There truly is no finer way to travel the country other than by train. By plane, you'll see your flight attendant when you duck your head to get in the door, and maybe when you receive your trivial sized drink. By bus, you'll say hello to your driver once then sit in your seat and bounce along while watching our nation's fabulous interstate system go by. Getting to know your car attendant and vise versa makes the trip on Amtrak is an experience that can be found very few other places in the world. The stories they have, the suggestions they give, and the things they can tell you to watch out for are key elements in making your stay in your coach or sleeper can make the experience of a lifetime. My father and I recently took the City of New Orleans the entire distance from the Crescent City to the Windy City, and our attendant was no exception. Stories of her employment with Amtrak and some of the experiences she's had were very interesting and enjoyable; especially at 10:20PM when our train is stopped in Memphis on the 4th of July, and fireworks are blasting away in the distance. Here, shadows of passengers boarding the train and stepping off for a smoke are seen as the City of New Orleans waits to head north.
