1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WVS, Boston's news radio. 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 2: Rather Jay and for Dan. Next up a travel section. 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 2: But it's a type of travel that you never hear about. 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 2: I never hear about anyway. That is train travel, and 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: trains are a great adventure, whether they're domestic or foreign. 6 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 2: I'm gonna focus on the domestic ones because I'm trying 7 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: to make you aware that you can have a real 8 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 2: big adventure pretty cheaply, a lot easier than some European vacation. 9 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 2: And so here's how it's gonna go. We're gonna talk 10 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 2: to Amtrak. We're gonna talk to Jason Abrams, senior public 11 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 2: relations manager for Amtrak. Then we're gonna have a celebrity caller, 12 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 2: Kytra Allen's gonna call in and tell us about his 13 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: Swiss trip, which is a European trip, but it's really something. 14 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: Then I'm gonna share with you my eight long haul 15 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: Amtrak journeys that I've taken. I never talk about them, 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 2: but i want to encourage you to try them out, 17 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,199 Speaker 2: and I'm going to tell you what they're like in 18 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 2: some significant detail. And then I'll also get into some 19 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 2: European train trips and also another also talk to you 20 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 2: about some really some of the luxury train journeys that 21 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: one can take. First, let's talk with our guests, Jason Abram, 22 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 2: Senior public relations manager for Amtrak. I'd like to talk 23 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: to Jason about potential promotions and passes and all to 24 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 2: maybe give you some specifics of what Amtrak can offer you. 25 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 2: So thanks for being with us, Jason. 26 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 3: They caving me right. 27 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 2: So as you heard just now, what I'm trying to 28 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 2: find out about is well. First, I guess I would 29 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 2: ask you just to explain to folks how wonderful train 30 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 2: travel on Amtrak can be, particularly from Chicago West where 31 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: they have the double decker cars and the viewing car, 32 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 2: and do your best to promote that and let them 33 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: know how great it is. I'm really interested in promotions 34 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 2: that you might have on the website and passes and 35 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: how the passes work. Is it like a year rail 36 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 2: pass and there are some differences, etc. So thanks for 37 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: being with us, And what can you tell us about 38 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: Amtrak to make us say, yeah, I want to take 39 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,119 Speaker 2: a ride somewhere far away and take a big adventure 40 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 2: on Amtrak. 41 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 3: Yep, no problem. So it's interesting, right, you said, not 42 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 3: a lot of people talk about it, or you don't 43 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 3: hear about it that much. So on one point, that's true, 44 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 3: because it's a default for people to necessarily think I'm 45 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 3: going to fly or I'm going to take the car. 46 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 3: On the other hand, it's also a pretty popular way 47 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 3: to go about seeing the country. We just set a 48 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 3: record this past year, an all time record for ridership 49 00:02:55,160 --> 00:03:00,080 Speaker 3: and revenue, thirty four and a half million customers nationwide, 50 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 3: and that comes on the heels of a record we 51 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 3: broke and set lest year, so two years in a row, 52 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 3: year over year record breaking growth. But you know, like 53 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 3: I said, people sometimes defall to the car, they default 54 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 3: to flying. But those things aren't fun. I don't like 55 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 3: being stuck in traffic on I ninety five. I don't 56 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 3: like being cramped on a plane. And so everything that 57 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 3: makes driving and flying really not fun is also what 58 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 3: makes taking the trend fun. There's no middle seat. You 59 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 3: can get up and walk around whenever you want. We 60 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 3: have a cafe car. You don't have to pull over 61 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 3: to a rest up for that. You don't have to 62 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 3: pull over for a rest up to use the restroom. 63 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 3: We have restrooms on board. No middle seat, Like I said, large, 64 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 3: spacious seats and some of the best views you could 65 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 3: see all throughout the country. You get to be productive 66 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 3: too if you want. You can stay connected. We have 67 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 3: outlets at every seat so you could stay watch a movie, 68 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 3: work if you have to, all of the things that 69 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 3: you can't do when you're driving or may have difficult flying. 70 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 3: And to your point about discounts, we have regular fair 71 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 3: promotions all the time, but we also have everyday discounts 72 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 3: that people can use to take advantage and save on 73 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 3: their trip. Kids ride fifty percent off on their trip, 74 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 3: senior save ten percent off, Military personnel, families, veterans all 75 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 3: save ten percent, students save fifteen percent. So there are 76 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 3: these things every single day that people could take advantage of. 77 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 3: We always recommend booking about twenty one days in advance 78 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 3: to reach the most savings, but those options are there 79 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 3: for you if you need them. 80 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I want to share some other things that are 81 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 2: unique to the train. I think it's a great thing 82 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: for someone who's traveling solo to do because if you 83 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 2: go on a trip by yourself to Europe, you're by yourself. 