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On the road again Canada and the US Dec 2011-Feb 2012 - Observations, musings and random thoughts jotted down mostly during loooong train and bus trips.

Trip: North America 2011-12

There are [13] stories from my trip: North America 2011-12


A TASTE OF FREEPORT BAHAMAS

BAHAMAS | Wednesday, 28 Mar 2012 | Views [972]

It seemed like a good idea at the time – a quick day trip from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas to get a welcome Caribbean fix – sun, sand, sea breezes and a mojito or two. And a respite from the congested strip mall that is Miami ... Read more >

Tags: bahamas, balearic line, freeport, lucaya plaza


SANTA FE NEW MEXICO/ THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF

USA | Wednesday, 21 Mar 2012 | Views [2635] | Comments [1]

Alighting the train at Lamy, a blip on the train line between Los Angeles and Chicago, I wait for the baggage cart outside an old station building with two young men holding guitars, on a college   holiday trip to Santa Fe. ... Read more >

Tags: amtrak, new mexico, santa fe, southwest chief


SANTA FE TO CHICAGO/ THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF

USA | Wednesday, 21 Mar 2012 | Views [859]

Lonely Planet USA describes Las Vegas, New Mexico as “one of the loveliest towns in New Mexico”: all I can say is, the “eminently strollable downtown (with its) pretty Old Town Plaza and some 900 historic buildings” was not on the ... Read more >

Tags: amtrak staff, santa fe, southwest chief, train travel, usa


A FLORIDA SOJOURN

USA | Wednesday, 21 Mar 2012 | Views [949] | Comments [1]

A FLORIDA SOJOURN The train line from New Orleans to Miami is out of service and no decision has yet been made to rebuild it, so I had to once again take a deep breath and board a Greyhound bus for Miami. The ... Read more >

Tags: everglades, florida, greyhound, key west, south beach, usa


ROAD TO VEGAS

USA | Wednesday, 25 Jan 2012 | Views [1058]

We stopped in Barstow,midway between LA and Las Vegas...a bus stop consisting of an untidy jumble of fastfood joints - McDonald's, Panda Express, Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuits – all leading to dozens of restrooms   and souvenir ... Read more >

Tags: greyhound to las vegas. usa


CHICAGO TO NEW ORLEANS

USA | Wednesday, 25 Jan 2012 | Views [876] | Comments [1]

The Spirit of New Orleans backed out of Union Station and sat on a flyover for twenty minutes in deference to another, favoured, train using the shared tracks before jolting forward to begin the long journey south. ... Read more >

Tags: amtrak, chicago, city of new orleans, mississippi, usa. train travel, yazoo


A SAN FRANCISCO STORY

USA | Wednesday, 25 Jan 2012 | Views [486]

A San Francisco night - walking from the Chinatown Gate up the steep hill that is Bush Street, just before the corner of Powell and the downhill jaunt following the cable car tracks to Union Square, I spy a face looking up at me ... Read more >

Tags: san francisco


MONOCHROMATIC FOOD: EATING ON THE ROAD IN THE USA

USA | Tuesday, 24 Jan 2012 | Views [1593] | Comments [3]

Having now been exposed to the diet of the vast majority of the population for several weeks, I am dying for fresh salad, fruit, vegetables and low-fat milk for my (espresso) coffee! It is of course possible to eat well - very well ... Read more >

Tags: american food


CHICAGO IN SIXTY MINUTES

USA | Tuesday, 24 Jan 2012 | Views [822]

We pulled into Chicago’s impressive Union Station in the dark, all columns and soaring ceilings. Inside however, is another story. The building is bustling with attendants in their neat navy uniforms with the badges, ... Read more >


Photos: USA 2011-12

USA | Tuesday, 24 Jan 2012 | Photo Gallery


See all 12 photos >>
 


SEVENTEEN MILES TO LAMY

USA | Monday, 23 Jan 2012 | Views [1118]

The mini-van swerved into the dusty yard of the Santa Fe International Hostel – a collection ... Read more >

Tags: amtrak, lamy, santa fe, southwest chief


FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA TO SANTA FE NEW MEXICO/THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF

USA | Monday, 23 Jan 2012 | Views [2650]

I left the hostel at 5am and walked the icy block and a half to the Amtrak station for the 5.41 train to Santa Fe (peculiar how precise the timetable is when the trains are invariably up to 2 hours late). Several goods trains rattled past - over ... Read more >

Tags: amtrak, flagstaff, new mexico, southwest chief


OH GLORIOUS GREYHOUND

USA | Sunday, 22 Jan 2012 | Views [1038]

Creeping out of Los Angeles Union Station 40 minutes late on the Greyhound bus Amtrak had offloaded us onto, I was immediately reminded just how "sketch" this bus company can be; sitting down in my seat I glanced up to see ... Read more >

Tags: greyhound; central american buses; guatemala