12th October – Free Day in Washington

12^th October – Free Day in Washington

 

A nice bright and sunny day today, we decided that a visit to Arlington Cemetery was a ‘must do’.  Our hotel is a 5 minute walk from Union Station so off we went to board the tube.  Operating the ticket machines is not that straightforward but eventually we got the hang of it.  There aren’t many lines so it’s pretty easy to get about. 

The cemetery occupies 4 acres and is very impressive; we visited the memorials of John F & Jacqueline Kennedy.  After a walk up the hill to Arlington House, the ancestral home of Robert E Lee, we went to see the tomb of the unknown soldiers where the changing of the guards was taking place. 

Then it was back on the tube where our railcards wouldn’t work, they needed more money!  So began the process of adding more money to the cards via that decidedly un-user friendly ticket machine!  We wanted to visit the old town of Georgetown so we took the tube to ‘Foggy Bottom’ the nearest station (yes really)!   Georgetown has some very interesting old buildings and very nice shops; Carol was tempted by a handbag in the Michael Kors shop but resisted bravely.  Had a tasty lunch at an Italian restaurant and it was warm enough to sit outside.  Finally we walked back to the station via the waterfront.  Compared to New York, it’s more expensive to travel by tube here; I think the bus is cheaper.

We had arranged to meet 2 other couples for dinner, Anita & Tom from Jersey and Ann & ‘Ah well’ from Wales, that’s the only way we can remember how to pronounce it!

16th October- Arriving in Denver

16^th October- Denver

This morning went to the dining car for breakfast and was greeted by our server; I say greeted loosely, “How many? Sit there”. We had already had experience of her last night when she came round to take reservations for dinner.  She came to our cabin and asked “when do yer wanna eat?”  We replied “eight would be good” “latest I got is 6.15!!” So 6.15 it was.  At breakfast it was a table of four including an elderly American gentleman.  When she returned it was ”Whatayer want” I replied “scrambled egg” she said grits,’taters or buscuit?” I felt the ‘taters sounded safest.  Then to the elderly gentleman she asks “so whatayer want?” I’d like pancakes, but just two please ma’am”.  “That’ll be the kiddies portion then” she snapped, He then added “but I’d like two sausage patties please”, “Then you’ll have t’ have three pancakes!”  No ray of sunshine was she, more a storm cloud sweeping through the dining car and still expecting a 20% tip!!

Anyway arrived safely in Denver and were given an hours tour of the highlights before checking into the Warwick which is another very nice hotel and our room even has a balcony.  It has been a very warm day, in the 80s, but despite that we managed to see the Capitol building, the modern art museum, the catholic cathedral and walk the mile long 16^th street mall.  Denver is not anywhere as up market as the last three cities and there is a lot of begging on the street.  However there was a great trio of lads from Louisiana playing what can only be described as original Skiffle and we stood and listened to them for a while.  For lunch we went into the Yard House.  130 different draft beers from all over the world including Boddingtons, what a pity shame!! So many beers so little time. 

Then more shopping and a haircut for John, well the boss said he needed one!  The barber was very deaf and while telling us his life story, would ask questions which he did not seem to hear the answers to, but a lovely guy regardless.

 

Modern Art Museum

 

 

 

 

15th October – Chicago

15^th October – Chicago

 After a good night’s sleep and breakfast in bed, John went to a supermarket and bought provisions including a 6 pack of 1 pint cans which cost $5.49, in the bars a pint of anything is between $6 & $8, a bit of a mark-up!   We then took a walk to the Navy Pier before returning to the hotel to join the rest of the party for our transfer to Union Station to catch the 2pm Californian Zephyr.  The afternoon was spent travelling across the farmland of the mid-west until we crossed the Mississippi.  Then night fell and it was impossible to see anything!  The night was rough; at times it felt as though the train had square wheels and it’s a wonder we got any sleep at all!  Many didn’t!  Some of our party are finding the tour tiring especially the overnight rail journeys.  It is pretty exhausting and living out of a suitcase is a bit of a challenge!

 

 

Our Amtrak Train Californian Zephyr

 

Crossing the Mississipi

 

 

 

Last Day in Washington

13^th October - Last Day in Washington   

Today is our last day or morning to be more precise, in Washington.  One thing we omitted to mention yesterday was that the bed in our room was so high that it came complete with a stool to aid access!  No it wasn’t a bunk, that comes later on the train!

John went to the Smithsonian Aeronautical Museum which holds a number of historic planes including the Wright Brothers original flying machine, Bleriot’s airplane and Lindenbergh’s Spirit of St Louis.  It also had the space landing capsule which was amazingly small for 3 men, no place for gas!

We then met up at the Capitol and went to the Conservatory of the Botanical Gardens which housed an extensive collection of tropical plants.  Our walk around was accompanied by a selection of atmospheric music, the whole effect was extremely memorable.   A short walk took us to the Capitol building for a quick look round before returning to the hotel in time for a cultural Guinness (John) before joining the rest of our party to transfer to our train, the Capitol Limited.

