This saying, from one of Amtrak's timetables of a few years ago, is worth considering as a reason for why someone should take a train to a destination instead of flying. Simply, for many routes and trains, you get to see a lot more scenery if you are in a train instead of in a plane. Let me demonstrate:
If you are flying over the Korean countryside (in an old, slow, low-flying C-47) this is what you see:
Or if you are flying on a Jet-liner into the Washington DC area, and have a window seat, and are alert when you are landing, this is what you will see:
On the other hand, if it is a halfway decent day and you are crossing the Mississippi River near La Crosse WI about Sundown on Amtrak's Empire Builder, this is what you will see:
Notice a big difference?
Now some will say, "Well if you want to see the scenery drive." And they do have a point, except in most cases at least one individual in the vehicle, the driver, probably will not be able to see the scenery as well as the passengers (some of whom may be watching a DVD or reading or whatever).
I am the first to admit that you can see some things best from the air, for example, I have seen Mt. Fuji in Japan from the air and the view is magnificent. But for most items of scenic interest, you have to get a bit closer than 20,000 feet straight up in order to enjoy the view.
Of course, I see people on trains reading books and magazines, watching DVD movies, playing card games, or just sleeping their life away as the beautiful American scenery rolls by. I guess part of it boils down to what you do with the time God gives you.
Just something to think about as the record of our recent trip to the Land of Water, Wind, and Fire will continue with the next posting. We could have done the travel by air, but consider what we would have missed.
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