84 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 2: If you drive, you're by yourself. You're not going to 85 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 2: strike up any friendships on an automobile trip. While you're 86 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: all alone on the train, it's very social. And I 87 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 2: take those long haul journeys. The first day people kind 88 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 2: of keep to themselves, but on the second day and 89 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 2: night people start to chat and have a drink with 90 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 2: and and meet up in the viewing car or have 91 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 2: a meal together, because after a day people kind of 92 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 2: want to chat. And as I've as I've told folks before, 93 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 2: you you can talk to people on a train, You're 94 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: gonna meet people on the train that you would never 95 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 2: ever run into in normal life. For example, on one 96 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 2: of the one of the runs, I went through Dakota 97 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 2: and a and a man came on who wasn't worked 98 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 2: in the fracking world, the oil fracking business. He used 99 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: to have to X ray the drills to make sure 100 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 2: they were not cracked. So I talked to this guy 101 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 2: for two hours. I would never ever interact with that man. 102 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: I'd never run into an oil guy if I didn't 103 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 2: get on that train. Plus, I find that politics kind 104 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 2: of falls away because you're face to face, it's not 105 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 2: like you're online. You gotta be nice. And so there 106 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 2: are people from blue states talking to people from red 107 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 2: states and largely is forgotten because a polite there's a 108 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 2: certain politeness factor and in a way I ran into 109 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 2: a dude ranch guy from Montana and all sorts of 110 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 2: stuff like that. You meet interesting people and you have 111 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 2: a built in social structure on the train. As you mentioned, 112 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 2: you got the food and the drink right there. You 113 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: don't have to stop. And one thing you mentioned the 114 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 2: spacious seats. The seats actually folks have are big enough 115 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 2: so and you kick back. They have leg rest to 116 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 2: kick out, so they really are great, and you can 117 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,799 Speaker 2: sleep in them. I myself have never splurtched and taken 118 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 2: a sleeping car. I've always done that, slept in my seat. 119 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 2: It's a little rough, but the savings a huge and 120 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: you get to go and when you wake up you 121 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 2: have a couple of copy in your field. Right, So, 122 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 2: are there any kind of bunky promotions out there within Amtrak? 123 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 2: They're not passing promotions for certain people or to go 124 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: certain places or families and things like that. 125 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 3: Yep, first all, you'd be surprised. There's plenty of people 126 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 3: we've spoken to an Amtrak who have met on the 127 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 3: train and have gotten married, and that's also asked if 128 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 3: they could get married on the car, which has happened, 129 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 3: so you never know who you're going to run into. 130 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 3: We have something called USA Railpaths though, for your point, 131 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 3: and that basically allows you to travel across the country 132 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 3: anywhere you want to go. So Amtrak has over five 133 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 3: hundred destinations nationwide. This gives you ten segments for four 134 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 3: ninety nine. We have occasional sales on that we had 135 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 3: won earlier in January for two fifties, so nearly half off. 136 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 2: And fifty dollars. 137 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, or the sale that fails not no longer, but 138 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 3: you might find. 139 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: Another one like that. I'm just remarking that's a fantastic 140 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 2: deal ten destinations. Are there any restrictions on that? 141 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 3: I mean, it is dedicated to coach class travel, so 142 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 3: like to your point, it's not really a sleeper you 143 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 3: can't use it for a sleepercar. And you've got to 144 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 3: use the ten segments within thirty days and it's valid 145 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 3: within one hundred days from the date of purchase. But 146 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 3: it's it's still pretty generous and whether you love to train, 147 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 3: whether you've never taken it before, it really gives you 148 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 3: the options against see the country, experience the benefits on board, 149 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 3: like you've been saying. I've been saying benefits at our 150 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 3: stations as well. And allows you to go from place 151 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 3: to place and then back again. 152 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you get to see the country unimpeded. You're 153 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 2: not driving down highway with all kinds of billboards and everything. 154 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 2: You're out there. You're in the wilderness. When you go 155 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,719 Speaker 2: on the what is the Sunset Limited, the one from 156 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 2: New Orleans to La Man, you are in the You're 157 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: in the desert, and you're here in the wild West country. 158 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 2: It's really something. 159 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, basically right around the Rockies, we go on the 160 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 3: shores of California, the shores of the East Coast, on 161 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 3: the northeast Corrider. It's all types of views that you 162 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 3: really can't experience anywhere else. 163 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 2: And it's really a great deal if you are careful 164 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:35,599 Speaker 2: when you go. Depending on the time you're of your departure, 165 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 2: the departure times matter a lot, and how far out 166 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 2: your book mattered a lot. But I just remember being 167 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 2: so blown away by how affordable that huge adventure was. 168 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 2: And when you get back, and there's one thing to 169 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 2: note before I let you go in that is for me, 170 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 2: the journey is the adventure. I go to if I 171 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: go from if I take the Empire Builder from Chicago 172 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 2: to Seattle, don't even stay in Seattle. I just wanted 173 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 2: to be on the train. I wanted to see the country. 