myrmepropagandistNov 19, 2023

"Going anywhere for the holidays?"
"Yes, upstate."
"Plane or car?"
"Oh Jesus no! Train."
"How long will that take?"
"9 hours. But my vacation starts when I get on the train, not when I get off the plane. It's much less stressful."
"You know... I can see that..."

Folks, I may have a made a convert today. Let's be real. Driving is work, and flying is torture. A train ride, might seem "long" but did you count all the time you spend getting to the airport, the security checks? The silly rules?

Show threadmyrmepropagandistNov 19, 2023

People who think "flying is faster" are falling for airplane propaganda. Take a day to travel. It gives you time to think, you can watch movies on your laptop and read. You can have a nice sit down dinner. Your ears won't pop and your legs won't cramp. No security people will yell at you for having too big shampoo.

The last time I flew was a decade ago. But I've been all the way to Alaska and beyond nonetheless. Travel itself should be part of the "vacation" not what you do when you get there

Show threadDavidNov 19, 2023
@futurebird Hmmm... I live 10,000 km from my parents. You the world exists beyond the US, right?
Show threadA cool crab wearing shadesNov 19, 2023
@David @futurebird Yeah a lot of countries have way better rail options than the US, I'd way rather take an overnight with a sleeper car than go through airport security.
Show threadDavidNov 19, 2023

@neckspike You kinda missed my point. You can't really travel 10,000 km by train, especially when it involves crossing the seas.

@futurebird

Show threadmyrmepropagandist

@David @neckspike

"You can't really travel 10,000 km by train"

Texting this to my husband now who will take it as a challenge.

Nov 19, 2023 at 2:54pmWeb
Show threadDavidNov 19, 2023
@futurebird @neckspike You missed the part with the sea.
Show threadmyrmepropagandistNov 19, 2023

@David @neckspike

Rail cars on a container ship.

Show threadMab_813Nov 19, 2023

@futurebird @David @neckspike

"You can't travel 10 000 km by train."

Well, I know someone who traveled from Austria to the Pacific (Wladiwostok) by train. That's more than 10 000 km.

No one claimed that EVERY journey can by done by train.

Show threadLucyKemnitzerNov 19, 2023
@futurebird @David @neckspike
I went looking because I thought you might be able to pick up trains from somewhere in the north-east of Asia (Vladivostok?) & keep going to say Pretoria, but you'd have to take buses a lot of the way.
Show threadllewellyNov 19, 2023
@futurebird @David @neckspike
reminds me of a childhood favorite: _A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!_ by Harry Harrison.
Show threadKevin MarksNov 19, 2023
@futurebird @David @neckspike London to Moscow via Paris , then the Trans-Siberian Railway. It'll take some booking, but it's doable.
Show threadChris KolbuNov 19, 2023
@futurebird I’ve done St Petersburg to Beijing via Mongolia and can recommend it. Maybe not these days though
Show threadmyrmepropagandistNov 19, 2023

@nesevis

Maybe in a better future I hope. I'd love to make that trip... but given what's happened to US visitors to Russia recently I don't think I want to go.