New Orleans Bound!

Outer Journey

Honestly, thus far I have learned that I’m really a 95-year old woman living in an almost 23-year old body. The aches and pains I feel in my back are quite terrible. I have had lower back pain from work, but sitting in these chairs trying to sleep made it worse because I kept sliding downward in the chair meaning that I had no back support in my lower back. Throughout most the night, I couldn’t get comfortable unless I was like on my side which eventually hurt my hip, and I had to rest my head on my roommate, Lindsey. Then, after laying on my side for so long, I would get this pain in my knees from being bent and hanging off the foot rest. Even though, it seems like a pretty big space, I still felt too big for it and too old. 

All of our stuff in the seat.

Our chair in a sitting position. 

                             

Our chair laid out ready to sleep.

Furthermore, it was unbearable hot to the point where I considered pulling up my pant legs and taking my socks off. Personally, it is strange that I get that hot because I’m typically very cold and I don’t like any weather that is less than 75 degrees and sunny. After a while, they finally turned the heat down and turned up the air so it cooled off and felt good on the train. I was able to lay on my side won top of my pillow laying my head on Lindsey’s arm with my blanket over top of me. 

Surprisingly, the train ride over night was quiet, there wasn’t anyone talking and if they were you couldn’t hear it. The train was not very loud when it would blow the horn either, but maybe that is because we are in the very last car that you couldn’t really hear it. Regardless, the environment was calm and everyone was very respectful of the people around them. 

I decided to get some breakfast on the train this morning, although there was a big variety of options. There was a blueberry muffin and cinnamon roll ($2.25), and a Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwich ($4.75). They had coffee and hot tea or hot chocolate ($2.25), pop, water, and some other drinks (about $2.25 and up). I choose to get the cinnamon roll which was premade by Sara Lee and it was alright, it was a little dry and hard though. Then, I got hot tea which happens to be my favorite. Overall, I spent $5.50 for my breakfast and I was not all that impressed by it but it was good enough to fill me up and tie me over. 

Breakfast on the train.

When you try to walk on the train, it is very difficult. Because the train is swaying back and forth, it makes it hard to walk straight. Another way to describe this is as if you are extremely drunk and have no control over your legs while someone is pushing you over. I was walking to the observation car and on my way there, I was walking between cars and one of the doors came sliding back out at me hitting me and causing me to hit something else with my ribs which hurt so bad. It felt like I got punched full force in the ribs. It is quite the experience and I get afraid for the elderly people on the train who are trying to walk around. In fact, it makes me nervous like I need to carry them to their seat. Overall, I believe that the people on the train all seem very nice and when walking by them, we say hi to one another or smile. Everyone seems to mind their own business and that they are happy to be on here looking out the windows and talking to the person next to them. 

Next stop, New Orleans!

Getting ready to work on my blog in the Observation car.

Inner Journey

Like I said before, I truly learned that I feel like a 95-year old woman because of how sore my back is from trying to sleep in these chairs. But I have enjoyed getting to experience the train again. I took the train to New York City when I was going into 7^thgrade which was a two-day long trip and wasn’t as bad because I was younger and didn’t have the aches and pains that I do now. I could also sleep a lot better back then but, now any small noise tends to wake me up because I am such a paranoid person that I can’t get myself to fully fall asleep. 

All my luggage!

I learned that it is very difficult to go to the bathroom while the train is moving because you are trying not to fall over and get pee on yourself, but I don’t want my butt on the seat either. Therefore, I try to go to the bathroom while the train is stopped. 

By talking to this gentleman on the train, he gave us tips on what to do in New Orleans and what not to do. He said “don’t give your phone to anyone” and “don’t sit your drinks down”, “keep your money situated on you because they can steal your bags”. But, the most important thing he said to us was “stay together, don’t go anywhere by yourself and be in groups of at least 3”. Then he talked about this Cajun food that we should try. He told us different bars to try or to avoid. 

The man with all the advice

Overall, I’m excited for the experience we will have and the food we will try while we are there. 

Kate, Brynna, myself, and Lindsey