Long Amtrak Train Trip Starting 26 August!

This convenience store was next to my hotel and I went there the next morning--a bright morning around 9 AM--to get some supplies for the 19 hour train to Chicago but saw three guys with their pit bulls in very threatening way. I left there after less than 2 minutes. The poor little immigrant cashier looked at me meekly.

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August 27, 12:09 AM: Finally my dinner. This was close to my hotel. Two filling slicing of pizza for $6 total plus tip. Wife criticized me for eating pizza from some Indian restaurant as she said get from some Italian place. I didn't care: This was cheaper pizza unlike some fancy, busy 'Tripadvisor' recommended for much pricier nearby. And this pizza was good. Took it to my room, figured out the AC, and at them slices with both hands!!

GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TyygN94SMRsHs76B6

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The next morning (27 August): 9:15 AM: Close to the hotel. I thought I'd find another convenience store to get the supplies for the long haul (19 hours) to Chicago and then the 50+ hours to Sacramento area. Didn't see any conv. store and I didn't want to venture far.
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gppVohQ3zY4uABrw8

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Still just outside the Penn Station; I had several hours to kill before taking the Lakeshore Limited to Chicago. But I didn't want to venture far from the Penn Station. I thought let's get some smoothie or milkshake for breakfast/brunch. Approached this food stall in the center and had some experience! I asked him how much was a smoothie? He said $13. I would have paid that but wanted to ensure I would be getting freshly squeezed juices: I wanted banana and mango one. I didn't want him to take some can of puree of mango and to do that. So I asked him 'Are you going to have mango squeezed' (something like that). He erupted in his immigrant (probably Italian) accent: "What kind of question is that? I have never heard anyone ask that before!". I asked 'I mean are you really going to peel some mango and cut it up and put in blander'. He yelled back "Yes, of course!". Then he was ranting loudly. I just turned my face away and said 'Thank you!' and quickly walked away. I am sure he was cursing me badly! He had no customers then--none whatsoever! Told wife this and she said it sounds like some 'Seinfeld' thingy happened to me in NYC! LOL!

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Forgot to add pic of 'Gov' who was the Cafe Car attendant on the Crescent between South Carolina and NYC (17 hours). A very chatty fun guy from Louisiana. When he heard my crazy itinerary, he suggested that I should stop overnight in Chicago after arriving there from NYC (19 hours) because I'd be too exhausted to be on the California Zephyr (50+ hours) to enjoy that train. But I had an invite from friends in the Sacramento area to stay with them a day at the end of the Zephyr trip. I tried to change my plans to stay a day in Chicago but the friends couldn't change their plans for me. So I decided to just stick with the plans even though I knew I'd pay a price in fatigue--which I did.

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27 August. Back to the NYC. The outside of the Penn Station was not much inviting to me that morning. So I decided to check out the new fabulous Moynihan Hall at the Penn Station.

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Penn Station / Moynihan Hall doesn't have many places to sit unless fine some restaurant. I chose the 'Irish Exit' restaurant and sat there for hours until the train (Lakeshore Limited) to Chicago departure time was near.

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There wasn't much for me to be excited about being on the Lakeshore Limited to Chicago. The train was much more occupied than the train between South Carolina and NYC. I noticed several Amish passengers boarded in NYC and some of them continued on the Zephyr between Chicago and Sacramento area.

The Lakeshore Limited arriving in Chicago.
GPS Coordinates: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iiC3SQJq4AEEb9Sx6

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I had barely three hours in Chicago to freshen up and take the Zephyr to California. I paid $35 for the Amtrak Lounge to shower and eat some complimentary snacks in the Lounge. The snacks were like banana, apples, granola bars, small packets of nuts, sparkling water, coffee. I didn't enjoy the Lounge much. It was full at times and a bit chaotic. Not the friendliest staff either. But not too bad overall to take a break and freshen up. Lots of passengers were either taking the Zephyr or another long distance train (to Texas?) right around the same time of departure. The shower was limited to 30 minutes, which was fairly decent time for a man to shower, but I misunderstood that to mean 30 minutes total to be in the Men's restroom area. So I really rushed through the shower. LOL!

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Chicago Train Station in line to board Zephyr to California. It was not the smoothest experience and I literally ran around here and there because of the departure gate confusion. Lots of people like me in same situation. The train was boarding people on the platform almost literally to the 2 PM departure and the PA system reminded that if not onboard the train would leave them behind even on the platform. And the train left exactly at 2 PM. I think everyone made it.

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Soon after leaving Chicago, the Cafe Car opened in the Sightseeing Car. But the main Cafe Car would open later in the lower level and the one in the Sightseeing Car remained opened only briefly--perhaps up to close to Iowa border.
GPS: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xJZo1TcQwXtKrWqk7

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