All Aboard the Southwest Chief
iPod (365x205, 37 MB) [4:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (502) QuickTime (640x360, 47.3 MB) [4:22m]: Download (300) AppleTV (960x540, 118.5 MB) [4:22m]: Download (277)Well, I made it to Chicago for BlogHer. I decided to experiment with slow traveling and journey by train rather than airplane. So far, I think it’s great if you have the time. Although I had a splitting headache when I left the train, I think that’s mostly my fault. I did not bring enough water for a 34-36 hour ride and was pretty dehydrated for the last part of the trip.
The Amtrak route I took to get to Chicago is called the Southwest Chief. I got on in Flagstaff, AZ and got off in Chicago, IL. This video shows what that was like, in snippets. Overall, it was a really pleasant experience. Relaxing, plenty of friendly people to talk to when I wanted, and the HP7 tome to read when I didn’t want to talk. And a lot of beautiful landscape. And I got to reduce the environmental impact of my trip somewhat. I feel like that’s a pretty good trade for my time, at least right now, when I have the time to spend the extra time on travel (3 days round trip by train instead of 8 hours round trip by plane).
July 26th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Great. Loved seeing it in those long shots, like you saw as you travelled. What amazing scenery. And perfect choice of music.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:29 am
Watching this at work without music, so I’m probably missing a lot. I love shots out of train windows. It’s just so endless and meditative. And I love the fact that what you see out of your train window is utterly different from what I see out of mine. I really like the feeling of briefly glimpsing a little road, or someone’s back garden and thinking “I will never go there,” but you know that it exists anyway. I spent a lot of time when I first got a bit of freedom (age 16/17) inventing excuses to go places on the train. In actual fact, I really haven’t stopped. My favourite train memories are when the train suddenly swings by the edge of the sea, and it almost feels like you are travelling on water. It’s happened to me in England, Italy and Japan… ah train memories, i’d better stop before I tell you about every journey I have ever been on.
July 28th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Beth, I love your train stories! You inspired me to try slow-traveling, so you’re indirectly responsible for this video. Feel free to take the credit!
July 28th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
It was great to meet you today and order a cafe latte with you. The web site I mentioned is www.chicagovideo.com.
Hope you get home safely.
Warm regards,
celeste w
July 30th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I’m so inspired. Here to check out your site and what your cammy can do — was not prepared to be awestruck by this gorgeous combination of viz ‘n’ aud.
So glad you chose to share this.
July 31st, 2007 at 5:49 am
Finally watched this with the music. Brilliant.
I am glad that you gave slow travel a try. I am just about to go to my friend’s wedding in Spain via the train. It’s an over-nighter and living in teeny England, I’ve never had to do that before. I suspect that I will see the disappearing suburbs of Paris, sleep and then see the appearing suburbs of Madrid. Ho hum. My friends (the ones who are getting married in fact), are moving to Japan and I want to take the trans-Siberian Express to see them. Now that would really be an adventure.
August 9th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Wow! You covered such gorgeous country on this trip - it’s so interesting to see how the landscape changes, especially in such a gradual fashion as on a train. You captured it really nicely, and the music is perfect. Love that opening shot at the beginning too. And I know what you’re saying about dehydration - you really have to be prepared with sustenance for long trips like this.
August 11th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Magical. And such wondrous landscapes beyond the window. Poetry indeed…
August 18th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Never been on a train like that before. Looks like a great time, especially if you have the anywhere internet.