MON DIEU, LE TRAIN.

Surely I secured a superb spot on the train. Nobody is behind me. This allows me to lean back as far as I want without a guilty conscious. When you fully unfold the two chairs, you create the equivalent of a small couch. The seating is certainly sufficient. Just glance out the window, and you have an episode of planet earth. Unfortunately, mine is not on at the moment. I am staring out into the darkness, pondering my peculiar path... 

The rising sun woke me just outside of Denver. I managed to get roughly five hours of sleep. It was quite comfy, much more comfortable than any airplane. Everyone has their own small station on this slow chugging choo-choo. Once we arrived at Union Station, I hustled to the coffee shop. I purchased an espresso, a large dark roast, and a bagel. They paled in comparison to what I am accustomed to, but I am not complaining. As we left Denver, the conductor informed us that we were commencing the most scenic train route in the country. 

He was correct. The beauty was enthralling, entrancing, and electrifying. We were floating through a sea of luscious green pine trees. The rapids rushed relentlessly downstream. Each cliff looked as if it were carved by god himself, just for our viewing pleasure. What lucky mortals we are to have been blessed with such refinement. The train stopped in Winter Park, and I saw the perfect picture opportunity. The stops only last so long. This depends on the time and amount of passengers joining or exiting the voyage. Regardless, I took my chances and sprung off the train with my camera. With precious time ticking, I sprinted to and from potential photo opportunities. Suddenly, the summoning sound sang, and I sprinted back. The crowd of smokers cheered me on as they put out their cigarettes.

The conductor's commentary continually made me laugh. He would even tell us fun facts about the areas that we passed through. We started mirroring the Colorado River, the conductor gave us a warning about inappropriate river behaviors. I was truly unsure of what he meant by this. My question was answered, not even five minutes later. We began to pass flocks of camping communities. Canoes, kayaks, tubes, small fishing boats, and basically any functioning floating device occupied this relaxing river. It was magical, the people were waving and raising their drinks. Suddenly and in perfect synchronization, a group of campers pointed their bare asses at us. This was a sight I was not expecting, even after the conductor's warning. 

We continued along this river and were greeted by more campsites, more boats, and more asses. What a lovely experience it was. I kept myself busy by working on the various projects that occupy my life right now. This website, French homework, and my TEFL course occupied much of my time. Today also included occasional snacking and periodic conversations with my neighbor across the aisle. Our next destination is Salt Lake City, but I will be passively passing out here promptly. À demain.