174 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 2: I get to Seattle, stay the night, and fly right home. 175 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:11,559 Speaker 2: And when you do that, it's cheap, cheap in terms 176 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 2: of money and cheap in terms of time. You get 177 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 2: up your morning, I fly to Chicago, and then that 178 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 2: same day I get on. Then there's two nights, and 179 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 2: then the next day I'm in Seattle, stay there one night, 180 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 2: and fly home. It's a total of like four days 181 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 2: and nights or something like that. And you've had yourself 182 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,959 Speaker 2: a big adventure without taking too much time off work 183 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 2: or away from family, and without spending too much money 184 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 2: anything else. You want the folks to know about this 185 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 2: about Amtrak before we leave. 186 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 3: Oh, she've taken off regularly. You understand these benefits. I 187 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 3: hope you enjoyed this conversation. And if you haven't taken 188 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 3: us before, maybe a long time, try us out. You know, 189 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 3: we'd be happy to have you on board and let 190 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 3: you know that we're really doing a lot of different 191 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 3: things that we have before, a lot more modern trains. 192 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 3: With our next Junofella on the Northeast Corridor. There's more 193 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 3: new trains for Northeast regionals coming aboard next year. We 194 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 3: just debuted some of them in Washington or the DC 195 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 3: earlier this week. New customer service options, new communications. It's 196 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 3: really a whole new way to think of trains in 197 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 3: this country. 198 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 2: Beautiful. I really thank you for your time and your 199 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 2: insights on that, and just I need you to know 200 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 2: I'm a huge, huge fan and I've had some wonderful 201 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 2: adventures there. Thanks so much, thank you. Okay, well continue 202 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: on this. I'll share some of my trips in detail. 203 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 2: And I believe we have, I hope we have. My colleague, 204 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 2: my former colleague and still current friend, Kytra Allen from WZX, 205 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 2: WBCN and much more, who took a wonderful trip to 206 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 2: Switzerland on a fancy, fancy journey with his lovely bride. 207 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 2: And I'm hoping he's going to be able to share 208 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,719 Speaker 2: that with us. If not, I will just I can 209 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 2: do it myself. 210 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: It's w b Z Night Side with Dan Ray on 211 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 1: WBZ Boston's news radio. 212 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 2: We are talking about train adventures. If you have had 213 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 2: a train adventure, I'd love to hear about it and 214 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:22,719 Speaker 2: call after Carter. My next guest is done love to 215 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 2: hear about it. And if there's one that you love 216 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 2: to take in the contins, I probably can give you 217 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 2: some guidance on that because I've taken eight I've taken 218 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:37,079 Speaker 2: a lot of them. Let's go to Carter, my friend 219 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 2: and colleague. It's so wonderful to hear from Carter. Hey, 220 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 2: how you doing, Brad the j everybody knows Carter Allan. Yes, 221 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 2: this is the Carter Allen and I know that you 222 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 2: went on a wonderful trip in Switzerland and it has 223 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 2: a particular name. Uh, you're a professional broadcaster. Why don't 224 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:55,079 Speaker 2: you just tell me all about the trip. 225 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 4: Well, I had heard that the way to see Switzerland 226 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 4: was by rail, and so we contacted Vacations by Rail, 227 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 4: which is it's an American company, but it's partnered with 228 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 4: a British company called Great Rail Journeys, and they have 229 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 4: a variety of trips throughout Europe and a bunch that 230 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 4: goes through Switzerland. And we went in the summertime. You 231 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 4: can take winter trips, which is a whole different experience. 232 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 4: But it was an eight day trip and we loved it. 233 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 4: My wife and I just we left from London, took 234 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 4: the Eurostart through Paris to Strasbourg. We spent the night there. 235 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 4: I took the train down to Zurich and we went 236 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 4: to a town called cor and that's where we based 237 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 4: ourselves out of for the first three days, and took 238 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,679 Speaker 4: the Bernina Express, which I think a lot of people 239 00:13:55,679 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 4: have heard of. It's very famous train, luxurious, even the 240 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 4: basic accommodations, you know, you don't have to go first class. 241 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 4: I'm always amazed at how good the European rail system 242 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 4: is and how user friendly it is. And from Core 243 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 4: we traveled to Bernina Express and went down to just 244 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 4: about the Italian border to Paciavo and went to Saint Maritz. 245 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 4: That was our first big trip. We had a couple 246 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 4: of days off and we based ourselves in a kandors Stagg, 247 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 4: which is another wonderful town. And from there we went 248 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 4: and took the Glacier Express. You know, I was a 249 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 4: British tour and they all say Glossier over there, so 250 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 4: I got so used to saying the Glossier Express. That's 251 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 4: how I say it. We were the only Yanks in 252 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 4: the whole trip, but going to Zermatt, which is there's 253 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 4: twenty or thirty thousand people there in the winter, but 254 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 4: during the summer it's pretty quiet. And once you get 255 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 4: to Zermot, you take the train up to the top 256 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 4: of the observation post up in the mountain. It's ten 257 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 4: thousand feet up and you have a clear shot of 258 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 4: the matter Horn. You can see about fifteen glaciers all 259 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 4: around you. It's just stunning. And yeah, it was just 260 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 4: the way to see Switzerland. 