By Robert J. Ottaviani

“All aboard, Pittsburgh to New York this way please.”

The train guard stood tall and dapper dressed up in his navy blue uniform with cap while directing the boarding traffic. We rolled our baggage on the loading platform past several cars until we decided which car we wanted to enter. “Let me help you with those bags” he offered to those who struggled to lift their belongings up three steps to enter the train. Once inside we stored our bags overhead our seats, which were not designated and of our choice.

A Long Mind Wondering Journey
And so our 444 mile, nine-hour journey aboard the Pennsylvanian was about to begin. We depart “Penn Station” in Pittsburgh exactly at 7:10 a.m. as scheduled as the big wheels start to turn rolling us down the track. Clickety clack, clickety clack, clickety clack – the steel wheels sing against the steel rails. We are soon up to speed pouring past city neighborhoods and working our way through winding creeks at the foot of mountains and beautiful countryside. These scenic views become a staple of our trip as seemingly every time we look outside similar settings are to be enjoyed.
Inside the train we notice immediate comforts such as the extreme leg room with foot rests and leg rests. There’s also a button to release your seatback down to a tilt-back level, a drop down tray and a close by outlet to plug in your electronic goodies. None of these are state of the art concepts but rather well thought out ideas put in place years ago. Tickets are not checked upon boarding but rather a few miles up the track lending itself to the total laid back attitude. It’s as if you are taking a trip not to a city but to a time long ago when railways were a big part of American folklore.

Traveling Back in Time
It was easy to imagine being ambushed by the Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch or Jesse James and the James Gang, as we passed through some isolated terrain. Trains were much slower in the Wild West and cars were usually made of wood. These outlaws would ride up on horses eventually catching up with the train and unleash the designated car from the engine. A couple of sticks of dynamite later and all the gold and payroll was theirs for the taking. All that was left was the dust kicked up from their horses as they rode off and disappeared behind the rocks. My wife drew her double barreled derringer and I readied my Wyatt Earp revolver when we realized it was only some rider-less horses rustling in a nearby field. I pulled my renegade Dillinger hat back down over my eyes convinced we were safe for the moment and went back to dreaming.

A Quiet Ride
Whoot whoot, whoot, whoot the train horn delivered a deep drone of a warning that we were rambling across more countryside. On and on it went with an occasional whistle blown or bells clanged to signify specific communications and warnings. The one constant was a gentle humming sound of the train rolling along. I was pleasantly surprised at the overall quietness of the ride. All the sounds were in unison and never alarmingly loud or unsettling. We moved about the train whenever we wanted visiting the dining car for a drink and some lunch. We listened to a table of grizzled, experienced train riders swap stories of train travel, one eager to outdo the other. We made occasional stops where we could get out and stretch our legs a short while. We read, we listened to music, we slept, we scoured the Internet on our Netbook, and we re-connected with each other because we had the time.

We pulled into New York Penn Station exiting the Pennsylvanian number 42 right on schedule at 5:20 p.m. We grabbed our baggage at our leisure and listened as further assistance was offered to those who needed it. The ride was totally devoid of angst and worry and the nine hour venture hardly seemed that long. I’ve had work shifts that seemed excruciatingly longer. If it seems like I’m romanticizing the train experience in part I am but only because of my contempt for the alternative. Air travel!

Flying the Unfriendly Skies
I loathe it! From the time we book our flight I’m a mess. I just don’t like the experience. Arrive several hours early. WAIT, take your shoes off, WAIT, and pass your bags through, WAIT. “You’ve been chosen by said airline for special attention, move over to the side for a pat down and WAIT”. “Okay you can proceed to your gate now and WAIT”.”Attention, we are seating rows d through f now” like its some big privilege for me. It’s certainly not “all aboard”, is it? So I enter the big tin cigar holder, find my seat and realize my knees are holding up my chin because there’s no room. My drop down tray also serves as my napkin as it literally sits on my lap. And now for something different … I get to WAIT for clearance for take-off. The stale unvented air has me considering pulling down the oxygen mask and I haven’t left the ground yet. We are finally airborne and I have to use the facilities but WAIT the light is on meaning I have to stay in my seat. Well, at least I get some lunch, oh no you say you just have peanuts and juice. There’s no calming humming noise, no gentle whistles, no soothing horns but a rather disturbing rattling sound from the cabin, which sounds like it’s going to split the aircraft in half. Well at least I have turbulence to look forward to, there’s nothing like that dropped out of the sky feeling. And to think I get to repeat the process when I return including the WAIT for the luggage and hope it’s on my flight. I’m starting to think all of the missing luggage has boarded a train as I would have given the chance. You must admit arriving on the 909 at midnight pulling into the station is a far more romantic notion than having to catch the red eye because you were bumped due to overbooking! As soon as I figure out how to get a train through water I’m leaving the friendly skies forever!

