After months of planning and anticipation, the day of
departure seemed surreal – was I really going to spend the next five weeks
traveling around America by Amtrak, my long held dream finally coming to
fruition? Was I crazy for wanting to spend so much time on a train, in total
the equivalent of seven days and nights, just to get a glimpse of this enormous
country? Well, it was too late for doubts now.
First stop, Washington DC, a mere three and a half hours on
the train from New York City, a quick hop when compared to some of our future
journeys of over twenty-four hours. Fortunately, the train was on schedule and
by lunch time we were ensconced in our hotel, The Henley Park Hotel, and ready
to explore our first city.
