New York and Amtrak Silver Meteor: 27.06.18

My final day in New York was lovely, I just strolled around the local area, using the side streets, which are more residential, it was great to see native New Yorkers, walking their dogs, sitting under the trees, grabbing a coffee on the way to work. I also stopped in a trendy coffee shop, and I have to say their coffee, Colombian, was not a patch on Coffee on the Corners!

I called into a hotel for some free WiFi and caught the end of the Germany v South Korea game! Shocker..

then finally off to Penn Station for my Amtrak Silver Meteor to Miami. ❤️

Penn Station, is quite big, very busy, crowded and noisy, I found a waiting room and sat and people watched, fascinating! Some odd people around.

Boarded the train, so exciting, I absolutely love grain journeys, they always feel like the start of an adventure! My little Roomette is fantastic, comfy and large enough as I’m travelling alone.

We had been travelling for approx 90 mins when the train stopped, no worries, then it stayed stopped, they announced that there was Major engine trouble. First we were told that a new engine would come out from Philadelphia, which was approx 15mins away, hook up and off we go, that then changed to us all disembarking across a metal walkway onto a passenger train, which would take us to Philadelphia. All good, this then changed again  to staying on the passenger train till Washington DC, 2 hours away, again, no worries I was sitting next to Cameron a lovely, polite 11 year old on his way to Georgia with his grandparents, we chatted, shared some crisps, I helped him with his homework, he told me about the Greek Gods.

I popped down to the cafe car to get a drink and bumped into the guy who had been in the opposite roomette when we broke down, we chatted and he bought me a rather gorgeous Bloody Mary!! Yum!

We arrived in Washington, waited for a little while and then our wonderful train appeared, we re boarded, managed to grab a burger from the cafe car even though the Conductor had told us all to go back to our rooms, thank you Clay Ettis!

Had a reasonable nights sleep, and then woke to a gorgeous South Carolina Sunrise!

I have chatted to some really lovely people, friendly and interesting, I have also listened to some really whinging people, who are not very polite to the staff, all of whom work bloody hard.

Had a delicious breakfast, tried some Southern “Grits” interesting, weird, a bit like really fine rice pudding but savoury! I’m not sure it’s my thing!

So we are back on track, the scenery is fantastic and ever changing, you get to see possibly the poorer parts of the towns we pass as they are near the railway.

We are delayed by 3hrs so far, but let’s see what today brings!

Author: hereandthereclaire

Hi, my name is Claire and I am 60 years young, welcome to my blog. I am new to the whole travel and blog writing world, so no judging! I recently made some big life changes, leaving my job in education and moving myself and my younger children to Newquay in Cornwall, I then started a business with some fantastic friends #coffeeonthecornernewquay. And now I am about to embark on my first big travel adventure...I would love to share this with you. Since starting this blog in 2018 I have made more changes, and now in 2024 I will be traveling full time for the next year! Please join me in sharing my Big Adventure! ❤️ View all posts by hereandthereclaire