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Aside from my initial hardships, the train from Los Angeles to New Orleans was not too bad! I surprisingly got a decent amount of sleep the first night. I did not do so well the second night but made it up the next day with some good naps. There is little to say about the trip on the Sunset Limited. Most of the view was of the desert and swampland. Some notable rest stops included El Paso, where we traveled alongside the Mexican border, San Antonio, and Houston. Since this was the longest leg of my trip, I decided to treat myself to some meals from the dining car. I secured a dinner reservation on Thursday and lunch on Friday. The dinner was delicious, where I enjoyed caprese skewers, vegan bolognese rigatoni, and a white chocolate blueberry cheesecake for $45. Lunch was a plant-based burger with chips and a strawberry shortcake-like dessert for $25. For dinner, I sat with an older couple using Amtrak to reach bike trails across the country and another solo traveler using the Railpass. She spent more time in different cities and therefore ran out of time on her pass, so she decided to do the last two segments of her trip in a sleeper car. The second time I sat with the same solo traveler and the lady I was initially sitting with the coach before the mix-up. Our table discussed travel and past or future trips for both meals.
Aside from my initial hardships, the train from Los Angeles to New Orleans was not too bad! I surprisingly got a decent amount of sleep the first night. I did not do so well the second night but made it up the next day with some good naps. There is little to say about the trip on the Sunset Limited. Most of the view was of the desert and swampland. Some notable rest stops included El Paso, where we traveled alongside the Mexican border, San Antonio, and Houston. Since this was the longest leg of my trip, I decided to treat myself to some meals from the dining car. I secured a dinner reservation on Thursday and lunch on Friday. The dinner was delicious, where I enjoyed caprese skewers, vegan bolognese rigatoni, and a white chocolate blueberry cheesecake for $45. Lunch was a plant-based burger with chips and a strawberry shortcake-like dessert for $25. For dinner, I sat with an older couple using Amtrak to reach bike trails across the country and another solo traveler using the Railpass. She spent more time in different cities and therefore ran out of time on her pass, so she decided to do the last two segments of her trip in a sleeper car. The second time I sat with the same solo traveler and the lady I was initially sitting with the coach before the mix-up. Our table discussed travel and past or future trips for both meals.
Houston Skyline
During our discussion over dinner, the person I originally sat next to discovered that she was staying a few blocks from the hostel I had booked. Before we arrived in New Orleans, she asked if I could walk with her to the hotel she was staying at, so we did just that. After finding her hotel, I walked the remaining four blocks to my hostel. I arrived around 12:30 AM, grabbed the check-in items labeled for me, showered, and went to bed. When I woke up, I took another shower and went downstairs to where some people were hanging out in the kitchen. I joined their conversation, and they invited me to come with them to Cafe du Monde to get some beignets. I discovered that one in the group was also using the Amtrak Railpass. I found it interesting that he was using it more as a cheap and easy way to explore the country, whereas I am doing it to enjoy the spectacle of rail travel. We took the nearby streetcar to the French Quarter and walked down Bourbon Street before waiting in the heat for around 30 minutes to order. Once we got them, we sat in a nearby park to enjoy. The beignets were delicious but were definitely covered in way too much sugar. Afterward, we checked out the Mississippi River's edge and got cash from the ATM. We then walked back through the French Quarter to catch the streetcar back to the hostel.
During our discussion over dinner, the person I originally sat next to discovered that she was staying a few blocks from the hostel I had booked. Before we arrived in New Orleans, she asked if I could walk with her to the hotel she was staying at, so we did just that. After finding her hotel, I walked the remaining four blocks to my hostel. I arrived around 12:30 AM, grabbed the check-in items labeled for me, showered, and went to bed. When I woke up, I took another shower and went downstairs to where some people were hanging out in the kitchen. I joined their conversation, and they invited me to come with them to Cafe du Monde to get some beignets. I discovered that one in the group was also using the Amtrak Railpass. I found it interesting that he was using it more as a cheap and easy way to explore the country, whereas I am doing it to enjoy the spectacle of rail travel. We took the nearby streetcar to the French Quarter and walked down Bourbon Street before waiting in the heat for around 30 minutes to order. Once we got them, we sat in a nearby park to enjoy. The beignets were delicious but were definitely covered in way too much sugar. Afterward, we checked out the Mississippi River's edge and got cash from the ATM. We then walked back through the French Quarter to catch the streetcar back to the hostel.
