Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Chicago's Union Station

Quiet day in Chicago Between Trains

You could say it's a slow day. I arrived 8:30 AM on the City of New Orleans. Sleep last night was restless with stomach uneasiness so I am hanging in the sleeping car lounge most of the time waiting for my 2:15 PM Empire Builder departure. Nodded off a couple times.

So just a couple photos from the sleeping car lounge today. 

May wait until Friday to make next post from my laptop. 

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - City of New Orleans March 29

Riding Amtrak's City of New Orleans

Made it to Cafe Du Monde in the Riverwalk Mall for coffee and beignets for breakfast this morning. Checked out of the Hilton around 11 AM and headed for Amtrak station. Boarded the City of New Orleans at 1 PM and departed on time 1:45 PM. As I write this we are traveling north of Hammod, LA, entering Mississippi. This is the part of the trip I missed in Januay when I was bussed to Jackson, MS.

So here are a few IPhone photos without captions. 

The water pictures are around Lake Ponchartraim and the Bonne Carrie Spilleay. 

That's all for today. Now I'm going to sit back and enjoy the ride to Chicago. 

Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Free Day in New Orleans March 28

Natchez Steamboat on which I cruised today

Free Day in New Orleans - Steamboat Natchez

With no definite plans as I left my room around 10 AM for a walk along the Mississippi Riverfront stopping first at the Audubon Aquarium.  Since the aquarium just opened at 10 and there was a long line to purchase tickets, I continued walking along the riverfront and ended up at the Steamboat Natchez. Decided on the spot to board and take the lunch time cruise - very enjoyable. After returning to the dock, I headed into the French Quarter to my sisters' and my favorite praline shop. Purchased some of both - original and chewy - and had them shipped to my sisters in Benton, LA.  And, of course, I purchase one box of chewy for myself to take with me on the train tomorrow.  After purchasing the pralines, I walked to Royal Street and walked Royal Street back to Canal Street - New Orleans' main street on which the streetcars run.  By then I was a very tired "old" man so I found a Pinkberry soft frozen yogurt shop and took a rest while I ate my frozen yogurt.  I still have time but so far I have not had coffee and beignets nor ridden the streetcars.  Maybe get beignets in the morning from the Riverwalk Outlets Mall.  I've not been there this trip either and it's actually connected to my hotel.

Tomorrow is the beginning of my Amtrak adventure.  The City of New Orleans leaves at 1:45 PM bound for an overnight trip to Chicago's Union Station arriving around 9 AM Wednesday morning.  After a five hour wait, the Empire Builder with depart Chicago 2:15 PM for a two night trip to Seattle arriving Friday morning about 10:30 AM.  I'll try to send a couple IPhone updates while I am on board the trains.  

Here are a few photos from today.

Carnival's Elation cruises past my window as I woke up this morning

Steamboat Natchez on which I cruised today

Me 'Reagan" on board the Steamboat Natchez

St Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square

Interesting "you are beautiful" caption on a building we cruise by

Domino Sugar Factory along the Mississippi River in New Orleans

On board the Steamboat Natchez

U.S. Navy facilities on the Mississippi River

New Orleans Skyline from Steamboat Natchez

Carnival's Elation Cruise Ship

American Queen Riverboat 

My favorite Praline Shop in New Orleans "Creole Delicacies"

My favorite Praline Shop in New Orleans "Creole Delicacies"

Steet Musicians on Royal Street in New Orleans

Royal Street in New Orleans

The Latest In Police Vehicles for New Orleans Police Department

Thanks for following along with me as I travel via this travel blog.  Look for short blog IPhone photos for the next three days.  My next laptop update should be from Seattle Friday evening.

