Long Amtrak Train Trip Starting 26 August!

[PK781]

Wifey and I made good friends on a cruise with a couple from Tampa area (St. Petes Beach). They were here just a few months ago. The loved it here and would move except for the finances and family ties. They are sick of the every year hurricanes and the year around heat. In one hurricane, their boat got some damage. In another, their house got some damage. And recently they said they have water shortage /rationing.
To me, heat and humidity alone is a big No Go in Florida. A fellow cruiser from Miami once said 'It is like a warm, wet blanket over you all year around!'. YUCK!

hmm, while i just think 1 brutal canadian winter will change that mindset quickly, just saying.

I'D LOVE to move to somewhere with warmer climate ( i am not a winter/cold weather person at all), but alas, nationality/job issues always in the way

 

[Starlord]

Wifey and I made good friends on a cruise with a couple from Tampa area (St. Petes Beach). They were here just a few months ago. The loved it here and would move except for the finances and family ties. They are sick of the every year hurricanes and the year around heat. In one hurricane, their boat got some damage. In another, their house got some damage. And recently they said they have water shortage /rationing.
To me, heat and humidity alone is a big No Go in Florida. A fellow cruiser from Miami once said 'It is like a warm, wet blanket over you all year around!'. YUCK!

I mean south St pete sucks, and many of the nice suburbs are now looks like ghetto areas, hurricans damage the house, insurance will screw you over it, and owner gets mad and move in land or move out of state, that's what's happening in Florida. I am not worrie about hurricanes anymore as I am in more central Tampa, and live in 1st floor apartment but if you are living in a Flood zone then you are pretty much screwed.

A ex-coworker of mine, she is from Canada, her bf American. Her Bf had a house in St pete which got flooded in Hurricane Ian back in 2022, my first experience of hurricanes, and insurance company screw them over so bad, they stacked up 10k bill for airbnb and hotels, after they finally manage to fix their home, they sell it in half a million or more, move to Clemson SC, got a nice 3 bed 3 bathroom house, with 2 acre land, and beautiful access to Lakehartwell, i visited their home back in 2024 and its country country and very republican, their only complain was people are racists there, but there is a good distance between homes so it doesn't matter.

I would not live too country in SC, but Greenville or Lexington/Irmo is definitely 2 other place i will pick within SC. My issue with Florida is not heat, but its super expensive when it comes to homes or rent, secondly the bugs and gators, and snakes and spiders and God knows what else lurks in the swamps. Plus i wanna move to a area which is more green, mountainy, and if i can get something with backyard with pond or lake or river or creek, man that will be a dream come true.

 

[Meengla]

Before I soon sign off for some hours, some info about the use of AI to plan for this trip. I have been living under a rock as far as AI is concerned, pretty ironic for a software engineer. Haha. But I started to use Google AI (Gemini) and Microsoft 365 CoPilot very recently to troubleshoot some computer issues. I found AI very useful but some glitches too. Here they are relevant to this trip:
1) The schedules suggested were sometimes wrong. My departure going north was off because the AI engine gave the departure for going south.
2) The overnight in NYC was miscalculated by the AI engine to make it two days instead of the desire one day.

There were other mistakes, including confusing past midnight departure to suggest leaving past midnight the day before. I double checked and fixed and had to totally cancel and rebook at least once. Overall, the Google AI engine has been of great help! I have it in updated bookmarks constantly.

 

[Ali_Baba]

London is a rip off if you stay anywhere in Central London. If you travel to London on Saturday please avoid London ..
I was told by friends and colleagues they often stay at Heathrow Airport IBIS. For our none U.K. colleagues on here there is a good over line railway and underground links into central London.
Hotels around Wembley stadium are reasonable too .
And another good budget is Travelodge motels in Central London I was told.

I live and work in London. I am a native "LAndAneer" .. as we say.

 

[Starlord]

I live and work in London. I am a native "LAndAneer" .. as we say.

So when are you inviting me for a London Famous Biryani ?

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

I envy you. The most I've ever traveled on a train was from Philly to Washington, DC

The most I have ever traveled on was the one around DisneyWorld. I've never even been on commuter rail. Just subways.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

I am still undecided between Spain or Alaska.

Barcelona. I liked it way more than Paris and Rome. Great positive friendly vibe!

