Savannah to Washington D.C.
The Palmetto runs between Savannah and New York City. As I have previously spent time in the latter city, I decided to end my journey in Washington D.C. The route parallels that of the Silver Meteor, however, there is no overnight travel on the Palmetto. The scenery on this train was considerably more interesting than on the Orlando – Savannah segment, with the train passing through 4 states (Georgia; South Carolina; North Carolina; and Virginia) before arriving in Washington D.C.
Due to extreme heat conditions (it was 38 degrees celsius), the train was required to travel at a reduced speed (75% of its normal operating speed) for the final six hours of this trip. This was to prevent the steel rails (which expand due to the heat) from buckling under pressure from the train. The train’s arrival in Washington D.C. was thus delayed by approximately 90 minutes. I was sat next to a middle-aged woman who boarded in North Carolina where she had been visiting her mother. She was travelling back to her home in Philadelphia. I noticed a clear and somewhat dramatic change of scenery after crossing the border from the Carolinas into Virginia. The homes were grander and architecturally more beautiful than those in the states below, and I watched as the vast areas of swampland in North Carolina were replaced by Virginia’s green fields and yacht-filled marinas.
Washington D.C.
When the train pulled into Union Station I was impressed by the 29m ceiling that is decorated with 32kg of gold leaf. I had four days in Washington D.C. It was again unpleasantly hot and humid. I took a guided tour of the Capitol Building, but did not tour the White House as this would have involved submitting a request through the Australian embassy, which I had not organised. The highlight of my time in Washington D.C. was walking along the National Mall (a 3km stretch of lawn featuring various museums and monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument). There was an abundance of museums to explore in the city, with the Smithsonian Institute’s 17 different galleries and museums offering a plethora of choice. I particularly enjoyed the National Portrait Gallery and its American Presidents exhibition.
Philadelphia
Whilst staying in Washington D.C., I also enjoyed a day trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The image on the left shows the “Rocky steps” which Sylvester Stallone runs up in the film. The steps lead to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I also visited the Liberty Bell where I observed a young boy crawl under the barrier and attempt to ring the bell, much to the horror of the security guard (and his mother’s indifference).
Philadelphia’s Old City was a particular highlight, with the images below of the Old City showing Elfreth’s Alley which dates back to 1702 and is the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited residential street.
