01 Mar 2010

R: I think my favorite mode of travel has to be by train. My first extended train trip was in my sophmore year of high school, from Richmond, Virginia to Boston, Massachussettes via Amtrak and then Boston to Wellesley, Massachussettes on the regional. My traveling companions and I decided to take a late afternoon train from Richmond and travel the rest of the way at night so as not to lose a day...worst idea ever. We got practically no sleep and found it impossible to get comfortable in our barely reclining seats. Probably the longest 13 hours of my life (apart from the time I thought it would be a good idea to drive from Williamsburg, Virginia to Williamstown, Massachussettes having never been to the latter town except by plane and embarking on the trip at around 6 at night).

Fortunately, the experience did not taint my enthusiasm for train travel. I think one of the main draws for me is the diversity and general loveliness of train stations from the Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast (never been out west on a train). Many of them are old and ornate, but even the ones that aren't hold an unnameable charm for me. There is just something about waiting on that platform, suitcase and ticket in hand, that I really enjoy. The trip on the train itself is also rather nice as you get to see different city-scapes and small towns and often times your seatmate changes on longer trips. Also, I no longer get motion sick on trains thanks to the New York subway system which has acclimated me to that particular motion, so I can read books. On my roundtrip from New York Penn Station to Philly Penn Station to Malvern, Pennsylvania and back, I finished not one but two books - Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger and Balzac and the Little Seamstress. (Both I highly recommend).

I do have to admit - at the risk of sounding disloyal - that Philly Penn Station is much prettier and overall a better experience than New York Penn Station. Whereas in NY the station is slightly claustrophobic, full of angry commuters and a hub for four different train lines (subway, NJTransit, Path and Amtrak), the one in Philly has old architecture with tall windows, vaulted ceilings and - in comparison - a relaxed pace. Waiting three hours at 30th street for my NY-bound train was rather pleasant.

C: I made Athena a little mattress. I'm always catching her lying around in the bed, or I come home and find a pool of fur where she had been lounging all day. I thought it was time she got her own. I cut up my old curtains from Wellesley (I made the curtains myself, too), had M shred up some old T-shirts for stuffing, and created a 6-sided, 2"x10"x18" pillow for her. I think she really appreciates having her own bed - I woke up this morning and found her sprawled out on her back, head and tail hanging over the edges.