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LA RAMBLA | BARCELONA BARCA | SPAIN 2025 | WALKING TOUR | [FULL TOUR] 4K60fps


edit:
wow this is a more far more complete one

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BARCELONA, Spain Walking Tour & BEACH WALK with Captions [4K/60fps]​

BTW I stayed at the W in the big balcony suite for a night due to them giving away my pre-paid room and only having the suite left

 

[Meengla]

Barcelona. I liked it way more than Paris and Rome. Great positive friendly vibe!

Why do I rarely hear great things about either Paris or Rome? I have never been to either but apparently lot of unhappiness about those two cities.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Why do I rarely hear great things about either Paris or Rome? I have never been to either but apparently lot of unhappiness about those two cities.

Hmmm....I never got a happy mood from Parisians. They even had a carnival outside my hotel and people simply weren't into it. It's like they are all acting like they are still under occupation by the Germans or something. Rate it a C

Italy..definitely more upbeat. The night scene is pretty good as the outdoor seating places are open late. But tight disjointed streets and lots of alleyway walking to get to the tourist sites made walking around a chore and a navigation hell. Rate it a B-

Barcelona was symmetrically gridded with extremely wide sidewalks...truly the best designed city I have ever seen by a mile. No alleys whatsoever. Just walking around exploring was a tranquil experience (watch the videos I posted). Lots of people walking around day and night. Rate it an A++ I'd go back in a second.

 

[Starlord]

Barcelona. I liked it way more than Paris and Rome. Great positive friendly vibe!

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LA RAMBLA | BARCELONA BARCA | SPAIN 2025 | WALKING TOUR | [FULL TOUR] 4K60fps

So I heard from a friend from Slovakia, And i was gonna visit Barcelona but also some other cities but not in my first visit.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Why do I rarely hear great things about either Paris or Rome? I have never been to either but apparently lot of unhappiness about those two cities.

Rome is good, if you are into ancient history and the Roman empire. I would pick Barcelona over Paris, and Rome every time. It is a beautiful city!

 

[Meengla]

A potential change in my trip: Some friends (a couple) whom we met 10 years ago on a cruise want me to stop in Roseville, CA for overnight stay at their house. I didn't realize the Zephyr would go through their town before terminating in Emeryville, CA. I am one of those people who hate to burden anyone; that couple had stayed my house in South Carolina for 5-7 days but I am still not comfortable. Trying to figure out how to get out of that politely or just go and stay a night there. But they'd have to drive me to Sacramento, CA the next day to catch my train to Seattle.
I will reach out to them to explore options. Wifey saying I should take up their offer and stay the night there.

 

[Davey Crockett]

A potential change in my trip: Some friends (a couple) whom we met 10 years ago on a cruise want me to stop in Roseville, CA for overnight stay at their house. I didn't realize the Zephyr would go through their town before terminating in Emeryville, CA. I am one of those people who hate to burden anyone; that couple had stayed my house in South Carolina for 5-7 days but I am still not comfortable. Trying to figure out how to get out of that politely or just go and stay a night there. But they'd have to drive me to Sacramento, CA the next day to catch my train to Seattle.
I will reach out to them to explore options. Wifey saying I should take up their offer and stay the night there.

Take up on the offer.

You will be giving them the opportunity to return the favor you showed them.

 

[Meengla]

Take up on the offer.

You will be giving them the opportunity to return the favor you showed them.

Believe me: I would not have stayed even in my family home in Karachi last summer if my mom was not living there. I own 1/3rd of that house by inheritance. But I am very independently mind and like my own 'space'. I would have been in a hotel in Karachi instead. And when I told family members about my plan to fly to Skardu for some days, some wanted to accompany me there to 'guide' me; I politely declined and went solo to Skardu anyway.
But in this case... its' only one night in Roseville. And they are very insistent that I stop by there.

 

[Watandar]

A potential change in my trip: Some friends (a couple) whom we met 10 years ago on a cruise want me to stop in Roseville, CA for overnight stay at their house. I didn't realize the Zephyr would go through their town before terminating in Emeryville, CA. I am one of those people who hate to burden anyone; that couple had stayed my house in South Carolina for 5-7 days but I am still not comfortable. Trying to figure out how to get out of that politely or just go and stay a night there. But they'd have to drive me to Sacramento, CA the next day to catch my train to Seattle.
I will reach out to them to explore options. Wifey saying I should take up their offer and stay the night there.

They want to return the favor and a one night stay and then driving you to Sacramento will satisfy them .