…are you sure?
Chelsea Allinger
- 465 Followers
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@ggwash executive director. Cat mom. PhD student in public policy & public administration. She/her
Good morning from gorgeous-if-cloudy Denver! My #Amtrak train got here 20 minutes early, at about 6:45am, which gave me about an hour to walk around before we headed onward. Shout out to Amante Coffee for being the only spot open this early and making an amazing dirty chai.
6:50 pm: Hello from Ottumwa, Iowa! Land of eerie train platform mood lighting.
I took the chance for some fresh air as though that would alleviate my very full belly after eating a huge dinner.
Speaking of dinner…who is ready to learn about the food & dining situation?
Crossing the Mississippi River into Iowa! The bridge is partially hidden beneath snowy fog.
4:45pm: Hello from Galesburg, Illinois! Took advantage of a 5-minute break to get my feet wet in my snow-inappropriate footwear. We’re heading onward in the glorious Zephyr, with six passenger cars, a baggage car, and the engine. #Amtrak
Five hours later: she’s back on the train, folks, and she found winter somewhere in Illinois. I’ll be on the California Zephyr for the next 48 hours. Everything west of Denver will be new territory for me and, oh, I cannot wait!
Hello from Chicago! Dropped my suitcase in the storage room attached to the Metropolitan Lounge and headed out into the city. The five hour layover is great — located right downtown, you’re walking distance to fun stuff, including the lake if one so desires! #AmericaByRail
This morning: Rolling into Chicago’s Union Station 20-30 minutes ahead of schedule! That’s the best of #AmericaByRail.
Sleeper cars have a shower with a changing area. #Amtrak provides towels, which you drop in a laundry bag after use. They also offer bars of soap. The water is HOT. And you get the thrill of showering while balancing on a moving train.
Two logistical issues I’ve run into: the towels/laundry bag take up a lot of space, leaving changing area cramped. And the shower always splashed onto the changing area floor. I wipe the floor with a towel to spare whoever uses it next from puddles.