Buffalo...wings and all.

We said goodbye to Manhattan with a flair today.  We got up early to get to the train station on time.  Unfortunately, not everything worked in our favor.  The elevators at the hotel were particularly busy this morning.  That took extra time.  The breakfast area was also particularly busy, more extra time.  We did get our breakfast and we did get packed up and out of the hotel room but about 15 minutes past our optimal departure time.  We had to play a dirty trick to get downstairs with our luggage.  We got on an elevator going up, otherwise, there was no way to get on and 7 floors with luggage was too much. 

Out on the street again, with all our suitcases, we only had to walk 2 blocks to the subway station.  We caught the subway to Penn Station and then walked about 2 more blocks underground to get to Penn Station.  Yes, that was hauling suitcases up and down stairs, through turnstiles where they didn't fit and had to be hauled overhand--all while hurrying and all in an early humid heat.  Finally we made it to Penn Station with 5 minutes to spare to check baggage on the train.  Someone forgot to let Amtrak know that NYC is going nicer and friendlier.  It became rather entertaining all the ways they can find to abuse their customers.  We had the audacity to ask an Amtrak employee where to wait for our train.  Yes, she did tell us but I wasn't about to ask another question!  She also told us that they don't check bags, we have to carry them on.  We waited...and waited...and waited in the area she designated.  Finally, 10 minutes before our departure time, they announced our departure track.  We hurried to get there and were told, in none too nice a way, that the line extended way down the hall and we had better hurry.  Hurry we did.  They then began to yell at all the passengers to hurry because this train had to leave on time.  They seriously yelled at the huge line of people the whole time we were in the line.  We followed the directions we were given and just hoped we were getting it right.  Some nice fellow passenger helped me put my 50 lb, oversize bag on the overhead rack.  And we were off, only 3 minutes late, too. 

We hadn't traveled by Amtrak before.  They have real conductors that come along and punch your ticket and put a seat marker in the row above the seats.  He even wore a real conductors hat.  He was very nice. 

About noon, Eileen was getting hungry.  I thought we should wait until about 12:30 and let the lunch rush die down a bit.  Bad idea.  We made our way to the back of the train, only to be told by the cafe attendant, in loud and accusatory tones, that the cafe was closed.  We could come back after Albany in 40 minutes.  He had too many customers to serve.  Ok, then.  So, after the train left Albany, we headed back to the cafe car where he again told us that he wasn't open yet.  He would make an announcement when he was open.  Well, we could see where this was going to lead, so we decided that we would just wait in the portico until he was done with his break and be one of the first in line.  After about 10 minutes, he opened the door and ordered us to come inside and stop stalking him.  We then got a lecture about his union rights to take a break and didn't we support workers, etc, etc.  I agreed with him that he deserved a break and that we didn't mind waiting.  When he was done, he told everyone in the car to line up and not be fighting about who was first in line.  Honestly, the only one with an attitude was the cafe attendant!  Eileen wanted a panini but she didn't want it heated in the microwave in the cellophane wrap.  He absolutely refused to sell it to her unheated.  I wanted fruit but he said they were out of fruit.  He could sell me a yogurt parfait.  No thanks.  He kept ordering multiple customers to tell him their orders ahead of time and then he would forget what they ordered.  One customer, hearing this, tried to tell him what he wanted heated in the microwave in order to save some time, and he was yelled at for not waiting his turn.  The poor guy in front of us only wanted a cup of coffee and he had to wait forever and listen to the rantings of this cafe attendant.  We finally got our sandwiches and went back to our seats.  It took an hour!   But it was great entertainment. 

The scenery on the train was magnificent.  We followed the Hudson River for quite some time.  We were by a river or by rolling hills of green almost the entire trip from Manhattan to Buffalo. 

And, Amtrak got us there 20 minutes early.  My parents met us at the train station and took us out for an amazing dinner of buffalo wings, barbecued ribs, brisket, pulled pork, baked beans, french fries and garlic bread.  MMMmmmm.  My parents drove my car from UT to Ocean City, Maryland on Highway 50.  They have now driven highway 50 from start to finish.  We had a fun evening sharing stories from our respective trips.  They are flying home to Sacramento tomorrow and Eileen and I head out for our road trip. 

We finished the day with a glorious sunset.