I flew from Savannah to Atlanta and joined my sister, Jeannie, at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson Airport for the flight to Washington DC, the starting point for TrainGranny trip #2.  We arrived at Washington’s Reagan National at 10:30 AM and headed for Union Station on the subway.  Train #29, the Capitol Limited, was not scheduled to depart WAS until 4:05 PM, so we took advantage of a few hours of “tourist time.”    Dropping our luggage in the Amtrak waiting area for high-class people (like us) we enjoyed free juice and snacks . . . then headed for the National Air and Space Museum, following directions from a gentleman at the information desk.

After walking about six blocks on the streets around Capitol Hill and not seeing any sign of the museum for which we were searching, we spotted the United States Botanic Garden and changed our course.  Seeing the plants of America could not be a bad thing!  (It would probably be just as exciting as seeing the Air and Space Museum!  And, our feet were tired from the long walk.)

The gardens were amazing, indeed.  (See photos at www.facebook.com/traingranny)  They kept us enthralled for a couple of hours, at least.  We headed back to Union Station, where we had a late lunch and window-shopped in the trendy shops for another hour.  Train time was almost upon us!  We moved toward the posh Acela Lounge, reclaimed our luggage and fell asleep from exhaustion in the soft leather chairs.

The overhead speakers called for sleeper car passengers on the Capitol Limited to report to the door.  We scrambled to our feet and joined the others.  A large group of retired Brits were ahead of us in line.  If these older couples could survive in roomettes, Jeannie thought she would be fine!  We formed a single file line and made our way trackside.

Chicago, here we come!