261 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 2: I think, So, what does some of the benefits do 262 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 2: it You don't have to worry about driving, you don't 263 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 2: have to worry about food. It's very relaxing, I'm guessing. 264 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 4: I think. So, you know, you don't get crazy. It's relaxing. 265 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 4: I mean, the craziest thing you're doing is looking back 266 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 4: and forth from side to side because there's so many sights. 267 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 4: One thing we learned you got to wear dark clothes 268 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 4: because you're inside the train tent trying to take pictures. 269 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 4: There's a lot of reflections. So if you dress, you know, 270 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 4: dark clothes, you get better shots. We were coming back 271 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 4: from Pasciavo, which is it's interesting because Switzerland has different 272 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 4: areas and there's a German area where people speak German. 273 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 4: Then you get down south and they start speaking Italian. 274 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 4: There's a whole Italian section of Switzerland. And you go 275 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 4: to the west towards Geneva and it becomes French and 276 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 4: people start speaking French, and the use three. There's probably more, 277 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 4: but these three areas are very distinctly different from each 278 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 4: other and it's nice to travel through all of them. 279 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 4: And we had a guide. We had a guide with us. 280 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 4: I would recommend a guided tour because you learn so much. 281 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 2: How was the food and how did it work. Did 282 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 2: you eat snacks or full meals? 283 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 4: And we had full meals. 284 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: You know. 285 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 4: We paid for this trip through vacations by rail, and 286 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 4: so they organized the hotels that we stayed in and 287 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 4: they organized food. We had dinners, we had group dinners. 288 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 4: It was just great to get to know the people. 289 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 4: It wasn't a huge group. There's probably about twenty five 290 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 4: people with a guide in our particular group. There were 291 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 4: other groups that were, you know, also on the same train. 292 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 4: Because the trains are quite big. Trains are super punctual. 293 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 4: That's the thing. Super clean, super clean, you know. The 294 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 4: amazing thing. When we took the Eurostar, I had never 295 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 4: taken the trains through the Chunnel over to France. Uh, 296 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 4: but this thing is moving at one hundred and fifty 297 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 4: miles an hour and you don't even feel it. I mean, 298 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 4: you know, it's it's not like the Green Line, you know. 299 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 2: Except when a train goes by the other way, it's 300 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 2: like a bomb went off. 301 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 4: It's like, oh no, it's like what was that? 302 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 2: Pressure is so big that it bangs against the windows. 303 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, it is astonishing how comfortable and how smooth the 304 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 4: ride is at such a fast speed, and how quickly 305 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 4: you get across Europe. You know, we got the Strasbourg 306 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 4: that evening, all the way from London. It's just it's amazing. 307 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 2: Can you spend a little time explaining how intense the 308 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 2: mountains are. It's not easy to explain it, but you're, again, 309 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 2: are a professional, and you ought to be able to 310 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:12,959 Speaker 2: paint a pretty good picture of how breathtaking those mountains are. 311 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 4: Well, the amazing thing is that here it is. We 312 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 4: went in July and the mountains all still have snow 313 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 4: in them, and we are at ten thousand feet to 314 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 4: observe the matter Horn, which is one of the most 315 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 4: famous sites in the world, and there's snow all around you, 316 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 4: and you think, you know, you think you've seen a 317 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,880 Speaker 4: high mountain and you turn a corner and there's one 318 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 4: that soars thousands of feet over the one that you 319 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 4: were just amazed at. You sort through your pictures when 320 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:50,880 Speaker 4: you come home, and you've got all these pictures of mountains, 321 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 4: it's like, which ones do I like the most? Your 322 00:18:55,480 --> 00:19:01,680 Speaker 4: rubber necking constantly. There's glaciers everywhere, and by July they're 323 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,239 Speaker 4: starting to melt, and the higher ones are still they 324 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 4: still have snow, but they're you know, they're melting at 325 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 4: the bottom a lot of dark ice because you know, 326 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,879 Speaker 4: the the snow and the ice on top is melting 327 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 4: down to the dirt below, because these glaciers are pulling 328 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 4: dirt down off the mountains. I do recommend it. I 329 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 4: think it's the way to see Switzerland. It's certainly you 330 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 4: can drive, but the trains go everywhere over there. And 331 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 4: in fact, when we were in London, we based ourselves 332 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 4: in London on a number of trips we've taken to Europe. 