What an evening! One thing that Union Station in D.C. needs are electrical outlets for people like me! I ran out of laptop and cell phone batteries while blogging at the station. Something I need to keep in mind is to bring backup batteries for these devices. I ran up and down the row of Amtrak gates looking for an electrical outlet. I wasn't panicking per se, but just in case a disaster happens, it would be nice to communicate with the outside world. After attempting 8 different outlets without any luck, I walked over to the Amtrak information desk and asked the nice customer service representative where I can find an outlet. She nicely pointed to the wall in back of her. There in the darks shadows of the train station were 4 outlets, 5 feet off the ground. I walked over and plugged my devices to the wall. And safely disappeared in the shadows. Amtrak workers would walk pass me and do a double take at the peering eyes in the dark shadows. I would take a step forward into the light to reassure them that I was only a harmless Asian female, charging her electronic devices. That was Part 1 of my adventure this evening.
Part 2, I was wrong about my train out. I am not taking the Atlantic Coast, but the Silver Meteor. More on that later. Let's skip to Part 3 which involves Russian Roulette. Just kidding. It involves a waiting period. Every train station I've been to check passengers in 30-40 mins early. If they didn't they at least tell you what gate to wait by. But not in D.C. After feeding my lovely electronics voltages, I came across two ladies standing in front of the Arrival/Departure bulletin board. I let out a huge sigh of disbelief that a gate has not been assigned to the Silver Meteor yet. That got the attention of 2 older ladies in their late 50s. They laughed and one said, "Shug, you must be riding the Silver Meteor cuz no one sighs like that unless they are riding the dinky ol' Meteor." I giggled and asked her if she was on it too. She let out an exaggerated sigh and we both laugh. She informed me the Meteor is always late and they usually get boarded the very last second. We continued to watch the bulletin board as more Meteor passengers joined us. I would make a few sarcastic comments that got the group laughing. We were all getting impatient. It's late evening after all.
They didn't tell us what gate to go to until 10 mins before boarding. You should see the flood of people running from all directions! I walked over to the assigned gate and followed behind the last person in line. An attendant step in from outside the gated door and announced to have all Orlando passengers stand to one side. I walked over to the direction the attendant pointed to. Somehow there was confusion amongst the passengers because no one else followed. So I asked out loud which direction the attendant wanted us to line up and he threw his arms sideways and showed us. I the waved my arms and said, "Come on ya'll, whoever is going to Orlando join me over here and line up behind me." That finally got everyone's attention. The attendant smiled, shook his head and added, "Orlando only! Orlando only!" He then rounded the pre-boarders and had the Orlando passengers follow the pre-boarders. I actually found his method organized, but these passengers (except a few) were impatient and rude. There was an elderly couple in front of a young couple with a toddler in a stroller. The elderly couple wasn't going slow, but the young couple behind them was so impatient. The young husband pushed the elderly aside with his toddler's stroller and continued to rush ahead. Following behind him was his young wife who said nothing and just walked by with her face pointed up. Though the elderly couple looked ok, I thought the least the young couple could say was "Excuse me" before barreling people down. They weren't the only people who behaved this way.
Part 4 of the adventure started with me being directed to follow another attendant on the platform to go all the way down to the last car only to be told to go all the way back to the second car. All this back and forth with a herd of Orlando destined passengers following behind me. I felt like a shepard leading their flock of sheep. We were finally let in by a older blond attendant who dropped down the steps to another car. I felt this took an hour, but it was only 30 minutes. Only 30 mins! That is still a long time! I get to my seat at the window and dropped into it. It was then that I noticed I am on a "dinky" train. The whole train trip from the West Coast I was in a large 2 level car. This time I am in a single level car with smaller aisle and smaller leg room. The seats were more stiff and everything was outdated, in need of repair and Lysol spray. I looked around and the car was completely packed. When the train started to pull away from the station, I noticed people stretching out in the middle of the aisle. They pulled out their sleeping bags and laid smack dab in the aisle. The ticket person started walking down the human path, checking tickets and somehow avoiding the bodies. Is this a violation of a fire code? Brother Joseph, what code is this in violation of?
I pulled my blanket out and wrapped myself up like a burrito from head to toe. I leaned on the glass window and focus on the swaying of the train. 10 hours and I will be in Orlando, Florida.
Sorry no pictures tonight. I was too tired from the event this evening to pull out my phone.
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