Luckily there was not a mad rush to get up and out as the train was scheduled to leave Penn Station at 11:35. We are constantly amazed at how we manage to pack our bags as we still keep accumulating items - mostly paper! On checking out, the clerk (imposingly described by the hotel as an `ambassador') asked whether we had had a good stay. Bad question. Les had a good moan about late room servicing, almost useless wi-fi for the last 36 hours, and horribly noisy plumbing. We were offered free breakfast vouchers to compensate, rather too late as it was 10:15. The Holiday Inn Midtown has location in its favour, but very little else.
The taxi ride to the station had us worried. Fifth Avenue was closed for the Columbus Day parade, so traffic was funnelled down 7th. Absolute chaos, verging on gridlock. The driver dropped us at the front of Penn Station, which happens to be next to Madison Square Garden, and we had been directed to the back when we arrived four days ago. Hence we were somewhat disorientated. We got little direction from the driver, who had more passengers in the taxi before we had got the bags out - for which he offered no help. He then started to drive off in the middle of that operation - tailgate still up and Les halfway in the boot!
In case you are wondering about the title - when we arrived at the station it was heaving and we noticed that there was not much time between the train arriving and then departing. On the previous incoming train there was a change of staff, and maintenance took place several stations before thus ensuring a quick turnaround at NY. We plonked ourselves down in the Amtrak waiting area, had coffee, and saw there was a "red cap" service which seemed to whisk bags away pretty smartly. The porters work for tips - there is no official charge - so we opted for this and as the title says it was well spent as the porter ushered us through the crowds, reversed an escalator to shorten the route, and placed the luggage inside the carriage before anyone else, ensuring we had the choice of seats. We thought the $5 tip was good value, as in addition we didn't have to navigate to the platform. What a contrast to the taxi driver earlier.
The train journey was pretty boring. The route is mostly heavily built up, and there was nothing worth photographing. But of course, Stella could not restrain herself so some boring photographs were taken. We passed some of the time in reading Trip Adviser reviews of our destination hotel, the Day's Inn (good wi-fi on the train). Some of these were not encouraging, especially the ones which mentioned bed bugs. Lunch was again taken on the train, this time supposedly cheese croissants bought from the ubiquitous Tim Hortons at Penn Station. But we found there was no cheese in them.
A pleasant surprise was Washington Union Station - very nice interior in classical style. No possibility of photography, encumbered as we were with bags, but we should be able to do that tomorrow. The taxi trip to the hotel was longer than expected - the Day's Inn is miles out from the centre. On arrival we were not impressed by its position, beside a noisy dual carriageway and no shops anywhere near. The reception area looked better than expected though, and we were pleased to hear that a continental breakfast is included. Finding our room however was a challenge. It's really a motel, with rooms opening to the outside around car parks. We are on level 2 (what Europeans call the first floor), and the lift has buttons for levels 1, 2 and 3, but there is no level 3 and although it stops at 2, the nearby rooms are in the 300s. The explanation is that level 2 actually has rooms numbered in both the 200s and 300s. Confused? We were.
There is an ancient grainy CRT TV, and a microwave and fridge so we might buy something tomorrow to eat in the room. Surprisingly there is an attached Chinese restaurant which we'll try this evening.
There is at least a free shuttle bus to Union Station, which is near the Capitol for which we have tour tickets tomorrow. Weather forecast is fairly good.
Update:
The Chinese restaurant turned out to be Szechuan style so the food was quite spicy! But it was very good and lots of it. It was heavily patronised by oriental people which is usually a good sign. Quite a bit cheaper than most other meals we have had on this trip.
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