333 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 4: So I love London and I've gotten used to not 334 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 4: renting a car when I go to England. You don't 335 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 4: need a car. You can get anywhere by train. I 336 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 4: mean the Tube in London, certainly, but if you want 337 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 4: to take a trip up to Birmingham, or you want 338 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 4: to go you know, anywhere, you want to go down 339 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 4: to the coast to Dover and take a ferry across 340 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 4: to France. The trains are simple and their user like 341 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 4: I said, their user friendly, and you can make you 342 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 4: can make your reservations in a dance, you know. 343 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 2: Speak to you about this trip reminds me we you 344 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 2: and I have been on trips together. Like, didn't we 345 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 2: go to Crested View, Colorado? Together? 346 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 4: We we did. We've done ski trips and we did 347 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 4: a trip up to uh Mont Tremblant up in up 348 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 4: in New Hampshire. 349 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 2: Uh yeah, New New Canada, Canada. And to be interesting, 350 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 2: tell them about. The interesting thing about that was we 351 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 2: went to see the Rolling Stones and did not see 352 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:37,640 Speaker 2: the Rolling Stones. 353 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 4: I know, we well, we got to we we got 354 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 4: to Mount Tromblant, which is I think it's ninety miles 355 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 4: north of Montreal, and there was literally ten people in 356 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 4: the mountain. So we just skied up, down, up down, uptown, 357 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 4: uptown and we were so dead tired that when we 358 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 4: got on the bus to come back to Montreal, for 359 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 4: the Stone Show. We were too tired to go. 360 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 2: And of course briefly you had the ship of Trips. 361 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:13,879 Speaker 2: You went to the Wall. The Pink Fluid concert at 362 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 2: the Wall. I think that's got to be one of 363 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 2: the most wonderful experiences ever. 364 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 4: Well, that would probably be my number one experience as 365 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 4: far as the concert goes. There was a summer of 366 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 4: nineteen ninety. The wall had come down, you know, near 367 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 4: the end of nineteen eighty nine, but in the summer 368 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 4: of ninety it was still up. There was only places 369 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 4: where it had come down, and the East Germans were 370 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 4: coming over. The East Berliners were coming over to West 371 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 4: Berlin and experiencing the culture, and really they were stunned 372 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 4: by it. They were standing with their open mouths looking 373 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 4: at Neon signs and McDonald's when you know, I remember 374 00:21:57,440 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 4: being in a square. We went over to East Berlin 375 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 4: and there was a butcher over there and he was 376 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 4: displaying different types of meat out of this mobile truck, 377 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:11,199 Speaker 4: and people were amazed that they actually had a choice, 378 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 4: that they could buy something that they wanted. East Berlin 379 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 4: is nothing, but at that time it was nothing but 380 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 4: gray and black and white and brown. There was no 381 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 4: colors except for if one of those old Soviet buildings had, 382 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 4: you know, one of those murals on top and different colors. 383 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 4: It was just monochromatic. It was astonishing. And then Roger 384 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 4: Waters performed the Wall with his band and a bunch 385 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 4: of special guests like the band and the Hooters and 386 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 4: Cyndi Lapper and a whole bunch of others and the Scorpions. 387 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 2: Maybe someday really dig in and go into detail on 388 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 2: that trip and share that with folks. I'm running late 389 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 2: for break and I go ahead and finish up. What 390 00:22:59,040 --> 00:22:59,880 Speaker 2: was it you want to say? 391 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 4: Well, I was just going to say that that whole 392 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 4: trip to Berlin in nineteen ninety it's just one big 393 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 4: love fest. Eat East, make you know, meeting West. And 394 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:13,880 Speaker 4: when we left that concert, we said, hey, this is great. 395 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 4: We're going to be a piece forever. Of course that 396 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 4: didn't pan out, now, did it. 397 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 2: Nope? It seldom does. Thank you so much. I'd love 398 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 2: to hear this in detail, somenight, more detail. Thank you. 399 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:27,439 Speaker 4: I'll see you in the train trip sometime. 400 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 2: Well, thank you, I would do that. Take care brother. 401 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 2: That's Carter Allan, He's the man. I've known him so 402 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 2: long he is the best, best dude, as everyone knows. 403 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:41,239 Speaker 2: Everyone knows Carter is the best. So I'm not going 404 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 2: to share with you some of mine after this break 405 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 2: actually and tell you about some really luxury trips that 406 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 2: are available, but I'm going to go into detail what 407 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:54,440 Speaker 2: it's really like on the Amtrak long haul trips, and 408 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:58,680 Speaker 2: they will include the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle, 409 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:06,159 Speaker 2: the Southwest Chief from Chicago to LA, and whatever it 410 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 2: is that goes to San Francisco, then the one from 411 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 2: Seattle to LA, the one from Memphis to Chicago, and 412 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:19,360 Speaker 2: then one from New Orleans to Los Angeles. I did 413 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 2: all of them at least once, two of them twice, 414 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:24,919 Speaker 2: and there's a lot of ins and outs to train travel, 415 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 2: you know, on the sheep on Amtrak, which I will 416 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 2: share with you after this. 417 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:35,400 Speaker 1: On w b Z, It's Night Side with Dan Ray 418 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 1: on WBZ Boston's news radio. 