Tales from the train

Louise (Zac's mom, for those of you playing along at home) had joked that with any luck, I would fall asleep in the prairie and wake up in the mountains. When I woke up at 6:15 after fitfully "sleeping" for (maybe) 5 hours, I was a little sad to be greeted by flatlands still. Oh well. I read for a little while, had some breakfast, enjoyed the (flat) view. and then...I took a nap. Zac and I curled up in our seats, pulled the blinds closed, and passed out for another hour. And then I woke up to this:

Cue John Denver, I was feeling the Rocky Mountain High!

I have to say, I infinitely prefer train travel. The US has a long way to go before they catch up to Europe's, but I'll take it! Yes, the train ride to Colorado is taking a full 24 hours and it was only barely cheaper than flying, but for me, it's way more fun. The seats are more comfortable, there's access to real food rather than just soda and peanuts, and the view...oh, the view makes it worth it.

I haven't been to this part of the country since I was 12 or 13, but it all feels so familiar still. The rocks have a reddish quality to them; the mountainside is covered with conifers. I love the random rock outcrops, as though someone had punched through the earth from below and the rock stayed put!

We have four hours left on the train and I'm suddenly reminded of a passage from Le Petit Prince. The Prince is trying to understand trains and the people in them. The adults are indifferent to the world outside, the children have their noses pressed to the windows. The Prince remarks how sad it is that "les enfants seuls savent ce qu'ils cherchent." (children are the only ones who know what they're looking for)

Here's to keeping our noses pressed against the windows!