Today has been all about resting and getting to Washington via Amtrak.

Slept in until 8am which was a pleasant change to the 5am rises over the past week. The Holiday Inn on 39th Street was definitely an improvement on Mayfair. The air conditioner was silent and worked, the room was twice the size and the internet worked!

I filled the morning on wandering the streets of New York around Time Square - taking photos of life in the city and looking at gift shops. I bought a few little things to take home for the family, the suitcase is already heavy and contemplating posting things back home rather than lugging them around for next 3 weeks. We will check out postage rates in Washington. Times Square was still crazy with people everywhere and a hotdog or donut cart appeared on nearly every corner. Not keen on hotdogs so they have been left off the "must taste" list, but I did buy an apple turnover to have for lunch on the train. In fact, I also bought a turkey sandwich for usvto share. The sandwiches are huge with at least three times more meat than what we would have back home.

Checked out of the hotel at 1pm and walked the 6 blocks with our cases to the station. Our train to Washington was not the express, but taking only 20 minutes more and costing $80 less we were happy with our tickets. The 93 to Washington was late arriving in the station and then there was a mad scramble for everyone to get onto the escalators to get down to the platform and then onto the train. It was all a bit tricky, especially with our suitcases but we managed to get our cases up on the racks overhead and also two seats together. It wasn't long before we were enjoying our turkey sandwich and pastry for lunch.

At New Jersey City station an emergency occurred which meant we had to get off the 93, change platforms, wait for another train to take us to Washington. We were told a woman had fallen on the tracks, was injured but had not died. There was alot of confusion both on the train and on the station. First we were told we must stay on the train, then we were told to get off and get the next train (although we could not all fit on the next train), those who missed a seat were told to go to another platform but once there were told to go back to the original station and board the 85. We were lucky to find a spot for our luggage and a seat. By the time we arrived in Washington we were 2 hours late!

Union Station Washington is stunning architecturally, took photos and then caught a taxi to State Plaza Hotel. Our room was even bigger than the Holiday Inn as it also included a kitchenette and writing desk area. Had dinner in the hotel as we were too weary to go out and about to explore, instead we stayed in and planned our time in Washington.