You meet all types on an Amtrak train. No not really. Mostly you meet people who like to talk about interesting people they have met on trains. Take the dude we met at the fancy waiting room at Union Station (fun fact, pretty much every Amtrak station is named Union Station, talking now about the one in Chicago). He told us that once on a train headed through Montana he met a couple of construction workers who beat up their boss over a pay dispute then immediately hopped on the train to, I guess, brag about it to a complete stranger. Maybe. Or maybe they were having a bit of fun at our new friend’s expense. I guess either way it’s a good story.

This is not our first cross-country train trip but it is the first one by roomette. Roomette is Amtrak’s cheapest sleeper option and costs a lot more than a three hour flight. You are though also a lot closer to the ground so it’s not that big a deal when parts fall off.

So far the train is the usual mix of Amish, disoriented families constantly telling their kids how much fun it is to travel by train and a smug looking fellow in overalls (I am sure he has stories but I’m not sure I want to hear them). Our roomette is snug; two chairs facing each other that flip into narrow bunks. Corey and I are both a bit scared to take the top bunk so right now we are squeezed together while she reads and I type. My leg spills into the hallway. This is possible as the slider door is open cause otherwise our tiny space gets too hot. Next door is a bathroom with a shower. From what I gather no one in the history of Amtrak has ever actually used this or other random similar showers scattered about the train. Tomorrow I hope to be the first.