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First Timer - a little nervous
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by sojourner: [QB] How cool that you are taking the SW Chief. Did you get a sleeperette for the whole trip? Crossing the Mississippi on the train for the first time was a major event for me--I did it on the SW Chief too. You might be at dinner when that happens, so take a window seat if you can. It's a bit after Galesburg, which btw is a not-bad looking town. If you wake up early next morning, you can see Dodge City on the right side facing forward; it's little and maybe fake but still kinda cool. And later that day, be sure to be in the observation car before you leave Colorado. In fact, I stay in the observation car almost from breakfast on. I like seeing the vague outline of the approaching mountains, and looking for prairie dogs . . . Anyway, be sure to be there before you leave Colorado over the Raton Pass, the highest point on the trip, there is a cool old mission and a sign to see (on the right side facing forward) but nice scenery both sides--it's very exciting. The rest of the trip that day is pretty gorgeous too--you'll want to see the old Harvey hotel Coronado right near the train stop in Las Vegas, NM, and then you go through Apache Canyon to Lamy (the stop for Santa Fe)--pretty scenic. At Albuquerque you usually have a tad of a layover--you can walk on some streets nearby, but don't miss getting back to the train! There's a Coldstone Creamery close by, I'm told. Also vendors sell Native American jewelry and stuff right on the train platform, with some decent prices for the costume jewelry, at any rate. After you leave Albuquerque comes the most scenic part, the red rocks, around Gallup, NM. . . . . Re San Diego hotels: I don't think you can find a conveniently located safe and clean hotel for under $100--I wouldn't stay out at the airport, for example, too much running around! But for around $100-$110 you might get the Comfort Inn, 719 Ash, or maybe the Quality Inn across the street--both have the same owner. I stayed in the Comfort Inn by myself, but I'm not sure I recommend it if you're alone, because it's motel-ish, the kind of place people have access to without going through a lobby, which is not the best thing for a female alone. But I had no trouble. The location was up the hill, from downtown, which gave me some exercise walking. There were a couple of tawdry streets, but nothing too bad, though I don't know what it would be like on a Sunday (could be very dead down there, though there was a trendy new apartment house nearby, and even a little grocery for it where I bought a banana. The price included breakfast and a free shuttle--when I phoned, they picked me up at the train station, and I also took the shuttle to Balboa Park one morning, because it was right there!) Make sure you get an email confirmation of your reservation; they lost mine! But they still had a room so everything was fine. I was there in the summer too, as I recall. Still, if I were recommending, I'd go with that Best Western Bayside Inn I mentioned above. I think they were around $135 when I was in SD, but of course hotel prices have been skyrocketing lately, so I'm not sure. Restaurants in San Diego can be pricey, esp. in the Gaslight area, so watch it there! There are cheaper places up near Old Town, for example, and in-between prices in Little Italy (which is cute). Asian (except for Japanese) and Mexican food is usually cheaper, too. Re sites to see: Don't forget to take the ferry (it's not expensive) to Coronado Island; and once there, you take a little bus across the island to see the Hotel del Coronado. There's beach there too. At Balboa Park, don't miss the gardens. There's one called the Alcazar, I think, and then there is a desert garden, really cool. I'm sure you'll have a great time! [/QB][/QUOTE]
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