Nicole V In The City

     As much as I can while riding trains, I do all I can through each experience to take it all in and be as present as possible.  I enjoy taking in all the the sights of riding in a train car. Each time I get on, it starts to get easier and I get a rush of excitement and my heart goes extra "pitter patter."   It's a bit of a rush.  I rush of feeling true independence.  I haven't ridden on the train with anyone else, so it's not just traveling to destinations it's a time and space for me to hang out with myself.  Each time, I find a tiny new piece of myself.  I find a version of myself that is more eager and able.  It is so much easier to take care of just myself when I travel and I don't have to worry about my family or friends.  It's not a usual feeling of worrying just about myself in any situation.  Yet by default, I have made riding the amtrak trains    a place where I can find the more independent Nicole V...

Back On The Starlight: Headed Toward Cambria        Each Summer, my sweet Auntie and Uncle take their daughters and they're "third" daughter, myself, for a four day vacation in Cambria, California.  Cambria, is along the North West Coast of California, about forty miles from Paseo Robles.  The train is such a great stage for meeting new people and invites new things to see that you didn't see before, outside the windows of the  https://www.amtrak.com   This was the second time I got on this train from Chico, California.  Which is a tiny little train station that looked like it was a ride at  https://disneyland.disney.go.com/   This train arrives  at 4:12am daily.  This specific train, The Starlight, runs from the North to the South and vise versa.  This train goes from Los Angeles Union Station.  To the Seattle, Washington.  When I got on the train so early in the morning, I forgot that it was early. About a...

                    Nicole V In The City, San Francisco Style           My second  train ride adventure was just this past Summer in June. I decided to hop on a different train this time and take the Capitol Corridor that goes from Sacramento Valley Station to different stops on the outskirts of San Francisco California.  This specific train will take you as far as San Jose, California.  I went to Emeryville, which was about thirty minutes outside of San Francisco. to visit one of my cousins who lives right in the heart of the "foggy city."  I arrived in Emeryville, on a Friday afternoon after a three hour excursion.  I always have great moments while traveling to my destinations via train. Amtrak.com  does a fabulous job of making train riders feel comfortable.  So much to see, from bridges that cross and give access into San Fran. To the water that shines so bea...