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Yes! I finally found the time to work on the pages for some of the pictures of my trip. I couldn't update this page without mentioning some, (well..ok..a lot) of the awesome people I met on my journey around North America. Thank you all so much for making my trip such a wonderful experience...
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| October 21st - Tuesday |
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Quebec City to Montreal Via Rail Canada Renaissance Train #25 Depart: 12:50 EDT Arrive: 15:40 EDT Via Rail added the Renaissance trains on the route between Quebec and Montreal in the summer of 2003. They are absolutely horrible! What a waste of money! The seats are small and uncomfortable, they are elevated, which reduces head room, overhead storage space...one barely has room to store a pair of socks in the overhead area. There is space under a seat for a small piece of luggage, and I do mean "small". There is no longer place in the front of each car to store luggage, so luggage must now be checked. That means more personnel is required for luggage handling (yet another expense contributing to higher ticket prices) and you now have to wait and then collect your luggage in the station whereas in the past all you had to do was take your luggage from the storage space at the front of the car and be on your merry way. Every passanger I spoke with was of the same opinion...These Renaissance trains need to be sent back to their European makers for a full refund!! |
Cumulative Mileage/Kilometers: 170/274 |
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Sleep in Montreal Europa Downtown Hotel This was an okay hotel. Well located, about a block south of St. Catherine Street in the heart of downtown. The room was clean, but barely bigger than a matchbox...barely room to turn around in.. but I was only there one night so it was okay. |
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| October 22nd - Wednesday |
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Montreal to New York City Amtrak Adirondack Train #68 Depart: 09:50 EDT Arrive: 19:40 EDT Adirondack Train Map This train travels through Quebec and New York. There are not enough adjectives to describe New York City...it's just the greatest place! Never miss an opportunity to go to NYC. Wandered over to the taping of Good Morning America around 8am (in Times Square). I didn't get into the studio but I still got to see and hear the show, eventhough it was only through the studio windows. I also got to see Phil Collins sing which was really cool. |
Cumulative Mileage/Kilometers: 551/887 |
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Sleep in New York City President Hotel Really nice hotel! Clean, good housekeeping, pleasant staff. The room was just the right size and was very nicely furnished. This hotel is perfectly located too.. only half a block or so from Broadway near Times Square. For the quality and location the price is very reasonable. I highly recommend it. Oh! and there's a lovely little restaurant in the lobby as well. |
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| October 23rd - Thursday |
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New York City to New Orleans Amtrak Crescent Train #19 Depart: 14:50 EDT Arrive: 19:50 CDT October 24 in New Orleans Crescent Train Map This train travels through NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS and LA. |
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Sleep on train First Class Viewliner Standard Sleeper Had a great time on this train. The Viewliner Standard Sleepers are very nice. This train was only an hour late...and as you will see as you read on, for Amtrak that's a very good arrival time.. heh. The train ride over Lake Pontchartrain was awesome, it's too bad that they can't schedule it so that it would take place during daylight hours. |
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| October 24th - Friday |
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19:50 CDT arrive in New Orleans |
Cumulative Mileage/Kilometers: 1,928/3,103 |
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Sleep in New Orleans French Quarter Landmark Hotel Pretty nice hotel. The lobby and such is nothing to write home about, but boy howdy my room was nice. The hotel is located on the North boundry of the French Quarter, whereas most of the tourist activity is in the Southern section of the Quarter. They have a shuttle service several times a day, and it's close enough that if you want to take a taxi it's not a big deal. |
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| October 25th - Saturday |
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Sleep in New Orleans French Quarter Landmark Hotel New Orleans was nice. It was so hot on the Saturday and Sunday. Of course it finally cooled off the day I was leaving. My luck stikes again..lol As mentioned above, it's a wonder the Grayline tour company there is still in bussiness. I had 2 tours reserved, that didn't happen so I hiked through the Quarter for a few hours on the Saturday. Was a tired puppy by the time I got back to the hotel. |
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| October 26th - Sunday |
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Back to Standard time ... "Spring forward, Fall back" |
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Sleep in New Orleans French Quarter Landmark Hotel Still hot as all get out! Visited the Aquarium, Riverwalk, Imax Threatre etc. In the evening I finally got to dine at Brennan's Restaurant. Something I have wanted to do just about all my life. I was somewhat disappointed... Had gumbo and shrimps... wasn't all that good and it was overpriced. As you can see, I'm not easily impressed ;) At least I had good company for diner :) |
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| October 27th - Monday |
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New Orleans to Los Angeles Amtrak Sunset Limited Train #1 Depart: 11:55 CST Arrive: 06:40 PST October 29 in Los Angeles Sunset Limited Train Map From New Orleans, this train travels through LA, TX, NM, AZ and CA. |
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Sleep on train First Class Superliner Deluxe Sleeper |
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| October 28th - Tuesday |
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Sleep on train First Class Superliner Deluxe Sleeper Had a good time on this train, met a lot of nice people, but it was a long two days. Except for El Passo, we passed through most of the major cities during the night. For instance we spent two hours in San Antonio, Texas from 1am to 3am. Talking about Texas...OM, where's that Texas heat? ;Þ It was so chilly in SA that I had to put a sweater on ;) My digital camera fell out of my purse and on to the train platform in El Paso, Texas :( Good thing I had thought to bring my trusty 35mm. I was so bummed out though. I ended up buying a new one in Vancouver. This train stops a lot for long periods of time due to freight traffic.. the ole "Amtrak in the back" rule. Then once it gets going again it really moves! Amtrak "rock and roll" (it stays with you for a good 12 hours after you get off the train). The train was a good 6.5 hours late getting into Los Angeles. Some people had to get off at Palm Springs and bussed to catch their other train connections. Some people missed their connections altogether. It was really a mess for some people. I didn't mind arriving around noon instead of 6am since I was staying in LA for a couple of days anyway. |
