All Aboard! Taking the train to Washington DC

Last Tuesday we packed our duffel bags and headed east more the 700 miles on the Amtrak Cardinal. With the price of gas and travel time being about the same I thought the train would be a great relaxing way to see the country. It was although for Julius, Alex and I a cut into the reality of America. Julius had been studying some of the places we were going to see however I am not sure he nor I were prepared for the America we did see. We saw poverty that hurt, people that made us wonder and compassion for others that actually brought a tear to my eye.

For the first time Julius showed empathy for someone other then our family as a man on the train struggled with his luggage, Julius jumped up and helped put the luggage away without any prodding from me. The man was disabled, most teens shy away from these situations I have found, Julius stood up and was gracious and kind, I knew then that he was growing into a great man.

The Cardinal travels through the Appalachian Mountains and as it is beautiful it can be real and depressing at times.

Washington DC was not exactly what he expected it to be either. It is mostly a city of historical sites and not really a city like NY. We were lucky enough to get into the Capital for a tour thanks to our congresswoman and her assistant David who gave us a great and informative tour. Then we hit the Library of Congress and if you have been raising a avid historian be prepared for some watery eyes as you can only get into the actual library if you are 16 with a pre-approved pass. The next day we fought the March winds and did a private tour at the Pentagon(special thanks to my brother-in-law for putting that together), again make time for security and invitations, this is not a walk up. From there we walked to the Lincoln Memorial, down to the Washington Memorial to the Holocaust Museum, (I took my chances here, my student is from Germany and my husband lost his family in Germany WWII, two different sides) It went well but be prepared for the emotions this museum can evoke on may levels all different which each person no matter age, race or class.

We finished up our visit with our return on the Cardinal four days later, although the conductor and staff were really great we were delayed for more then three hours.

Julius has not said much about the trip, when I have asked him he says he is thinking, as he learned more about who we are as Americans, and we as a nation are not what he thought we would be.