A Few Interesting Things I'm Remembering About Train Travel

The scenery. It's different from highway scenery. It's kind of like an alleyway of the countryside. It's rough parts of cities you've been to a hundred times that you've never seen. It's graffiti on industrial buildings that would never be tolerated anywhere else. It can also be quite magestic and beautiful. It's travelling on train bridges that you can't see under you over canyons and rivers.

This is not an airplane. The staff will accomodate you if it is possible. There aren't a lot of rules. Bring what you want on the train. There is no searching or 'customs.' the guy that checks your baggage probably sold you your ticket and will likely be the one to check it as you board.

The motion. It's a smooth, steady, and slow push forward. There's also a side to side rocking motion. Never very strong but always present. A whistle blows nearly continuously and sounds very far away.

The French/ English signage. It reminds you that this thing travels coast to coast and is one of the few indications in the West of our country's French history outside a government building.

The bathroom sinks. The faucets jut out about a centimeter from the sink bowl and leak water, apparently using only the powers of gravity, down the back of the sink.

Stopping, for a moment, between train cars is pretty neat. It's cold and metal and windy and, best of all, forbidden.