Cal train...

Betsy's parents were in California this week and we got together to have dinner in Palo Alto. I took Cal train down to meet them. This was my first time taking Cal-train from the city and the first time I took the N-Judah past the ballpark. Quite exciting for sure!
The Station is pretty nice. All glass and open...
Also they have this sweet patriotic theme inside. As you can see it is large but there are few benches to sit down and wait for your train. I guess most people are commuters and do have to wait for a connecting train.
the train is a double-decker and of course I sat up top. That way I can peek into everyone's back yard...
I wonder if this is their favorite band too...
as you can see (sort of) the train is pretty long which is a good thing. There were a few annoying kids and thier parents did a bad job with discipline that sat in the first car. I simply went ahead to the next car to get away from them. Why is it always the case when you travel? Too bad we don't have that option on airplanes!
My final destination was California ave. in Palo alto. Their train station, not that glamorous. kind of looks like a taco stand. I expect more from this town. Come on Stanford...

Trains are cool. It is hard to imagine that at one time it was the fastest way to travel. Railroads were key in settling the west. I am reading this book and it discusses the role railroads had on settling this region that for many centuries before was never used by inhabitants for long term settlement. Quite an interesting read. Railroads are in danger of becoming extinct. Rail travel across the U.S. has declined due to the high cost. Americans are just not riding trains. We would rather drive.