On embarking the train, it was rather like being on a school trip with much hilarity and giggling over the size of the accommodation and the shower room/toilet, in which the only practical way to shower was to sit on the toilet at the same time!  And we were one of the lucky few with an ensuite!   After a bit of time in the observation car watching West Virginia & Maryland pass by, we had a very nice dinner in the dining car where we chatted with a larger than life American lady who travelled by train wherever possible in the course of her work. 

There is on board a party of Amish, with their long dresses, beards and bonnets!

And so to bed…………our cabin had been made up with 2 bunk beds, John of course was on top!  A good night’s sleep was had despite the train blowing its horn constantly throughout the night.

 

Free Day in Washington

12^th October – Free Day in Washington

A nice bright and sunny day today, we decided that a visit to Arlington Cemetery was a ‘must do’.  Our hotel is a 5 minute walk from Union Station so off we went to board the tube.  Operating the ticket machines is not that straightforward but eventually we got the hang of it.  There aren’t many lines so it’s pretty easy to get about. 

The cemetery occupies 1,100 acres and is very impressive; we visited the memorials of John F & Jacqueline Kennedy.  After a walk up the hill to Arlington House, the ancestral home of Robert E Lee, we went to see the tomb of the unknown soldiers where the changing of the guards was taking place. 

Then it was back on the tube where our railcards wouldn’t work, they needed more money!  So began the process of adding more money to the cards via that decidedly un-user friendly ticket machine!  We wanted to visit the old town of Georgetown so we took the tube to ‘Foggy Bottom’ the nearest station (yes really)!   Georgetown has some very interesting old buildings and very nice shops; Carol was tempted by a handbag in the Michael Kors shop but resisted bravely.  Had a tasty lunch at an Italian restaurant and it was warm enough to sit outside.  Finally we walked back to the station via the waterfront.  Compared to New York, it’s more expensive to travel by tube here; I think the bus is cheaper.

We had arranged to meet 2 other couples for dinner, Anita& Tom from Jersey and Ann & ‘Ah well’ from Wales, that’s the only way we can remember how to pronounce it!

 

 

What's the hold up, it would be quicker to walk!?

 

Capitol

 

On The Train at Last – 11th October

On The Train at Last – 11th October

This morning we transferred to Penn Station to join the train for Washington after being told that we must all be ready to leave promptly by 7.30.  We duly did as we were told and a head count made, two missing!  So Doug, our tour manager went to find see if he could see anyone left behind, no luck and so 15 minutes later a role call had to be taken.  There is always some dick on every trip!  In this case almost literally no sooner had Doug confirmed the Eves, and asked Dix?, then an elderly couple climbed aboard, “are we late?” 

The train journey was uneventful passing through Philadelphia, Charlestown and Baltimore with the train travelling much faster than we had been led to believe.  John fell amongst thieves and vagabonds and was forced to drink beer most of the journey!  At Washington Union station it was utter chaos, no porters, building works and no bus!  It did eventually turn up and then all aboard, Mr Dix left his bag on the sidewalk and had to go back for it!!

The tour of Washington was however really good, The Whitehouse, Capital Building, Lincoln Memorial and the Korean and Vietnam war memorials.  Finally a stop to walk through the Roosevelt Memorial, his quotes must seem outrageously left wing to the current generation of U.S. politicians, and then a walkthrough the trees alongside the Martin Luther King Memorial.  All along the path were signs warning of low branches, when we got on the bus, who had gashed his head?  Yes you guessed it Mr Dix!!!

Any away the hotel is grand except for the eejit  playing a tuneless trumpet outside the window, it has an Irish pub attached, we had fish and chips for us tea and went to bed tired but happy. 

Ghosts of Korea

Ground Zero

10/10/12

Ground Zero

Following on from our tour   yesterday we started our day by heading out of town to St. John the Divine’s cathedral.  Until yesterday I had not heard of it.  It is the Anglican cathedral of New York State and claims to be the largest cathedral and Anglican Church and fourth largest Christian church in the world, this honour is however disputed by Liverpool Cathedral who says that the ref. was biased.  It was started in 1892 and remains unfinished today.  Even better it was situated half a dozen stops on the subway north of us and although it doesn’t appear on any of the must do lists is truly worth a visit.

Then back on the subway and all the way down from 106^th St. to Ground Zero over a hundred blocks.  The weekly metro card has certainly earned its keep this trip!  The visit to ground Zero is very moving, the huge square waterfalls pour into the two footprints of the twin towers while all around, the rebuilding of the World Trade Centre goes on. 

A silly diversion wad then undertaken,  as we had seen an advert for a pet supply shop called “Dudley’s  Paw”  and as it was only a couple of blocks from where we were it had to be photographed and a present bought for Dudley.