They'll Even Have a Bed for Us

The summer hasn't even started yet, and already it's getting away from me. I went to the clinic this morning to get a Hepatitis vaccine, recommended for anyone traveling to China. Next week I'll get my visa, much to the relief of my mother who has been calling and emailing reminders to get one on a near daily basis for the last three months. Next month Drew leaves for China — a full month before I join him there, which leaves us just over six weeks to enjoy summer together stateside, during which time we'll be making a trek to Missouri to visit the family and at least one weekend getaway, which just happens to be this weekend and I couldn't be more excited about it.

We're going to Vermont. Windsor, Vermont, to be exact, home of the longest covered bridge in the United States. Not only are we going to Vermont, which will be my very first visit to the fair state, but we're staying in a B&B, another first for me. I'm such a B&B virgin, actually — as is Drew, apparently — that when he got off the phone after confirming our reservations — which, by the way, had to be done via a check through snail mail no less — and he excitedly informed me that they'll even make us breakfast every morning, I, genius that I am, replied, "Oh my God! That's so awesome," before I realized that, oh yeah, that's sort of implied in the second B, isn't it? Ahem. We're riding a train there!

Is there anything more romantic than traveling by train? It's so much more civilized than plane travel with its cramped seating, stale air, and three dollar bags of nuts. And bus travel? Please! Can you get a sleeper car on the bus? Can you ride right through the middle of single-steeple towns on a bus? Can you sit for hours in the dining car, feet tucked beneath you, book cradled in your palm, a deck of cards and half-eaten sandwich at your side while listening to a pack of traveling companions swap life stories at the table next to you on a bus?! You cannot, and that is why, when Drew informed me we'd spend 14 hours in three days on a train, I didn't whimper, or sigh with dread, or suggest we rent a car for the weekend instead, I threw my arms victoriously in the air and pronounced this whole going to Vermont idea the best I'd ever heard. That is, of course, until I discovered we likely wouldn't have internet access for the three whole days we're there. And then I thought, "Damn, that better be a really good breakfast."

Comments

[Jensational]

I enjoy trains but would love them far more if cell phone were outlawed. A five hour train ride becomes torture when you're surrounded by people on cell phones.

I've only stayed at a B&B once. It was a nice space and the breakfast was tasty . . . however the owners spent breakfast trying to convince me that I had to read the Left Behind book series.

[Stephanie]

I don't know if you're a fan of Sex and the City at all, and this past week (month, year?) has been SATC overload. BUT, if you are a fan, there was a very funny episode where two of the women take a train to San Francisco and the train travel ends up not quite as romantic or nice as they thought train travel used to be. This Vermont trip sounds brilliant. Have a great time!

[citywendy]

I love SATC (but I haven't seen the movie yet). Why do I not remember this episode you speak of. Could there be an episode I haven't seen yet?

[Lisa]

Hope the B&B is wonderful! One of the best B&B's I stayed in was in Vermont --I think it was in Arlington VT but I am not sure. David and I also stayed in a lovely B&B in Niagara on the Lake. Love B&B's!

[Christopher Parker]

It's all right, we don't really get cell phone reception in Vermont anyway . . .
(We don't have internet in large parts of the state either. Except dial-up. _If_ the phone works, which is not assured!).

It's not actually that bad, only some days and in some places. Comes with being rural.

Windsor, by the way, is not the most romantic part of the state. It's a hard-luck ex mill village with some tough characters down on their luck. But you don't have to get far out of town before it is quite lovely. And indeed, there is the covered bridge.

Actually this weekend, if you could change your plans, is the strolling of the heifers in Brattleboro, a couple of stops closer to you. (Yes, it's a cow parade.) It's a blast. And the best part is gallery walk on Friday night (the train arrives right when it is just getting underway).

Get a seat on the left hand side of the train if you can. It runs along the pretty Connecticut River valley for much of it's route.

[citywendy]

Thanks for the tip, CP. We're actually staying in Windsor because there's a B&B there and it's just down the road a few miles from friends we're going to visit who live in a big farm. But the tough, down on their luck characters of Windsor sound sort of right up our alley.

I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled for the gallery walk in Brattleboro. Sounds awesome.

[Caroline]

Strangely enough, I'm reading this while sitting in a B&B in Vermont (Woodstock, VT). It does have wireless (obviously), but i'm not sure if reading blogs really counts as an escape ;-)

[teahouseblossom]

Have you seen that Sex and the City episode where Carrie and Samantha think it will be so romantic to travel by train, until confronted with the reality of traveling cross country on Amtrak? It's pretty funny :o)