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15 - Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

Yep, that's all I have officially planned for this calendar year.  Other trips will surely be planned including trips home to Louisiana to visit family.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the very top of email to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

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Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Flight to New Orleans March 27

View of Mississippi River from my room at Hilton Riverside

Flight to New Orleans - Sunday, March 27

HE IS RISEN!  JESUS, MY LORD, IS RISEN INDEED!  Why I chose Easter Sunday to begin my Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure, I don't know.  I'm thankful my church Forest Hills Baptist Church has recently begun "streaming" our worship services on the Internet through a site named "Boxcast". So I just finished viewing and joining with my church for our Easter traditional worship service.  I was indeed blessed.  I will not post a link since there are still some technical complications watching the service "later" instead of "as the service is streamed.

Early this morning I drove to "Flight Park" in Nashville to leave my car and to catch my Southwest Airlines 11:35 AM flight to New Orleans.  All the one hour and half flight was either above or in the clouds and the flight was "bumpy" so there was no cabin service of refreshments.  It was not scary but just like riding on a rough road.  Even so we landed in New Orleans right on time and my Super Shuttle driver actually came to the baggage claim carousel to meet me. In New Orleans, Super Shuttle does not have vans but instead contracts with ExecuCar so, yes, I rode in as a single passenger in a black sedan.

Check in at the Hilton Riverside was quick and very customer service oriented and I am now in my room 2634 overlooking the Mississippi River.  Tomorrow is a free day in New Orleans. If the rainy weather stops, I'll be out and about.  I'll take a few photos and post another update tomorrow night before I start my three night Amtrak train ride to Chicago and on to Seattle.

Here are a few photos from my travel day today.

A Southwest Airlines airplane departing from Nashville

The view from my seat on Southwest Airlines today - Clouds all the way

View in the cabin of my flight from my seat

Finally, a view -- Lake Pontchartrain Causeway  

Crossing Mississippi River while landing - City scape in in background 

Ship heading up the Mississippi River as we flew over

Mississippi River views from my room at Hilton Riverside

Another view of Mississippi from my room

That's the Creole Queen right below my room

I'm looking forward to the next 17 days riding Amtrak sleeper cars and visiting Seattle for six nights.  Hope you will enjoy keeping up with me.

Prayer Request - Pray for my brother-in-law Bobby and my sisters in Benton-Bossier City, LA.  Bobby is scheduled for heart bypass surgery Monday, April 11, in Northwest Louisiana.  

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15 - Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

Yep, that's all I have officially planned for this calendar year.  Other trips will surely be planned including trips home to Louisiana to visit family.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the very top of email to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

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Spring 2016 Amtrak Rail Adventure - Begins in One Week March 27

Seattle, Washington

Spring Amtrak Rail Adventure March 27-April 13

Sunday, March 27, is just one week away.  That's the day I begin my Spring Amtrak trip flying Southwest Airlines to New Orleans, LA.  After a couple days in New Orleans I travel on Amtrak from New Orleans to Seattle, WA, for a six night visit before returning to New Orleans on Amtrak.  April 13 I will fly home on Southwest Airlines to Nashville.  When I return home I will have traveled twice on Amtrak's City of New Orleans and once on three other Amtrak trains - the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, and California Zephyr.  

That's the condensed version of my Spring Amtrak Rail Adventure.  For those interested, here is the detail itinerary.

Sunday, March 27 - Depart Nashville at 11:35 AM on Southwest Airlines to New Orleans,, LA.  I will spend two nights at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel.

Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel

Monday, March 28 - Free day to explore New Orleans.

Tuesday, March 29 - Board Amtrak's City of New Orleans for 1:45 PM departure to Chicago.

Me(Reagan) Boarding Amtrak's City of New Orleans in 2014

Wednesday, March 30 - Arrive Chicago Union Station 9 AM. Connect to Amtrak's Empire Builder for 2:15 PM departure to Seattle.

Thursday, March 31 - Traveling on board Empire Builder all day through North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

Amtrak's Empire Builder at Havre, Montana

Friday, April 1 - Arrive Seattle 10:30 AM.  Check in to Hilton Doubletree The Arctic Club Hotel for six nights stay.  

