Memories of a Trip Not Taken.
I managed to cancel most of the reservations for transportation, lodging and entertainment made for the trip I had scheduled for this month. In fact today—I’m writing this on Friday, the 17th—today was the day I would be returning home from that trip.
.
The 25-dqy trip would have included nine different trains, twelve different hotels, three flights and five major league baseball games.
.
I know, I know . . . many people—my wife included—are horrified with an itinerary like that. But that’s what makes traveling different from vacationing. And it’s the actual traveling that I enjoy, especially traveling by train. You’re moving toward your destination, but you’re also seeing towns and cities, mountains and streams, and all the while, having the opportunity to meet other travelers over a meal in the dining car.
.
,
I was to be traveling with a good friend, also a member of RPA. At the conclusion of the three days of meetings, our plans included one of Amtrak’s high-speed trains to New York City and one of the hit shows on Broadway.
.
Next, an early morning train up to Boston and prime seats for my first ever Opening Day at Fenway Park, the first home game of the 2020 season for the Boston Red Sox.
.
From Boston, it was on to Toronto and, two days later, I would get to introduce my friend to that wonderful, leisurely and luxurious ride across two-thirds of North America through the magnificent Canadian Rockies to Vancouver on the Pacific Ocean . . .one of the world’s great train rides.
.
But—alas!—it was not meant to be. The Rail Passengers meetings were postponed, Major League Baseball cancelled all games until further notice, the media carried dire warnings about the very dangerous coronavirus and—the most serious and intimidating of all—my wife forbade me to go.
.
No one knows when things will back to normal or when extensive travel will once again be permitted. Since I am essentially confined to quarters, I have plenty of time to plan another trip. I’m thinking Europe. I’m thinking trains, of course. In fact, I’m thinking London-to-Venice on the Orient Express and these a lot of video on line about the train and about the journey itself. OK, so where do I go from Venice? Back to France, maybe? To the Dordogne region and the medieval town of Domme. Yes, it was there in Hotel L’Esplanade, that I had lunch on their patio overlooking a lovely valley and was served the world’s most perfect omelet. That sounds like a plan. And the planning is half the fun.
