Petrelis Files

Mike + Mike Ride Amtrak's Coast Starlight Train

For both of us, a longtime dream came true this week. We took Amtrak's Coast Starlight train from Los Angeles to Oakland on January 5, 2015, and saw amazing sights.

On New Year's Day, January 1, 2015, Mike and I flew to San Diego to meet up with a few branches of his family tree who either live there or flew in from South Dakota.

(We spent time in the parlor car watching the agriculture fields from the upper level.)

 (Yours truly basking in the sunshine.)

(Mike enjoying the view of the Pacific ocean in the late morning.)

(Mike's cousin Nancy, in red, and her partner Cynthia about to enjoy a rich dessert.)

We had a most fabulous time with them and enjoyed many treasured moments together. For our return home, we boarded a 6:00 am train from San Diego to Los Angeles' Union Station, then left from there at 10:00 am for the trip up the coast. We arrived in Oakland at 10:00 pm.



I shot this short video in the parlor car as we rode past California's vast agriculture fields.

You hear me addressing Mike's brothers, who are farmers in South Dakota, as we pass the fields saying they may want to farm this land, then Mike says I'm all goofy again like I was a few days before at the Dr. Seuss art show we saw in San Diego. All the while you see how fab the parlor car was in the afternoon.

If ever you get the chance to take this route along the coast and ride in a sleeper car, make sure you ride on the ocean side of the train. The views are so much more incredible from that side and if you want the full effect of seeing both sides, just head into the communal cars with skylights.

Thank you, Mike, for this wonderful Christmas present! Lord, what a trip it was seeing the incredible California landscape from the train! Our best vacation together ever.