We took the Amtrak train from Denver to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. From Glenwood Springs we took a Greyhound bus to Vail.
The train ride was a unique experience – one that deserves its own blog post – I will say this, though … the beautiful Colorado scenery barely overshadowed the pungent aroma of body odor that occupied our train car.
I sent the following message via Facebook to my buddy Matt, who was traveling with me and sitting across the aisle ... the message was entitled "Stinky Train":
"This train smells like a large sweaty man wearing a dirty diaper! WHEN IS IT GOING TO END? (BTW: Johnny Snorealot behind me has gas like a mule deer that got into some wild onions!)"
We opted for this planes, trains, and automobiles adventure as a costing-cutting measure. (On the same trip last year, we spent almost $400 on a rental car.) What we DIDN'T realize until after the 7-hour ride on "Stinky Train" – we could have taken a bus from Denver to Vail, been there 8 hours earlier, and saved $17.
FINANCIAL (Goal: $130 – Amount Spent: $67)
• TRANSPORTATION: $45 total to Vail (included the train and bus fare)
We opted for this planes, trains, and automobiles adventure as a costing-cutting measure. (On the same trip last year, we spent almost $400 on a rental car.) What we DIDN'T realize until after the 7-hour ride on "Stinky Train" – we could have taken a bus from Denver to Vail, been there 8 hours earlier, and saved $17.
FINANCIAL (Goal: $130 – Amount Spent: $67)
• TRANSPORTATION: $45 total to Vail (included the train and bus fare)
• MEALS: $4
– We were going to jump all over the Denny’s free Grand Slam Breakfast, but my cousin’s wife made us a hot breakfast instead. It turned out to be the best decision of the trip so far. When we drove past a Denny’s on the way to the train station, the parking lot was a zoo and the TV crew outside confirmed that we made the right call.
NOTE: Brilliant marketing campaign by Denny’s. I thought it was a solid commercial, a terrific offer, and a great branding tactic – "Isn't it time for a serious breakfast?" What I loved the most ... EVERYBODY was talking about it. (FYI: Normally, a Grand Slam Breakfast is $5.99.)
– Bottled water on the train (I left my Nalgene bottle on my cousin’s kitchen table in Denver) – $2
– Cup of coffee on the train – $2
NOTE: Brilliant marketing campaign by Denny’s. I thought it was a solid commercial, a terrific offer, and a great branding tactic – "Isn't it time for a serious breakfast?" What I loved the most ... EVERYBODY was talking about it. (FYI: Normally, a Grand Slam Breakfast is $5.99.)
– Bottled water on the train (I left my Nalgene bottle on my cousin’s kitchen table in Denver) – $2
– Cup of coffee on the train – $2
• SPLURGES: $18
We had a brief layover in Glennwood Springs, so I drank a couple pints of the local stout and had an appetizer.
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
– The train had electrical power to keep my laptop juiced, but I was disappointed there was no WiFi available. I was able to stay “connected” through my Blackberry – when we weren't buried in some remote Colorado canyon – and our Director of Giving was on call to update the site if necessary.
– Typed up an e-mail proposal/quote request for our web developer and saved it in my Draft Folder so I could send it later in the day.
– Modified my publication proposal (Thanks, Mr. Bloomberg for your advice/guidance.)
– Typed up an e-mail proposal/quote request for our web developer and saved it in my Draft Folder so I could send it later in the day.
– Modified my publication proposal (Thanks, Mr. Bloomberg for your advice/guidance.)
– Played around with Photobooth on my MacBook – I tried practicing a new smile for a little while, but then I reverted back to my old standby. (see below)
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1 comment:
the new smiles are much better!
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