Gary and Linda’s trip to Galveston Texas May 21, 2024 Today, May 20, we boarded a Am track Train, Sunset Limited from El Paso, Texas, to Houston Texas. It had been many years since we were on a train. I think our last time was on a China trip inside China. I also recall a Korea trip where I was on a train for part of the trip. This was suppose to be a fancy trip in a sleeper car with our own private shower and bathroom. Neither of us imagined how small the area was in all respects. The major issue for me was climbing a small ladder late at night to a lofted bunk bed. At age 80, it was a major struggle which Linda watched in horror from her bunk below. I struggled for a long time to get my body there. Lessons learned if I try this again (very doubtful) is to position the ladder near the middle of the bunk. The over head roof is very low and hindered my ability to make the “move”. I had read that the railroad people used a sniffer dog to detect drugs and there it was, sniffing away as we loaded on the train. The shower toilet combination was extraordinarily cramped. We both managed a shower in the morning and it was very demanding to do it. Not to be repeated. The meals were fine. We were required to eat with another couple in the dinning car in the evening. We ate with a couple from New Orleans. They were very nice. The wife was a quilter and so Linda and her had much to share. The man had recently had prostrate radiation treatment with hormone shots and so we had that in common. He had been in the Marine Corp for 17 years and decided to leave before his 20 year retirement eligibility. The night on the constantly rocking train, noise, hard cushions, etc. was significant enough to where Linda and I decided to fly back to El Paso after our Galveston visit. We did enjoy looking at the Texas terrain, sunset. In Galveston we took Lyft to Galveston from Houston. The price was reasonable but we got to listen to sports broadcasts the whole way. Also, the muffler was defective and the noise in the car was very loud. We are staying at the Tremont house and it is very nice. Linda got some shopping done in the Strand shopping area and bought a hat. Tomorrow we are on a bus tour.