419 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:41,400 Speaker 2: It's kind of interesting you just heard that story about 420 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 2: Matt's barber Shop in Brighton. Interestingly, my friend recommended Matt's 421 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 2: barbershop because my beard barber went away and I can't 422 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 2: do it myself, and I was gonna go over there 423 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,359 Speaker 2: the other day and it was too slippery to walk, 424 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 2: so I cancel my appointment, but I guess I'll be 425 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 2: going back. I don't know if he's open yet. I 426 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 2: hope they open up again soon because my beard is 427 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:09,360 Speaker 2: needs attention. I kind of messed it up today. Actually, 428 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 2: now we're talking about train adventures, train journeys, and I 429 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:18,360 Speaker 2: want to give you some details. I really have deep 430 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 2: insight on how to do the Amtrak trains on the cheap. 431 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 2: Prior to the break, I detailed the trips I've been on. 432 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,119 Speaker 2: Most of them, well not, I guess most of them 433 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 2: have originated from Chicago. For me, it's not that interesting 434 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 2: from here to Chicago because after you get to Chicago, 435 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 2: unless things have changed, or unless I'm wrong, the trains 436 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 2: are different. They have this big they have the double deckers, 437 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 2: and they have the viewing car, and they have a 438 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 2: dining car, they have a snack car. I mean the 439 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 2: other trains, the trains in East may have some of 440 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,880 Speaker 2: those things. But I've never experienced that. Fly to Chicago, 441 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 2: and here's how it went. I would get an early 442 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 2: flight to Chicago and maybe get there like nine, then 443 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 2: take the L to the is It Union station, THEUS station. 444 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 2: Then here's a tip before you get on the train. 445 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:21,879 Speaker 2: You have your backpack. That's all you All you take 446 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,400 Speaker 2: is a backpack. But leave extra room in your backpack. 447 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 2: You're not gonna leave. If you do it like I 448 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 2: do it, you're only gonna be gone three days. Leave 449 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 2: stuff in your back leave room in your backpack. And 450 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 2: near a union station as a CVS, I think it is, 451 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 2: but it's there that CVS. I don't know if it's 452 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 2: a CVS. It's something like that, but it has a 453 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 2: whole market in it too. So get yourself some snacks, 454 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 2: stop to eat healthy snacks, subs, whatever will keep. And 455 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 2: some water, yes, definitely get bring your own gallon of water. 456 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,159 Speaker 2: And then and then uh, you go wait at the 457 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 2: train station right away. You know it's going to be 458 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 2: different because there are people there that are different from 459 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 2: where you're from. There are different religious groups out in 460 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 2: the Midwest there some of them ride the train. And 461 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 2: there you are in the waiting room, thinking, I'm going 462 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 2: to be with these people for quite a while, at 463 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 2: least some time. And yeah, you know, they call you 464 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 2: and say it's time to get on, let's go. When 465 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 2: you you have your seat assignment, and you hope there's 466 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 2: a thing. You hope no one's sitting beside you because 467 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 2: you want your own seat, and the Amtrak used to 468 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:44,879 Speaker 2: kind of keep everybody sitting together. They don't like you 469 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 2: spreading out too much. So there's there's that you want to. 470 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:49,880 Speaker 2: You pray that you have your own seats, because that's 471 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 2: super deluxe. As our guest said, the seats, there's no 472 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:58,160 Speaker 2: middle seat. They're big, beautiful, like easy chairs. Practically they're 473 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:02,119 Speaker 2: like first class. Yeah, like first class used to be 474 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 2: in a in an airline, real nice. And this is 475 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,440 Speaker 2: for the low dough so you're getting a real nice seats, 476 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 2: cheap and basic economy. When you get out west and 477 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:20,920 Speaker 2: let's see it, I can't remember. Maybe the thing takes 478 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 2: off like two o'clock and then we're talking about the 479 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:26,720 Speaker 2: Empire Builder now, which goes to Seattle. So you roll 480 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:30,400 Speaker 2: through the suburbs of Chicago and it takes a while. 481 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 2: Really nothing gets too exciting. For the first evening, you 482 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 2: just getting acclimated. You're just relaxing. Maybe maybe you get 483 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 2: something to eat, but basically you can veg and you 484 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 2: look out the window, but the real shocking scenery doesn't 485 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 2: come for a while. And then you get ready for 486 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 2: the sleep part. Now, this is tricky business if you 487 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 2: do not get a sleeper car, which I didn't. And 488 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 2: I tell you, my trips only cost me like two 489 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty bucks. And I don't know why. I 490 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 2: probably could have afforded it, but I'm cheap. I was 491 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 2: cheap at the time. I took a sleeping bag. I 492 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 2: think that's a wise thing to do because it helps you. 493 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 2: It gives you something to cover up within your seat 494 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 2: or and I don't know if it's an official policy, 495 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 2: but this is what people did in the observation car. 496 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 2: People just slept. They would sleep in the seats there, 497 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 2: or there were these kind of benches. They're designed so 498 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:37,719 Speaker 2: you can't really be comfortable. There's two seats and then 499 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 2: one on an angle, so you can cannot completely lay down. 500 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:44,120 Speaker 2: But it's you. I there's somebody that you don't know 501 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 2: sitting beside you in the seat. You might want to 502 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 2: try that. And there's like, I don't know, fourteen inches 503 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 2: between the seat and the wall of the train and 504 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 2: you can put your sleeping bag down there. I don't 505 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 2: know if it was just that train, those people are 506 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 2: okay with it. I don't know the overall general policy. 