I purchased a flex Eurorail pass while still in the United
States, allowing 8
days of travel in two months to 5 different/boarding countries (which I selected prior
to leaving the US). My first trip was
to Portugal, a country known for port and cork. I am not making this up.
The train system in Europe, or at least my experience
departing from Barcelona is very simple and easy to use. The station itself was very organized and
easy to get to the platforms; much less chaotic than Amtrak at Penn Station
(NYC) or Union Station (Washington, DC).
Though I have to say that seems to be more of a function of the people
AT the stations than the function of the station (and its workers) itself. Or perhaps it was the fact that I was
departing on a Tuesday at 6:25pm on a direct train to Madrid (it appears to be
a business commuting type route).
Anyone with any other experiences, please feel free to chime in.
Having been highly recommended by Eurorail to reserve a
seat on the train(s) I’d be traveling, I set out a week and a half in advance
to book my trip to Lisbon, Portugal (via high speed train to Madrid and then
overnight train to Portugal). The
reserved seating process requires you to take a ticket from a something you’d
see at the deli line at a grocery store (in the US) and then wait for your
number to be called, similar to the DMV.
Unlike the DMV, however, the staff is extremely courteous and willing to
aid in your venture in a timely manner and without the extra attitude. While I did have to wait approximately 45
minutes to make it to the counter (Monday am at 11 can be quite crazy in Spain
especially since not much opens before 9:30 am), I was able to reserve seats on all trains to and from Portugal with
little trouble. I will also add, that
most of the reservation process was done in Spanish with a few words of
English. Score: ½ a point for effort and
small words!
One thing to note about Eurorail – I’m unsure if it was that
I purchased the ticket right before leaving or my level of sophistication (ie
age) but my only option was a 1st class ticket.
To be honest, I’m not sure what this gets you other than you can’t sit
in certain cars on certain trains. It
doesn’t preclude you from reserving a seat in Turista vs Preferente on the
train I took to Madrid, you just have to pay more to sit in Preferente. So what, besides price is the difference you
may ask (well I did, anyway)? In Turista
there are two seats, the aisle then another two seats – very similar to really any
train on Amtrak. Preferente is two
seats, aisle then one seat. So, for a
few dollars more I am sitting in seat 9a, coche (car) 2 – Preferente. Do I recommend it? I’m not sure that seat wise there’s much of a
need to pay more; however I cannot speak to the service of Turista but here’s
what Preferente got me…..
Assuming this train to Madrid, which is only 2.5 hours
(similar to the Acela train from DC to NYC), is like Amtrak, I’m stoked to find
out there’s an outlet to plug my computer into.
I’m thus able to write up this
blog while taking in the scenery, which is whizzing by me, at times, of speeds
greater than 300km/hour. I have no idea
how fast that is but from what I see out the window; it’s fast. It’s also 29 degrees Celsius in case you’re
wondering. How do I know all this? The digital board in front of train tells me
so. Then, what happens next is
like flying first class back when flying was en vogue.
I’m all settled in my seat, preparing to stare out the
window for 2.5 hours (ok, sleep) when I notice out of the corner of my eye a cart with newspapers approaching. “Would I like one” I’m asked? Ok, disclaimer, I saw the newspapers and
heard something, the words were not comprehensible (to me) but I didn’t want one anyway
so I graciously said, no gracias. See,
I’m practicing!
Next comes the drink cart.
“Would I like something to drink” (from here on out when you read things
in quotes, just realize this is what I inferred was being said for I likely had
no clue what words were coming out of their mouths)? Again, I say no gracias because well I have
about 5 days of water rationed as I’m used to being nickeled and
dimed. For sure I can say he did stop
and ask specifically if I wanted water because I’m pretty good with the word
“aqua” but again, I said no gracias.
Then comes the cart with a mini cheese sandwich, lemon cake
(with a nice light frosting) and coffee.
Ok, seriously, where the F am I?
I’m eating only because they gave it to me, and well, when is the last
time you had this type of service (train, plane or otherwise)?
As if to continue on
because well, we just haven’t experience enough, they come by with Lindt
chocolate truffles. I of course passed
on this because well, it’s just becoming too much for me to take just because
it’s offered up. I also pass on the
refill of coffee.
While all of this is happening there is also a movie on for
us to enjoy. I have no idea what it is
or have any desire to watch as staring out the window is much more
gratifying. Eyes please stay open,
please stay open…….
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