Robert J. Ottaviani (Bert) is a cusp born Aries the ram who has lived through summer of love in the late sixties and the hippie culture that bled into the seventies. He has a passion for music, gardening and all things nature … and laffy taffy. He is freakishly aware of music trivia to absurd levels. Most days you can find him playing his guitar or jotting down lyrics. He was so impacted from the moment he first heard the Beatles that he has Beatlemanianized his life, been to Liverpool, England and remains convinced he is the fifth Beatle. He is married to a gentle and lovely vibe of a woman with three wonderful children. He currently lives and resides in strawberry fields forever.

Essential Tips for Planning Your Ski Vacation

By Brianna Dean

Although the 2009/2010 ski season is halfway over, many would agree that the best skiing is still to come. In addition to a great workout, skiing and snowboarding is a excellent way to share unforgettable experiences with family and friends.

It is not too late to book a trip to a ski resort to take advantage of the numerous events and attractions that the mountain towns have to offer.

Spring Break is typically associated with white sand and tropical drinks, but those who seek a more unique getaway flock to the mountains and trade in their sandals for ski boots. Still, don’t forget to pack your bikini and board shorts so you can relax in the hot tub after a long day on the slopes.

Never planned a ski vacation before? No worries. Working at a ski shop in the Mountains of Colorado has given me hands-on experience with frustrated first-timers. The frequent phrase repeated by most travelers is, “Help, I’ve never done this before”. Don’t worry, I am here to help. Below are tips I have gathered in order to ease the stress and confusion while trying to enjoy your ski vacation.

1) RESERVE AND CONSERVE…STRESS

You may think that a ski town’s most available item are ski rental packages, and that waiting till you arrive won’t be a problem to attain. Well, think again. Although there are typically a plethora of ski shops in most mountain towns, waiting until the last minute to walk in for rentals will leave you waiting…and skiing less. I highly recommend making your reservation in advance so your rental package is guaranteed to be ready to go upon arrival. Most places will require a small deposit for insurance (that will go towards your balance) and 24 hours notice so they can prepare your package. Some places, like Christy Sports, even offer a discount for advance reservations. Save yourself the hassle of a walk-in and reserve today.

With rising baggage costs, renting skis may be even less expensive than paying to fly your equipment across the country. Plus, you will most likely get to slide on some newer, more advanced skis than the pair that’s been collecting dust in your garage.

2) WHO’S WEARING WHAT?

Skiing and snowboarding gear has become increasingly stylish over the past few years, but warmth and protection should be your main focus. I’ve been asked over and over again what the temperature will be like on the slopes. There is no simple answer to this question as the conditions on the mountain are constantly changing. Preparation is key. Since weather is as unpredictable as the Dow Jones these days, I recommend the following gear:

Start at the bottom: Always wear a base layer like Smartwool or Patagonia under your ski clothing. Wear both leggings or tights and a wicking shirt for full-body warmth below your outerwear. Thick socks made for skiing are a must. There is nothing worse than frigid toes after riding the lift to the wind-crested mountain top.

Work your way up: Wear water resistant pants and a coat with a warm liner in case of a potential powder day. Knitted gloves? Don’t even think about it. You’re asking for frost-bitten fingers if you select those. Choose high-quality gloves or mittens. If you have poor blood circulation, like me, I would recommend mittens (they will keep your fingers close together to create more body heat to keep the blood flowing).

Top it off: Find a good material to hug your neck. A Turtle Fur Neck Gaitor is basically the “neck” part of a turtleneck. These can be purchased at most sports equipment stores and can be pulled over your mouth and chin to block the wind when you are racing downhill. Some people use a scarf, others use a handkerchief; just be sure to bring something to protect you neck and throat from the piercing wind.

Goggles are just as important as your coat and pants. They protect your eyes from sun, snow, and wind.

Helmets are optional yet advised. They provide both safety, warmth, and some (like Red’s Hi-Fi Audio model) feature built in speakers so you can rock out on your way down the hill. If you plan on packing in all of your extreme skiing into a 3 day weekend, just remember that even Johnny Knoxville wears a helmet in most of his stunts. It’s not worth adding yourself to the number of head-injuries that occur every year out on the slopes.

Last but not least, suncreeen with SPF 15 or higher is definitely needed to fend off the intense, high-elevation rays. A goggle tan may look wicked-awesome when you come back from your vacation, but serious sun exposure on the slopes can damage your skin just as bad as a hot summer day.

3) CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF

Altitude sickness can hit without warning. Entering a higher elevation should be gradual, but for visitors it’s understood there just isn’t enough time. The best advice is to listen to your body’s warning signs when you arrive. Thirsty? Drink more water (yes, water) than you think you need. The air is dryer up there and not as rich is oxygen and will dehydrate you faster than normal. Bring a water bottle on your trip and fill it up at an airport water fountain, or spend the extra dollar on an Aquafina.

Getting drunk faster than usual? Take your drinks with ease your first night there, alcohol will hit you harder at high elevations, make you feel worse in the morning, and amplify the symptoms of altitude sickness. Drink slowly and moderately until you know how your body will react to the new altitude.

Tired? Take a short nap. Exhausting your body won’t get you to the slopes any faster. In fact, it may ruin your trip or endanger you while on the mountain.

Click here to learn more about acute altitude sickness.

Hopefully these small tips will help you with your travels. I know just as well as all the other mountain dwellers that tourism keeps our resorts open and functioning. It is wonderful to see happy tourists enjoying themselves on Colorado’s slopes. Follow these tips and you will be sure to have a warm, safe, and happy ski vacation.

Colorado Ski Resources

Visit Colorado Ski Country USA for more information about skiing and snowboarding in Colorado.

To reserve ski and snowboard rentals online, click on Christy Sports or call 877-754-7627.

Click here order the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide.

Brianna Dean is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for skiing. She grew up in Southern California and frequently moved as a child until she and her family settled in Kansas, much to her dismay. Feeling trapped and unfulfilled in a comfortable, mundane life, she packed up and moved to Colorado. Although she now calls Denver home, Brianna is currently spending the winter at the base of a mountain while working for a ski company. She enjoys biking, hiking, rock climbing, camping, and playing with her dog, Pali (who is named after a ski lift at Arapahoe Basin). When not working you will find her mastering a 360 at the terrain park, cooking vegetarian dinners, or discussing epic powder days at a dive bar.


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By Tyrone Brown

Adventure (as defined by Marriam-Webster):
An undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks
An exciting or remarkable experience
An enterprise involving financial risk

Some people travel to relax. Others travel for business. Me, I travel for pure adventure, and to remind myself that I am really alive. I’ve done a lot of traveling, but by definition, my restricted trip to Cuba was by far the most adventurous. Extremely risky? Absolutely. But I made it out – and more importantly – I made it out alive…just barely.
In November 2002, I had the bright idea to take a 5-day trip to Cuba knowing full well that it is a communist country and that is it illegal to travel there as an American. Still, my friend Dave thought it would be a good idea and he would never steer me wrong…besides, in so many words he did call me “chicken”. I had a reputation to uphold.
The first order of business was to find out a way to enter the country. Just saying the phrase to myself “I need to find a way to get into the country”, should have put up a red flag, but it didn’t. I had 2 major obstacles to overcome. First, I needed to book a flight. A series of internet searches led me to a guy who said that he could get me a flight from Cancun to Havana for $180 round trip on Air Cubana. At the time, I had no idea they had the worst aviation safety record in the world. (http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/unsafe99.html). That may have explained why the guy only wanted $20 up front. I would pay the balance when I got my ticket in Cancun. Worst case scenario, I’m out $20 and stuck in Cancun for 5 days. It was a win-win so I went for it.

My second obstacle was to get in and out with no Cuban stamps in my passport or I would be in serious trouble. After doing some research, I found out that I could get a Cuban tourist travel visa from the Swiss embassy and the Cuban customs officials would stamp that instead of my passport. I sent them $50, they sent me the visa, prefect.

After receiving my travel Visa, my friend Dave “The Brit” made a reservation at a hostel in downtown Havana. As seasoned travelers, we were both comfortable staying in less than glamorous accommodations.

After flying to Cancun and staying a day in the city, I went back to the airport to pick up my ticket for Cuba. As you can imagine, when you reserve a shady ticket with $20, it doesn’t come with a confirmation code. In order to pay for and get my ticket I had to go to the “Terra Ferma” ticket counter at the Cancun airport.

In horrible Spanish I asked someone for directions to the ticker counter. She told me that is doesn’t exist, but I should just go out into the parking lot and find them and explained they are wearing blue shirts. Hmmmm … very interesting. I wandered out to the parking lot and after ten minutes a man in a blue shirt came approached me and asked if I was Tyrone Brown. I said yes and he whistled for his briefcase-toting buddy to come over. We make small talk before he asked me for the remaining $160. I gave it to him. They were complete strangers who I met in a parking lot of an airport in a foreign country. They seem like trustworthy sources, right?

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