507 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 2: But every time I've been on one of these trains overnight, 508 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 2: people would sleep in that car. And if you if 509 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 2: there's no one sitting beside you in your big, beautiful seat, 510 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 2: then you have two of them. You can put them 511 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 2: way back and you get yourself almost a bit. But 512 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 2: if there somebody sitting beside you, some stranger, I used 513 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 2: to opt for the uh, the floor in the observation Caraen. 514 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 2: I know you might say I'm not doing that, but 515 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 2: for me it was worth it because it was the 516 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:42,160 Speaker 2: difference between going and not going. It was the best option. 517 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:46,320 Speaker 2: And do you sleep not really, not on the floor, 518 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:49,080 Speaker 2: it's you know, it's it's a train that makes train sounds. 519 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 2: It's kind of loud. If you have some sort of 520 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 2: legit sleeping pill that's you know, prescribed for you, or 521 00:30:57,760 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 2: some sort of safe over the counter thing that makes 522 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,480 Speaker 2: you tired, well that might be a good time for it. 523 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 2: Make sure you check with your doctor before taking those. 524 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 2: Then so you go to sleep, you are and you've 525 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 2: been through the Chicago suburbs and beyond. Then when you 526 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:19,600 Speaker 2: wake up in the morning, it's completely different, and yeah, 527 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 2: you didn't sleep that well, but you have your coffee 528 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 2: and the sun is shining through and you're traveling. Man, 529 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 2: you just sit in your seat, you know, have something 530 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 2: to eat, have a glass of wine, doze off. And 531 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:38,360 Speaker 2: day one, nobody's talking, nobody's really chatting. People are kind 532 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 2: of insular. But on day two when you wake up, 533 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 2: everybody's talking to everybody. It's just kind of the way 534 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:48,360 Speaker 2: it is. It seems like the human animal can, at 535 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 2: least back in the day before COVID and before the Internet. 536 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 2: Not before the Internet, but let's say six years ago, 537 00:31:57,360 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 2: humans kind of like to speak to each other in person, 538 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 2: and going more than a day isolated didn't really work. 539 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 2: So people really start to talk and you make friends, 540 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 2: you make acquaintances. You're really having an adventure. And then 541 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 2: you as you're going up towards Seattle, your cruise, wide 542 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 2: open wilderness, you go through just miles and miles and 543 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 2: miles of no cars, very few houses. Then you get 544 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 2: into Montana. I think you go past Idaho or through Idaho, 545 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:38,760 Speaker 2: can't be sure. And then maybe the Cascades sometimes they 546 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 2: blend together these trips. It's stunning beauty uninterrupted for hours 547 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 2: and hours and hours, and you talk when you want 548 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 2: or you just don't when you want, you do exactly 549 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:52,800 Speaker 2: what you want and something I noticed you don't do. 550 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 2: You're free to truly relax on the train because even 551 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 2: if you have a high work ethics, nothing you can 552 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:05,680 Speaker 2: do except relax. There's no crime and just kicking back 553 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:10,160 Speaker 2: and vegging, looking at your country or the country go 554 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 2: by the window, and it is spectacular when you get 555 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 2: out there. Then you pull into into Seattle. I gotta 556 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:24,000 Speaker 2: tell you tween TwixT you and me, Seattle is a dump. 557 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:27,680 Speaker 2: Oh I have to break. I can talk a little 558 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 2: bit more about. No, I'm not going to go into 559 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:32,320 Speaker 2: Seattle as a dump, but the downtown area, Pioneer Square, 560 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 2: all that stuff. Oh, they really let it go. Maybe 561 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:37,560 Speaker 2: it's better now. I'll tell you more about what it's 562 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 2: like doing these train trips after this. On WBZ, it's 563 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 2: Night Side with Dan Ray on. 564 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 1: Boston's news radio. 565 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:50,040 Speaker 2: Hello, my friends, Bradley J for Dan. Have you taken 566 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:52,800 Speaker 2: a long distance train trip. I'd love to hear your story. 567 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 2: Would you like to if you have any questions, I'd 568 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 2: like to hear about your fantasy trip, be it in 569 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:00,920 Speaker 2: the United States or maybe so where around the world, 570 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:03,400 Speaker 2: or maybe you'd like to go on the luxury Royal 571 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:07,400 Speaker 2: Scotsman to Edinburgh and up to the Highlands. I'll talk 572 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 2: a little bit a bit more about that if I 573 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 2: have time. I do want to share some of the 574 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:14,320 Speaker 2: interesting things that happened to me on a train and 575 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:18,680 Speaker 2: that will happen to you again. You're going to make 576 00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:21,719 Speaker 2: if you are at all open, you're going to make connections. 577 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 2: And this is a really important thing these days. Nobody 578 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:30,080 Speaker 2: speaks face to face about politics with strangers on the train. 