We are now half way through our Trans USA Rail journey and I write this sitting on the Amtrak California Zephyr with another 6 hours before Denver. Time to reflect, but not so much on the vacation rather more on the country and the people, sans-politics!
Twenty years ago one of us, Dr B, visited the US regularly on business spending time specifically in New Orleans, Memphis, Miami and Louisville. Outside of business the memories are of the bartender who spent a whole evening explaining baseball as I drank Coors sitting at the bar, or another bartender who gave me samples of American “whiskey” all evening because I said I had only ever had Makers Mark! Then there was the near airplane accident at Memphis that led to us being grounded and the staff at Folks Folly Steakhouse refusing to take payment as if the plane emergency landing was THEIR fault.
So now on a luxury holiday in our retirement has anything changed? No it hasn’t, the USA has to be the best country on the planet for “service”. Waiters, hotel staff, train conductors, national park staff, you name them, they are so attentive and obliging to folks of our age.
The cynical would say it’s because of the tipping culture, but in our opinion that’s horseshit! Stand up Rachel and Brian at our hotel in Durango serving dinner then breakfast with complete attention to us, the attendants at Alcatraz who, noticing Dr C walked with a stick invited us for pre ship boarding with no queue, a buggy to take us up the hill, and the hidden elevator to begin the tour. Then there was the tram driver in San Francisco who as we boarded immediately “advised” two people at the front to give us their seats, the lady at Grand Canyon Railroad who put Dr C on the train 20mins before official boarding as she noticed the walking stick. And thank you Chicho and Marc our Instagram followers who took us out for dinner in San Francisco.
The list goes on and on, but this is so different from England where as 70 year olds we are invisible!
Well done America, and thank you ….. we’ll be back!
The Two Doctors 
I think we generally do well at tourism here. Thanks for all the kind words.
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Thank you for the customer service kudos to America! PS – We would’ve bought you a beer or a glass of wine had you deviated to visit the smaller, quaint little towns of the Midwest…time to start planning your next trip to the US!
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I’m so glad to hear that you were treated well in America. After all that’s been going on politically, I”m never quite sure that we are viewed positively. I’ve never seen America by train but might like to give it a try one day.
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There is always somebody who doesn’t treat you well or a person who is having a bad day, but overwhelmingly USA is an extremely pleasant place to travel around and service is something that makes any trip.
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I’m so glad to read this, not only because of the service, which is so great, but that you’re enjoying America! With all that’s going on these days, it’s a bit of a rough time, and it’s nice to know that people are still enjoying a visit here! There’s a lot to offer! #theweeklypostcard
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You have a great country, just as we do in the UK and if everyone got behind their nation which ever the party our countries would be greater still.
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Thanks! I’m pretty fond of the UK too! I look forward to reading more about your travels!
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Great, our next extended trip is to France for a month July mostly in our favourite wine region of Burgundy
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You had a good bartender if he served you whiskey all night! In case you go back to Louisville or any other part of Kentucky, check out my post about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail! https://www.caliglobetrotter.com/a-complete-guide-to-the-kentucky-bourbon-trail/ Thanks for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard!
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Glad to hear you are getting good service! I actually think you get better service in Asia (Japan, Thailand, etc), but not sure if it’s the same for seniors? #TheWeeklyPostcard.
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Hi, thank you for your comment. We have travelled in Nepal extensively, Thailand, India and China. Still nothing to beat our USA experience and this is over a 25+ year period.
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It is so good to know that America treats seniors with due respect. One more thing to learn from them….
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Well that’s great to hear you’re being looked after. It’s always a bit of a worry on your long adventures. I feel better having read this! Hope this “service” continues for the rest of your journey!
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