Saturday, April 2, to Wednesday, April 6 - Free time in Seattle.  While in Seattle I hope to visit with my great nephew Neil Owen and his family and also visit with Jacob and Kelly Moody and their three children.  Jacob and Kelly grew up in Nashville and were active in First Baptist Nashville's youth ministry when I was a youth Sunday School teacher.  I really enjoyed my visits with Jacob and Kelly during my 2013 Seattle trip.

Seattle's Smith Tower - Seattle's first skyscraper near Pioneer Square and my hotel The Arctic Club 

Thursday, April 7 - Board Amtrak's Coast Starlight for 9 AM departure to Sacramento, CA.

Friday, April 8 - Arrive Sacramento early morning to connect to Amtrak's California Zephyr to Chicago.

Saturday, April 9 - On board Amtrak's California Zephyr traveling through Utah and Colorado.

Sunday, April 10 - Arrive Chicago 2:50 PM.  Connect to Amtrak's City of New Orleans for 8:05 PM departure to New Orleans.

Monday, April 11 - Arrive New Orleans late afternoon.  Check in to Hilton Garden Inn (near) French Quarter for two nights.

Tuesday, April 12 - Free day in New Orleans.

Wednesday, April 13 - Late afternoon Southwest Airlines flight to Nashville.

Beginning Sunday, March 27, I hope to publish daily updates so that you can follow along with me on my Spring 2016 Amtrak Adventure to New Orleans and Seattle.  Some will be short Iphone generated updates and photos while I am aboard Amtrak trains and others will be laptop updates with some of my Canon camera photos especially while I am in Seattle.  I hope you enjoy keeping up with me.

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15 - Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

Yep, that's all I have officially planned for this calendar year.  Other trips will surely be planned including trips home to Louisiana to visit family.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the very top of email to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

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Costa Rica 2016 - Framed Panting Now Hangs in my Den

My Framed Costa Rica Painting

Friends,  I thought you would like to know I had my treasured Costa Rica painting framed and it now hangs in my den as a memorial of my visit with my friend Charlie Doggett.  I took the painting to my local Michael's and they helped me select this frame and they did the mounting of the painting in the frame.  Just picked it up today and am very pleased.  Here is a second photo of the frame with just a little of my den paneled wall showing.

Framed Costa Rica Painting now hangs in m den

If you have not viewed all my Costa Rican photo galleries in Reagan's Photo Galleries check them out here:  

Costa Rica 2016 February 9-23.

Thanks to all of you following me on my travels via this travel blog.  I'm home in Nashville/Franklin, TN, until Sunday, March 27.  My next travel is an Amtrak trip from New Orleans, LA, to Seattle for a week in Seattle and then return back to New Orleans on Amtrak.  In Seattle, I have family and friends I hope to visit - great nephew Neil Owens family and former First Baptist Nashville youth Jacob Moody family.  

Costa Rica is Pura Vida

My Next 2016 TRAVEL PLANS

Spring Amtrak Rail Adventure March 27-April 13 - Flying to New Orleans, LA, to travel via Amtrak's City of New Orleans and Empire Builder to Seattle, WA. After a week in Seattle, I will return to New Orleans via Amtrak's Coast Starlight(Sacramento), California Zephyr(Chicago) and City of New Orleans. Return trip is compliments of Amtrak Guest Rewards points I have been earning from all my Amtrak travels for the last few years.

Via Rail and Amtrak Trip to Canada and Albany, NY, May 28 to June 15 - Traveling by Via Rail in Canada to Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Returning to USA via Amtrak for visits to Albany, NY and New Orleans, LA.

You can click on any of the small photos in this blog to open a full size photo. Also, click on the "blog title" at the top to view this blog on the web.

All my photos are available to view on Reagan's Photo Galleries website.

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EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS --  CLICK HERE to sign up your email

to receive each new blog post to in your email inbox.