579 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 2: You will, and you kind of can. Once again you're 580 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 2: face to face, so people are much more respectful and 581 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:45,480 Speaker 2: you better be too, because there are consequences when you're 582 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:50,439 Speaker 2: mean to people in person. And what needs to happen, 583 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 2: what does happen, and what needs to happen more in 584 00:34:52,719 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 2: places other than the train, is that you get to 585 00:34:56,760 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 2: know somebody that doesn't agree with you. You're not going 586 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 2: to have a political argument, but you're going to get 587 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:06,520 Speaker 2: to know them and you're going to kind of understand 588 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:10,720 Speaker 2: where they're coming from. When you speak to an fracking 589 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:19,120 Speaker 2: worker or a dude ranch person, somebody who lives out 590 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:23,919 Speaker 2: there and a sparsely, sparsely populated area where you really 591 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:26,320 Speaker 2: do need a gun and where a lot of the 592 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:30,759 Speaker 2: rules that reply in urban areas are just ridiculous. In 593 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:36,040 Speaker 2: the country, you start to kind of empathize with people 594 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 2: that you otherwise wouldn't, persons that you would if you 595 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:43,440 Speaker 2: didn't meet them in person, you'd think, Oh, if you're 596 00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:46,880 Speaker 2: blue and they're very red, you think, oh, that person's awful. 597 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:48,600 Speaker 2: But when you start to speak to them, you see 598 00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:52,319 Speaker 2: there's calm, there are things in common, and it's really 599 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:55,600 Speaker 2: important for you to understand where the other side's coming from, 600 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:59,359 Speaker 2: and vice versa. If you're a decent human being, say 601 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:02,560 Speaker 2: you're from Boss and you're a darn a liberal. But 602 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 2: if you're a decent human being and you establish common ground, 603 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:12,640 Speaker 2: you can make a difference. They're a lot less likely 604 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:16,759 Speaker 2: to be hateful towards Blue because you've been a good 605 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:19,880 Speaker 2: example of a human being, and that's it's a wonderful 606 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:22,040 Speaker 2: place to do that. Here are some quick things that 607 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:24,600 Speaker 2: happened to me on the train. As I mentioned, I 608 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:27,040 Speaker 2: talked for a couple hours and learned all about what 609 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:28,799 Speaker 2: it's like to work on an oil rig with an 610 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:33,080 Speaker 2: oil rig working guy having a class of wine or 611 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 2: no probably with him a beer and the same kind 612 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:38,960 Speaker 2: of conversation you would have with your friend in a bar. 613 00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:42,680 Speaker 2: I had with this complete stranger. And as I met 614 00:36:42,719 --> 00:36:44,640 Speaker 2: I met some guy with a big giant cowboy hat. 615 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:47,359 Speaker 2: Worked in a dude ranch. Every once in a while, 616 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:49,800 Speaker 2: you run into somebody irritating. I'll tell you that story 617 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:55,439 Speaker 2: and how I was confrontational. Imagine that there was a guy. 618 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:58,680 Speaker 2: First of all, I mentioned I to you a sleep 619 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:04,239 Speaker 2: I have slept in on the floor of the observation car. 620 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:06,600 Speaker 2: I don't think the staff likes it. They seemed to 621 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:12,120 Speaker 2: tolerate it. But this other guy was talking and talking 622 00:37:12,239 --> 00:37:19,160 Speaker 2: and talking about to this moment, about how, how whatever. 623 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:21,520 Speaker 2: I can't really exactly remember what it was, but it 624 00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:25,880 Speaker 2: was irritating because I couldn't sleep at all. But then 625 00:37:25,920 --> 00:37:30,880 Speaker 2: the next day, the same guy. The next day, the 626 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:37,160 Speaker 2: same guy was belching out loud on purpose, swallowing air 627 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:42,200 Speaker 2: and making big giant belches as loud as he could, 628 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:48,040 Speaker 2: and everybody in the observation cars rolling their eyes, and 629 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:51,320 Speaker 2: I just could not take it. I walked up to 630 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:55,880 Speaker 2: the guy and said, what is your major malfunction? Stop that? 631 00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:59,279 Speaker 2: What are you doing? What is your problem? Stop it? 632 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 2: And you might think he'd get his hackles up and 633 00:38:04,239 --> 00:38:09,279 Speaker 2: be confrontational. No, you know what he did? Then he 634 00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:12,680 Speaker 2: hung around with me. He wanted me to be his friend. 635 00:38:13,719 --> 00:38:16,239 Speaker 2: He's just a guy looking for some boundaries. I guess, 636 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:21,000 Speaker 2: Well I gave him some big time boundaries. I have 637 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:23,480 Speaker 2: a couple of minutes left. Oh, no, one minute wreck 638 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:28,000 Speaker 2: give you the quick. If you want to do one 639 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:31,960 Speaker 2: night or one night trip, I recommend the Coast Starlight 640 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:34,920 Speaker 2: so what it's called. It goes from Seattle to Los Angeles. 641 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:38,360 Speaker 2: That's a one nighter and it is beautiful, particularly in 642 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:40,799 Speaker 2: the mountains you go through and then when you get 643 00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:43,360 Speaker 2: down close to Los Angeles, go right by the seashore. 644 00:38:43,840 --> 00:38:46,960 Speaker 2: The other one I just think is spectacular sunset limited 645 00:38:47,480 --> 00:38:49,759 Speaker 2: from New Orleans to Los Angeles. When I go through 646 00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:53,160 Speaker 2: the wild West. Nothing like it. Someday I'll talk about 647 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 2: it moment I have more time. But look into it, 648 00:38:57,000 --> 00:38:59,719 Speaker 2: price it out, try to find deals over on Amtrak 649 00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:04,239 Speaker 2: and there you go. Amount of time for this. Got 650 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:08,359 Speaker 2: a question, have you noticed more rudeness since the pandemic? Well, 651 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:11,440 Speaker 2: my next guest has he noticed that at concerts and 652 00:39:11,520 --> 00:39:13,440 Speaker 2: did an article on it? And we're going to talk 653 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:16,600 Speaker 2: about rudeness of concerts and extrapolate that to other areas 654 00:39:16,719 --> 00:39:22,400 Speaker 2: including restaurants, trains, public transportation, driving, et cetera. Have you 655 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:26,120 Speaker 2: noticed an increase a decrease in matters since the pandemic 656 00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:27,719 Speaker 2: and any idea why