Streetcar!
New Orleans Streetscape
New Orleans Skyline
Another New Orleans Streetscape
Dinner with Hostel Friends
One of the people from the group I went to get beignets with worked at the hotel, and he made us some egg burritos for lunch. We all hung out at the hostel and conversed about various topics, with people continuing to join in. Then, we made a plan to go to a place called Coterie for dinner. I showered again and put on nicer clothes before we all rode the streetcar there. I enjoyed a pasta primavera, which was delicious and made with cajun seasoning. Still, I wished I could try the classic New Orleans gumbo, made with fish or chicken and sausage. Perhaps next time I visit, I can find a place that makes vegetarian gumbo. I hope to revisit New Orleans again with a much longer time frame; it was a beautiful, lively city that made me feel like I wasn't in the US anymore. It felt a lot like the Virgin Islands but as a city, which was really weird because it felt like I was home.
One of the people from the group I went to get beignets with worked at the hotel, and he made us some egg burritos for lunch. We all hung out at the hostel and conversed about various topics, with people continuing to join in. Then, we made a plan to go to a place called Coterie for dinner. I showered again and put on nicer clothes before we all rode the streetcar there. I enjoyed a pasta primavera, which was delicious and made with cajun seasoning. Still, I wished I could try the classic New Orleans gumbo, made with fish or chicken and sausage. Perhaps next time I visit, I can find a place that makes vegetarian gumbo. I hope to revisit New Orleans again with a much longer time frame; it was a beautiful, lively city that made me feel like I wasn't in the US anymore. It felt a lot like the Virgin Islands but as a city, which was really weird because it felt like I was home.
When we returned back to the area where the hostel was, we stopped at a nearby store to grab drinks for a little party before the hostel goers all went out to the New Orleans clubs. I secured some Cruzan Rum to give the hostelers a taste of St. Croix, and I left the bottle behind for them to enjoy. Unfortunately, I couldn't go out with them later in the evening because my train left early the following day. Still, meeting people at the hostel and exploring the city with them was a lot of fun. None of the other hostels I have stayed at were as open to making friends as this one. It's something I am terrified of doing. When people are open and inviting, it helps me open up myself and meet new people. I was very grateful for their kindness. The most fun I have had on this trip has been in New Orleans.
When we returned back to the area where the hostel was, we stopped at a nearby store to grab drinks for a little party before the hostel goers all went out to the New Orleans clubs. I secured some Cruzan Rum to give the hostelers a taste of St. Croix, and I left the bottle behind for them to enjoy. Unfortunately, I couldn't go out with them later in the evening because my train left early the following day. Still, meeting people at the hostel and exploring the city with them was a lot of fun. None of the other hostels I have stayed at were as open to making friends as this one. It's something I am terrified of doing. When people are open and inviting, it helps me open up myself and meet new people. I was very grateful for their kindness. The most fun I have had on this trip has been in New Orleans.
I am now riding the train on my way to Washington, DC. I woke up early this morning and had breakfast at a place near the hostel before walking to the train. Unfortunately, it was a rainy morning, so the walk was less enjoyable than I had hoped. The train left at 9:15 and is a lot different than the west coast trains. This train is only a single level and is more similar to the Downeaster I frequented from Maine to Boston. In about 12 hours, I will be arriving in DC, another place I have yet to visit but have wanted to explore for a while.
I am now riding the train on my way to Washington, DC. I woke up early this morning and had breakfast at a place near the hostel before walking to the train. Unfortunately, it was a rainy morning, so the walk was less enjoyable than I had hoped. The train left at 9:15 and is a lot different than the west coast trains. This train is only a single level and is more similar to the Downeaster I frequented from Maine to Boston. In about 12 hours, I will be arriving in DC, another place I have yet to visit but have wanted to explore for a while.
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