Jun 6, 2012

Onboard Acela

Can't believe I have become such a show off lately but can't quite help sharing this with you. I am onboard the Acela on a business trip to Boston! "You? Business trip?", chuckled my friends and family. It is difficult for them to imagine my professional side having always looked at my domestic side. I am up to the challenge though.

Acela business class is great - with lot of leg room (for those who need it) and comfortable seating with wide windows. As much as I like train journey I find no thrill in traveling alone amidst serious looking business clan. I miss my family already. Mhmmmm...

However modern a city looks from the street level, the rail path reveals its other side - the broken buildings, the garbage dumps, the power transformers, the warehouses, the metal recyclers etc. New York city is no exception either. It has been over an hour and there seems no end to these ugly sights. My eyes are keenly looking out for the New England country side.

Ha! There goes the familiar highway! I believe it is I 95 but can't confirm. I 95 revokes the same memory for both of us (Israel & I).

It was on I 95 we were almost hit by falling furniture from a truck in front of us! The year was 1999! What was so unique about that journey was that we didn't have an address to call as our home then!

We had just married and arrived in the United States of America when we learnt that Israel had lost his job! Upon hearing the news we couldn't possibly move into our booked apartment in Boston or bring home our picked out furniture. Friends offered us boarding for few days.

On that particular day we were traveling to Harrisburg, Maryland for greener pastures. Our hearts were heavy from disputes with friends, wallets were empty, minds were preoccupied with endless worries and Rachel was on the way!

We were tired when we crossed New Jersey and had even ran out of topics for conversation. That's exactly when the furniture started to tumble down from the truck in front of us! We veered off in zigs and zags to escape the hit(s). It was a miracle we escaped any crash that day. I 95 - will forever keep us humble and grateful to God Almighty.

Now rolling the cameras back to the reality, looks like the ugly sights are all gone during our flashback above.... The New England country side is spread so beautifully out there - with boats and back waters and clear blue sky and beautiful trees and buildings rimming the water, etc. But unfortunately I can't stay wide awake to indulge in the beauty as my eyes pull in for some rest.

While you guys enjoy the sights around let me get some shut eye; trust that you'll keep me posted later...

P.S: Acela is an express train by Amtrak connecting Northeast United States. Here's the link for more...


10 comments:

Renu said...

waiting to read more about Boston..whatevr little I have seen there, I liked the city very much..

Rachna said...

Aha, someone is a hot-shot professional now. What is Acela -- a charter airline or something?

anilkurup59 said...

Business trip in business class, I 'd say if some one foots the bill its fun. Now wake up from the slumber and enjoy the sights so you can write in another post.

Bikram said...

what is ACELA , sorry i did not get it .. too dumb :(


and oooop that must be scary zig zaggin trying to save or not hit the furniture .. BUt here you guys are after 13 years well nad hearty :) god is great ..

Bikram's

KParthasarathi said...

Wow,how lucky you are.Write mmore about the journey and whether cheaper class is available between Boston and NY.I may take it it visit you during my next visit to US.
Is it not costlier than air travel?

Anonymous said...

I am so glad life has improved for you and Israel since that day in 1999. Blessings! I rode the Amtrak from New York City to Washington, DC in 1987. For a first time, it was interesting, but truthfully, I prefer to fly.

Kavita Saharia said...

I have some great memories of Boston.I travelled by Amtrak from New York to Boston. That was back in 1998.Business class sounds cool.Waiting for more .Have a lovely weekend Queen:)

eye in the sky said...

I've never heard of Acela til now so that was a treat. More importantly, I like your story about arriving in the US of A. Very inspiring! :)

NRIGirl said...

Renu! Rachna! Anil! Bikram! KP! Gigi! Kavita! Eye in the Sky!

You are great company! Thank you!

Amrit said...

Read it earlier a few days back in reader but did not get time to comment.

Honestly I did not know about Acela. Thanks for educating me.

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