Au Bon Pain. We love their sweet cheese croissants. Bought some to take home, delicious! I put my carry-on's in a locker, cost me $12 but worth it.
I was glad to board the CZ, I had had enough of the Chicago station.
The CZ was uneventful also but a great ride. Had a seat to myself again. Arrived in Denver just a little late. It's funny because I was talking to my mom about an hour out, which is by our house. I could see the houses in our neighborhood. Wish they would have let me off
Kind of silly but I just realized not to long ago these are tracks for the CZ. I know at one point before realizing this, I had seen the train on them and thought they must have been re-routed :blush:
I really enoyed this trip. I was never uncomfortable at night, probably my mind set.
Cannot wait for the next one!
This was my first time riding for two days in coach plus my first time east and south. And first time having a connecting train.
Before the trip I was very anxious about the Chicago station but it was great and I found my way around the station just fine. But I can see how some people could become confused.
I started out in Denver, decided to check my bags after debating for weeks about it.
The CZ was a few minutes late getting in to Denver. I had my Ipad which I really enjoyed using on this trip.
Once we boarded the CZ we sat in Denver for a while. I had a nice but very talkative seatmate.
After leaving Denver, not sure where or what time, we struck something and stopped. Once they checked everything out we were on our way.
I know at some point I was worried about making my connection in Chicago.
The ride to Chicago was pleasant.
I'm going to put this situation here but I cannot remember if it was on the CZ or the CONO but it was odd.
During the afternoon, I had gone down to the lounge to buy a soda. I used the restroom down there before ordering and noticed this toilet was very clean.
A bit later I decided I wanted a snack and went back down. After receiving my snack I sat down at one of the tables on the far side of the ordering area. No one was down there, I thought quiet and very pleasant. In just a couple of minutes the lounge attendant came and said I didn't want to eat down there. Of course I asked why, he kind of mumbled about the smell from that thing, which I took to be the toilet. I didn't smell anything. I realized he did not want me to sit there, so I went upstairs. I was a bit annoyed because the upper lounge was full and noisy. I'm thinking this might have been on the CONO crazy train. As I had to sit with someone when I moved upstairs, she was drinking and the people in the table across had a big bottle of booze. I thought this was a no no on Amtrak but ignored it. Some attendant came and told her to put it out of sight or they would take it from her. Later on I smelled cigarette smoke in our coach car but an announcement was made to not smoke.
Arrived in Chicago at 6:30. Instead of checking out the station I asked where and ran up for a smoke, then waited in the boarding area. As it was time to board I wished I would have bought some dinner to take on the train with me.
I had a gentleman seatmate who was very quiet and was not in his seat for most of the trip to New Orleans.
The CONO was late leaving Chicago. And this was a crazy train.
When they announced dinner I decided to eat in the dining car. I went in and they sat me at a table with two other people. Pretty soon the attendant came and asked about who was in coach and sleepers. As I said coach she asked me to move to a different table, okay :huh:
So I sat at this other table by myself for dinner and no one else came in. It was kind of weird and I felt a little odd. But I still enjoyed my dinner.
When I returned to my seat there was a woman in the seat, not the man who was there when we boarded. I asked her if the man had moved, she said I didn't see any man here. I said, well, there was a man here and he had some bags here. She said again I didn't see any man and there aren't any bags here. I said again, I'm pretty sure this seat is taken. She would not move and said she would if he came back and then she asked where I had been
Of course a little while later here comes the man
and she moved.During the night, somewhere, it looked like we were stopped at a station. We didn't move and didn't move and then the power went out. Everyone mumbling about what was happening. I had noticed the toilets closed sign and then watched many people go down, I assuming to use the toilets!
We sat there forever with no announcements of what was going on. People were getting restless, one woman in particular was angry. The car became very stuffy, then the smell from downstairs started coming up. I thought I might have a panic attack because I realized there was no escape.
At one point an attendant came walking through with people asking her what was going on, her only reply was a half, I don't know.
Pretty soon I hear a woman saying, we are on the train, we are not moving, we don't know what is going on and you need to come help us. I believe she had called Amtrak. Of course no help came.
After hours
a man who looked like a mechanic came in to our car. The angry woman confronted him and they had some angry words. I thought oh boy. The main thing she was getting across was, a simple announcement of what was going on would have been appreciated.We finally got moving.
The next day I again enjoyed the scenery. Had a good breakfast in the dining car. In the afternoon they came through and passed out snack packs a bottles of water. I am glad I had thought to ask for some for my ghost man seatmate. Even though he was quiet he seemed happy for the snacks.
We arrived in New Orleans at 6:30pm? When I finally went outside for a cab there were none. There was a big game that night, traffic everywhere.
I finally caught a taxi and arrived at my hotel. Had a great dinner across the street. Showered and settled in and really enjoyed laying horizontal on the bed. It's funny because the beds were spring beds and it still felt wonderful. :wacko:
The next day, being by myself, I walked down to the Cafe Du Monde and the French Market. I walked to Canal Street and on the way back got caught in a downpour, umbrella in the hotel room. Instead of huddling under and awning I made a dash for the hotel, 3 blocks, I was drenched but it was fun. Finally my mom and sister arrived in the afternoon. We walked on Bourbon Street, had a great dinner.
The next day we boarded our ship. Had a great cruise, visited Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. It was really nice this trip, we had rain in New Orleans and at each port which kept the temperature down. Ate way too much food.
On the cruise we were watching Miami news and hearing about Hurrican Isaac. Relieved it was not coming towards New Orleans, would later find out differently.
Cruising down the Mississippi River was awesome, I really recommend this cruise. We stayed up to see us entering the Mississippi.
After disembarking we went to Harrah's to kill time before train and plane.
At the New Orleans station on boarding, the attendant mentioned something about being moved around. I asked him about this and he said because of the storm they were moving employees around, he usually worked the lounge. He didn't seem to thrilled about being stuck in Memphis. I was surprised to hear the storm was coming there. Relieved to be getting out ahead of the storm.
The trip to Chicago on the CONO was fairly uneventful but very nice. I was lucky to have a seat to myself the whole way but an hour before Chicago. On the way out, CHI-NOL I was seated in the bulk head seat by the stairs, I liked this seat so it was my go to in NOL and Chicago. I like the leg room in these.
The train was on time. In Chicago I stayed at the station and just walked around it, ate and sat and played with my Ipad. The Chicago station is like a maze almost, not really but seemed like escaltors everywhere. One thing I really liked was Au Bon Pain. We love their sweet cheese croissants. Bought some to take home, delicious! I put my carry-on's in a locker, cost me $12 but worth it.
I was glad to board the CZ, I had had enough of the Chicago station.
The CZ was uneventful also but a great ride. Had a seat to myself again. Arrived in Denver just a little late. It's funny because I was talking to my mom about an hour out, which is by our house. I could see the houses in our neighborhood. Wish they would have let me off
Kind of silly but I just realized not to long ago these are tracks for the CZ. I know at one point before realizing this, I had seen the train on them and thought they must have been re-routed :blush:
I really enoyed this trip. I was never uncomfortable at night, probably my mind set.
Cannot wait for the next one!