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| October 29th - Wednesday |
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06:40 PST arrive in Los Angeles |
Cumulative Mileage/Kilometers: 3,923/6,313 |
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Sleep in Los Angeles/Hollywood Hollywood Plaza Inn |
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| October 30th - Thursday |
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Sleep in Los Angeles/Hollywood Hollywood Plaza Inn Did the ole touristy stuff in LA. Was offered tickets to the Leno show, but I had plans for the evening and I'm a Letterman fan. Had the wackiest taxi driver on the way back to the train station. He nearly ran out of gas on the highway and coasted the last few yards into a gas station aboout 2 blocks short of the train station... what a maroon.. heh |
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| October 31st - Friday |
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Los Angeles to Seattle Amtrak Coast Starlight Train #14 Depart: 10:15 PST Arrive: 20:30 PST November 1 in Seattle Coast Starlight Train Map This train travels through CA, OR and WA. |
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Sleep on train First Class Superliner Standard Sleeper I had such a blast on this train. The people I met were all so wonderful. The scenery was extraordinary. The Cascades are breath-takingly beautiful. The Parlour car on the train was great. We had wine tastings there and a whole lotta fun. And eventhough this train is called the flagship of the Amtrak fleet, it too, was hours late... we didn't get into Seattle till well past midnight...over 4 hours late. So I lost my chance to visit a bit of Seattle that evening. A good reason to have to go back there some day :) |
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| November 1st - Saturday |
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20:30 PST arrive in Seattle |
Cumulative Mileage/Kilometers: 5,312/8,549 |
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Sleep in Seattle Pioneer Square Hotel This is an absolutely gorgeous hotel. My room was fabulous. I wish I had had more time to enjoy it. The train arrived 4 hours late, so I didn't get to the hotel until shortly before 1am. Didn't get to bed until past 2:30 and I had to be up before 5:30am because my train to Vancouver was leaving early that morning. Another reason for me to have to go back to Seattle some day... to enjoy that hotel for longer than a few hours :) I highly recommend the hotel to anyone going to Seattle. |
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| November 2nd - Sunday |
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Seattle to Vancouver, BC Amtrak Cascades Train #510 Business Class Depart: 07:45 PST Arrive: 11:40 PST Cascades Train Map This train travels through WA and BC. |
Cumulative Mileage/Kilometers: 5,468/8,800 |
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Vancouver to Toronto Via Rail Canada's The Canadian Train #2 Depart: 17:30 PST Arrive: 20:00 EST November 5 in Toronto This train travels through BC, ALB, Sask, Man and Ont. |
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Sleep on train First class - Silver & Blue Class - Single Bedroom |
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| November 3rd - Monday |
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Sleep on train First class - Silver & Blue Class - Single Bedroom Had a very nice time on this train as well. Met lots of lovely people. The ride was nice and smooth, but the sleepers on this train have a lot to be desired, especially that they cost a small fortune. The seat in the sleeper was narrower than a church pew! At night the bed would fold down on top of the toilet...how stupid is that?! Next time, if there is a next time, I won't dole out a small fortune for a sleeper. I'll take a lower berth, which is actually wider than an expensive sleeper. We stopped in Jasper for less than 20 minutes. The stop over is supposed to be a good 90 minutes, but the train was running late. It was unseasonally cold, so 20 minutes was fine :) |
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| November 4th - Tuesday |
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Sleep on train First class - Silver & Blue Class - Single Bedroom |
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| November 5th - Wednesday |
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20:00 EST arrive in Toronto |
Cumulative Mileage/Kilometers: 8,243/13,265 |
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Sleep in Toronto Roehampton Hotel & Suites |
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| November 6th - Thursday |
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Sleep in Toronto Roehampton Hotel & Suites Nice hotel, I had a nice big room, even had a small fridge. The room was relatively clean when I checked in, but their housekeeping is deplorable. In the 4 days that I was there, housekeeping came only twice, even after mentioning it at the front desk. When they did come, they half cleaned. It's unfortunate because it's a nice hotel, but it won't stay that way for long. |
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| November 7th - Friday |
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Sleep in Toronto Roehampton Hotel & Suites |
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| November 8th - Saturday |
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Sleep in Toronto Roehampton Hotel & Suites I've been to Toronto so many times that apart from going to the Royal Ontario Museum, I didn't do many touristy things, nor did I take many pics (you know how it is when you've been somewhere often). Did some visiting with friends, a bit of shopping for souvenirs (I had strict orders from the folks back home to bring souvenirs back from every city... hehe), dining out and all that sort of stuff. Then I was on to the final leg of my journey. |
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| November 9th - Sunday |
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Toronto to Montreal Via Rail Canada Train #60 Depart: 11:30 EST Arrive: 16:56 EST This train travels through Ont and Que. |
Cumulative Mileage/Kilometers: 8,587/13,819 |
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Montreal to Quebec City Via Rail Canada Renaissance Train #26 Depart: 17:55 EST Arrive: 20:50 EST Homeward bound! Had to take that horrible Renaissance train again :( See note above (Oct. 21). I had a wonderful trip, it was marvelous. It was a great experience! When I got home I was ready to turn around and do it all over again :)) |
Cumulative Mileage/Kilometers: 8,757/14,093 |
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