Day 24:
Just a note from yesterday. If you ever have the chance to visit Winter Park Florida, do it. It's a really nice little town.
This morning, I woke up in Virginia, and quickly grabbed breakfast because we would soon be in Baltimore Maryland, and I wanted to be able to see it. What a waste of time. Maybe there is a part to the city that I couldn't see from the train, but what I did see was depressing. It's an ugly, delapidated place, that didn't have any redeeming quality.
Next stop was Wilmington Delaware. This city was much better, but I got distracted by something I saw at the station. I'm sure this isn't politically correct, but the cutest little Omish couple got off the train there. I really wish I had seen them on the train, because it would have been fun to talk to them.
As we came into Philadelphia, it too was a beautiful city, until we got to north Philly, which looked just like Baltimore to me.
Our next 2 stops were Trenton & Newark New Jersey. I wish I had something to say about NJ, but I can't think of a thing.
Next stop, New York City. I planned on taking pics of all the buildings as we came into the city, but several miles outside the city, you enter a tunnel and stay in there all the way to the station.
Penn Station is terrible. I didn't like anything about it. My plan was to wander outside and see some sights during my 5 hour layover. I prayed and asked God if that was a good plan (I'm learning to seek his counsel before doing things I wouldn't normally do). I asked him to let me know what I should do. He did. The train ended up being a little late, and I got lost in the station. Every other station I've been to, including the big ones in LA & DC, had great signs that led me exactly where I needed to go. Penn station's signage sucks! All they tell you is where to catch different subways. I decided to ask a couple cops I saw for directions. These were 2 of the rudest guys I've ever met. I finally found baggage claim 30 minutes later, and there were a bunch of people standing around. No baggage yet. After another 30 minutes, they announced that the baggage elevator had broken down, and they would keep us posted. After another 30 minutes, they sent someone to get us and bring us to our luggage (instead of bringing it to us). After getting my bag, I went to the waiting area for first class, and decided to sit down for a couple of minutes to rest.
That's when I met Hal & Jean. They were these super nice people that talked my ear off. After all these incidents, I felt like I had my answer, and it was to stay in the station. Hal & Jean offered to watch my bags, so I could go get some lunch. I found a New York deli right in the station, so that's what I got. I was assured by several people that this was an authentic NY deli, but I don't see what all the hype is. It was like one step above Subway.
I also saw a K Mart in the station that said "Thank you for shopping at your Manhattan K Mart".
Back on the train headed for Chicago. I met a family at dinner that had just taken a Carnival Cruise, so we swapped stories. We both agreed that my cruise was better.
After dinner, I got to visit with my mom, the Rider's, and the Goodman's. It was nice to talk with all of them, and I got to hear a little about Jim & Vicki's trip to Hawaii.
After that, I started listening to the novel The Shack on cd. I'm not too far into it, but it seems like it will be pretty interesting.
Through all the turmoil today, I still have nothing but total peace.
God is good!
Just a note from yesterday. If you ever have the chance to visit Winter Park Florida, do it. It's a really nice little town.
This morning, I woke up in Virginia, and quickly grabbed breakfast because we would soon be in Baltimore Maryland, and I wanted to be able to see it. What a waste of time. Maybe there is a part to the city that I couldn't see from the train, but what I did see was depressing. It's an ugly, delapidated place, that didn't have any redeeming quality.
Next stop was Wilmington Delaware. This city was much better, but I got distracted by something I saw at the station. I'm sure this isn't politically correct, but the cutest little Omish couple got off the train there. I really wish I had seen them on the train, because it would have been fun to talk to them.
As we came into Philadelphia, it too was a beautiful city, until we got to north Philly, which looked just like Baltimore to me.
Our next 2 stops were Trenton & Newark New Jersey. I wish I had something to say about NJ, but I can't think of a thing.
Next stop, New York City. I planned on taking pics of all the buildings as we came into the city, but several miles outside the city, you enter a tunnel and stay in there all the way to the station.
Penn Station is terrible. I didn't like anything about it. My plan was to wander outside and see some sights during my 5 hour layover. I prayed and asked God if that was a good plan (I'm learning to seek his counsel before doing things I wouldn't normally do). I asked him to let me know what I should do. He did. The train ended up being a little late, and I got lost in the station. Every other station I've been to, including the big ones in LA & DC, had great signs that led me exactly where I needed to go. Penn station's signage sucks! All they tell you is where to catch different subways. I decided to ask a couple cops I saw for directions. These were 2 of the rudest guys I've ever met. I finally found baggage claim 30 minutes later, and there were a bunch of people standing around. No baggage yet. After another 30 minutes, they announced that the baggage elevator had broken down, and they would keep us posted. After another 30 minutes, they sent someone to get us and bring us to our luggage (instead of bringing it to us). After getting my bag, I went to the waiting area for first class, and decided to sit down for a couple of minutes to rest.
That's when I met Hal & Jean. They were these super nice people that talked my ear off. After all these incidents, I felt like I had my answer, and it was to stay in the station. Hal & Jean offered to watch my bags, so I could go get some lunch. I found a New York deli right in the station, so that's what I got. I was assured by several people that this was an authentic NY deli, but I don't see what all the hype is. It was like one step above Subway.
I also saw a K Mart in the station that said "Thank you for shopping at your Manhattan K Mart".
Back on the train headed for Chicago. I met a family at dinner that had just taken a Carnival Cruise, so we swapped stories. We both agreed that my cruise was better.
After dinner, I got to visit with my mom, the Rider's, and the Goodman's. It was nice to talk with all of them, and I got to hear a little about Jim & Vicki's trip to Hawaii.
After that, I started listening to the novel The Shack on cd. I'm not too far into it, but it seems like it will be pretty interesting.
Through all the turmoil today, I still have nothing but total peace.
God is good!
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