Train Trip Day 5 1/2: Destination Chicago

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

As I passed through Minnesota I noticed that my internet AND phone service has regained it's connection. I am so excited! So I am going to take this opportunity to say Good Morning and Merry Christmas to all! It is still dark out so I can't take any pictures yet. I will post some in a bit. Now, time for a shower.

Larger restroom.

Since my baby sister Lucy asked for some pictures of the train, here are some for your amusement. I described to you  that the bathrooms had all the necessities you needed. It is a shared public space so the facilities sometimes gets dirty.  The space is also very small, but there is a handicap one (I don't use handicap stalls the same way I don't take advantage of the handicap placard at work) and there is another restroom twice as big as the small restroom. I like to use the slightly bigger one. The lock on the restrooms are a bit tricky. The first time I went into one I thought I locked the door - usually a click is what we all wait to hear - but not long before I was going to sit on the toilet, a women opened my door and frightened me. I haven't exposed myself, but was very close to it. I then closed the door and pulled the lock until I heard the second click. I also heard a faint, "Sorry."

How many of you have had this happened to? Come on, no one else can see you raise your hands. Ah, now I see several raised hands out there. 

Observation Deck

Observation room is in the next picture below. It is open and spacious. The dining car is usually 5 - 10 degrees lower than the other cars. Trust me, its not that cold because the cars are usually 75 - 80 degrees. This is where I would meet interesting characters like Scruffy Man and Attractive European Family. 

The blue chairs are comfortable to sit in for long hours of reading. They face large windows where I can snap pictures of natural landscape. This is where I eat my breakfast and do most of my reading. The observation deck is most quiet in the early morning. Around noon it gets noisy. Part of the reason is because alcohol is served by then. This is when I escape to blog or take a short nap - depends on the rocking of the train. Yesterday, we had a musician play guitar in the corner of the observation deck. I hope she comes out today to play Christmas songs cause you know me, I can sing almost anything - on or off key. 

The following pictures are kind of blurry, but that is because of the shaky train. I apologize. This is my current set up: electronics on the tray next to the 2 electrical outlets for quick charges when necessary,and seat holds a pillow, blanket and jacket. My seat is constantly reclined even though I sit straight. I was given a pillow when I boarded the train, but have only used it for my back; I hardly use a pillow when sleeping. There is plenty of legroom especially for a person like me who is 5' 3". Because I don't have a row mate for this part of the trip, I usually turn sideways and have my back against the window. When I sleep, I lay across two seats. So far no back pains and I sleep through the night.

There is a tag or two above each row. It sits right under the corresponding seat number on the overhead bin. If you can see the picture, they are the tags that are blue or orange. These tags gives the attendant an idea of who is getting off which stop. When they bend the tag, that means that you are getting off the next stop. It also gives the attendant an idea of how to place people. Because of the holiday season, there are more families traveling together. They have split families from singles by placing us in different cars. Obviously, I am placed in the singles car.

Oh, story about last night! So it was around 11pm and I woke up to a conductor's face above mine. He asked if I am getting off at Chicago. I said, "Yes sir I am." Then he rushed down the aisle. Next I hear conversations among passengers saying that they lost a passenger. The guy sitting directly behind me said that it was his row mate. An attendant went over to the guy and asked him to describe the missing passenger. He told the attendant that the passenger was female, with dark hair and 5' 2". Everyone looked over at me and pointed at me. I looked back at them and the first thing I say is, "I am 5' 3". Not 5' 2"." That sent the car roaring in laughter. The guy sitting in front of me said, "Solved, she was asleep the whole time." More laughter. I smiled and shook my head. But I wasn't the girl they were looking for. The girl everyone was looking for was supposed to get off in Devils Lake, North Dakota. After being examined by every attendant, they finally ruled out that I wasn't the girl (duh, I am 5' 3"!) a women from another car came in and told the attendant that she saw the girl get off at Minot, North Dakota. She was positive because she was hanging out with the girl in the Observation room and she said she was going to meet her boyfriend there. After a few comments from my fellow passengers, we all fell silent again. I fell asleep instantly knowing that I am now free of accusations that I am 5' 2".

Spring Lake, Minnesota

We are now in Minnesota! Here is a picture of an iced over lake. It looks solid enough to skate on, but I wouldn't do it. There is a thin blanket of snow covering the iced lake. It looks like white foam with glitter as the gentle morning sun touches the snow's surface. The falling snow also has a bit of glitter effect to it this morning. The sun must be very gentle today, or maybe the clouds yesterday didn't give the falling snow such an elegant look. Today is very pretty.