Friday, December 21, 2012

shame on me...

...for not posting in a week!  ;-)  I've been busy traveling, TRYING to get enough sleep (despite the midnight train a couple of days ago being 3.5 hours late in loading).  On the rails, our internet connection was on-again-off-again despite having a good "portable hotspot."  When the modem was not connecting i could sometimes read my favorite blogs on my Blackberry, but i can't comment or post from it.

I tell ya, eating from the menu while traveling via Amtrak is a tricky business.  Only in the dining car can one get dishes which are not carb-based -- and for lunch one has to order sandwiches without the bread in order to meet that criterion.  :-(  On the flip-side, the food IS good even though the menu is limited.

If one is obliged to eat in a station between trains ... good luck!  We had a terrific meal in Sacramento, but that was only because the depot was in the middle of town and a short walk took us to a variety of restaurants to choose between (apologies for the grammar).  There WAS a time when stations had a Harvey House or at least a good diner nearby, but the glory days have passed them by.  What a pity!  Rail travel has virtues that flying can't aspire to, even if the hour at which one has to make connections can be inconvenient.

On the ground here in Seattle, we've been eating a lot of the excellent seafood to be found.  We were profoundly impressed with the fresh fin- and shellfish in the shops of Pike Place Market.  Omega-3 heaven!  ;-)  I had a steak for dinner tonight, however -- sometimes, only red meat satisfies....

And we've WALKED (and walked and walked and walked).  My starchy and sugary sins (not too many of them) have been atoned-for, i believe.  We've also come to understand why coffee is so important here -- the cold damp weather we've enjoyed since arriving encourages me to find a snug corner and a hot drink.  ...Hmmm, i wonder if Victor down in the hotel bar knows how to make hot Tom&Jerry?  :-D

10 comments:

  1. at least you had a good excuse going awol. I have done the train both as high carb and as low carb, and it is much easier to go lc when you can actually go without eating for more than two hours. Last time I checked any of the train offerings, it was carbs carbs carbs. Luckily, you can pack lots of sardines in a duffel. I don't know what I would do if I had to spend days on a train.

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    1. i've eaten some potatoes and rice, but have been religiously avoiding bread. :-) you're right, and i hadn't even thought about it -- tins of meat would be good to pack! we booked a bedroom, and meals come with it. there are omelettes, quiche, eggs and breakfast meats available, salads and "naked sandwiches" for lunch, chicken, steak, salmon and the "market special" for dinner -- could be a lot worse! ...but i confess -- i succumbed to some cheesecake and a chocolate dessert!

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  2. Woo-hoo! Welcome to the PNW! (Sorry the weather is so dismal)- eating while traveling is tricky...but once you get to Seattle, the world is your oyster!

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    1. pun intended? we ate some terrific local oysters thursday evening. :-) thank you for the welcome! weather doesn't get me down if i'm prepared and expecting it, and this is winter, after all! you're in the NW? i guess i hadn't registered that! what state?

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  3. I live about 90 miles north of Seattle in Washington- almost to the Canadian border (Bellingham/Ferndale)- (:

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  4. wow, i AM in your neighborhood, aren't i? :-)

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  5. ?...did someone say oysters? Long walks in wet, cloudy weather is good for the soul.

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    1. someone DID! :-) the walks are not too long, but the slopes are eating my lunch. even walking downhill hurts.

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    1. thank you! :-) we're kinda taking a break today -- i can push my energy limits only so long before i REALLY crash and burn, so occasionally i have to just refuse to move my butt....

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