Well, we are back. The trip was planned, in part, by a travel agency. I couldn’t figure out everything with children involved, rental cars, several different cities and not knowing how are things were from each other. We threw caution to the wind and went to an agency and thought, well, how back could anyone botch it up? It was nearly flawless!
We got on the train with our 12 bags (between the two families) and checked in the luggage. The train pulled up and we got on. The crew was very nice and really catered to the sleeping car people. They have these really nice cars called “parlour cars” and they have swivel chairs for relaxing in. Then the other half of the car is set up for a quieter dinner place…people that didn’t travel with children and didn’t want to wear their meals, sat there. Most were ever so refined…we ate in the dining car!
The food was good from start to end! The meals are included in the price of the ticket, so we dined in style. Some times we staggered our eating times, so we could take Peyton for a break for Erin. He eats well, then blows bubbles in his milk. He is nearly one and does what active little one year olds do. He would come visit us and we managed to all get fed until we were full.
We arrive in LA and was met by a Red Cap. Wow…great group of men. They loaded all our bags and carried us to a lounge. He came back an hour later, reloaded us all up and drove us up the ramps to our other train that goes to Anaheim. Couldn’t have done without him!
Arrived at our suite…Mike and I had a huge room with a King size bed and a door! Erin and Victor’s room had two beds and their own bathroom. Perfect set up. The breakfast was a buffet and they had a huge dining room. They understand tourists and catering to the Disneyland visitors. Nice job. At the hotel was tickets to ART..Anaheim Rapdt Transit. It is a wonderful bus service. You ride for three days for $8. They picked us up in front of the hotel and made a route every 30 minutes, dropping us off in Disneyland. We were about 2 miles from the Park.
Next we took on a car rental. It was all set up. We got a nice van, car seat for the baby and we were off to San Diego. It was wonderful…hotel, weather, everything. We got lost…but hey, Mike was driving! Erin was in the front and I was waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy in the back with the kids. I voted to stop and get a map. This brought on laughter that I thought would never end! Well, we shot past the exits and was headed for Mexico! Finally, the light dawned on everyone. Maybe we could use that map! Oh no…not now. Bull headedness runs deep in this family…..not ME of course, but like father like daughter! We got there and it was lovely. I bawled when I saw the whales. I don’t know what it is about them, but they emotionally move me until I cry. They are graceful, beautiful and remind me of how insignificant we humans are in this world.
We had a nice room in San Diego and then on to the ZOO. Loved the zoo.
We came back to Anaheim and one more day in Disneyland. They kids closed the park down that night, but I started running a fever and I felt my world shutting down. My throat got sore, my voice was nearly gone and my infamous cough was much much worse. Mike was a close second. Nothing is taking this cough away.
The next day, we got up early and returned to the train station for our journey home. It was good, but…we were tired. When we got to the station the nasty lady behind the window says…”we cannot check your bags into Centralia. They close their station at 4:30p!” she had an edge to her tone. Victor said she was a reject from Happy Days! He was right. Had a hair do from the late 60’s…hair sprayed three inches high and a scarf tied around her neck. I named her Joanie…looking for Cha Chee! She had no sense of humor and totally ticked us all off! We kept saying…how come they didn’t tell us? Do you mean to tell us we have to lug 12 bags and two babies on a city train…then lug them into the LA station and stow them…and then lug them off the train in Centralia with NO help? Yep.
Well, we all took a shot at her…we questioned her and asked if they could make an exception or something…NO NO NO. Joanie said NO! They did let us borrow two carts, and we heard…”could you bring them back when you are done?” We all laughed…after walking to the train platform…dragging everything and everyone, the last thing we were going to do was bring them back…I became an angry tourist. The least they could have done was say…”hey, we will get someone to help you. we are sorry.” But no, Joanie could care less.
When the train doors opened, the worker there was fried! He had to get out and help. He was very nice and asked what the deal was and told us…you write and complain. This isn’t fair.
We got into LA and Norman (his real name) was there from the Red Cap service. He was a sweet heart. He loaded everything and dropped us off at a super nice lounge…free coffee, juices, tea and great chairs. He came back and loaded us all up and took us to a new train.
As we got there, Ron, (also his real name) snapped at us for taking up too much room in his luggage area!!! Oh yeah, like we wanted to hear that!! We snapped back saying…well, IF Amtrak had checked our luggage in, we wouldn’t have this trouble!
We got into Centralia. Ron had smoothed his attitude out a bit, but he isn’t a people person! He help toss our stuff. The train pulls away and here are 12 bags, a baby, an 8 year old and two sicko grandparents and Erin and Victor! We had no carts….and we were inbetween tracks! We had to cross over to the station, making several trips. Then the guys had to get the cars and we lugged all the luggage to the front of the station and load up.
That was the ONLY fly in the ointment! The kids were wonderful. Victor and Erin were absolutely awesome to travel with and no one had a bad thing to say about the trip, It was a memory making trip and how lucky I am to have had the children and the little ones to drag me along!
