Vacation

More stories of the train ride.Train riding is a far more civilized way to travel. For one thing, you needn't go through customs. For another, they let you keep your shoes on. I, for one, wouln't never ruin a perfectly good pair of NineWest shoes by blowing them (and myself, presumably) up.

We had just your standard sleeper car, which we were warned in advance would make our dinky apartment look like Buckingham Palace. It was very comfortable. Opposite each other across a picture window. The second bunk fixed to the ceiling above. Nearly complete reclining options (as opposed to "airline recline"). Wide seats. No overweight smelly man hanging into more than his fair share of the seat. No one asleep and leaning precariously into your space. No need to plaster oneself against the window for some breathing room. And, the coupe du grace, hot showers in every sleeper car (for the big bucks you could have one in your room).

And the meals. I had lamb shank, 12 oz steak, French Toast, Quiche Lorraine, and a bacon cheese burger. Everything was included in the fare...And they weren't stingy with drinks and desserts....Even the alcohol wasn't rediculously overpriced....

There is something to be said for just getting there and getting it over. But what airplane has it's own movie theater below the parlor car?

PS, I kicked butt at Monopoly...