The train was great! Other than being a little late (and not having WiFi!), it was a really pleasant and easy ride.
Matt was nice enough to stay with me in the station until just before the train came. I’m going to miss him – until Sunday when he’s flying out to join me!
We chugged through the Virginia countryside for 2.5 hours.
But thanks to some electrical outlets, I actually got a lot done!!
(As evidenced by the screensaver, clearly 😉 )
4:30 snacktime. Alliebar!
And a Pink Lady. Isn’t she pretty…
Soon enough we pulled into the Alexandria station and when the train moved, there was Emily!!! Oh how I have missed her 🙂
She surprised me with a nice mile walk with my huge suitcase! Suitcase + cobblestones do not make a good couple. However, the walk was otherwise lovely! Really nice after my long ride.
We got settled and then headed back out for dinner. Casey’s parents are visiting and I got to spend the evening with them. Made the whole night more exciting!
At Cafe Salsa we chowed down on some fried chips
And a little salsa
I was craving seafood (Alexandria always makes me crave seafood!) so I ordered the seafood salad with mussels, calamari, salmon and shrimp with a key lime dressing. I think there were black beans and corn, but I found a total of about 10 balls in the whole dish.
It was good, but not fabulous.
Emily’s stuffed peppers, however, were fabulous (she shared a few bites!)
And so was Tina’s plantain-crusted chicken!
Glad to make tonight an early one – tomorrow’s gonna be a long day! Foodbuzz Bound!
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
i don’t understand how amtrak still doesn’t have wireless! have a great trip
Emmalinda says
My mom just took Amtrak from Chicago to Denver..she learned that there IS wifi on many East-bound trains, but not any West-bound trains.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Glad you had a nice train ride! Cafe Salsa is such a cute restaurant 🙂
stacey-healthylife says
Have a great trip. I hate that the train doesn’t have wifi.
Cathy B. @ Bright Bakes says
i love your train station picture! And now you make me crave sea food too! at eight o clock at night no less! Have a great rest-of-the-trip…
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
Stephanie says
I love the Alexandria train station! It’s like taking a step back in time. Glad the train ride went well, gotta love the slow roll through VA 🙂
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
No wifi on the train?! Are we in the stone age?
Mastering Public Health (@MasPublicHealth) says
The train is a moving body so It’s difficult to get an internet connection. I personally appreciate that opportunity to ‘unplug,’ and perhaps even socialize with other travelers. Amtrak doesn’t get nearly enough attention in the U.S. as trains do in Europe; it’s a fantastic and relaxing way to travel!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Sounds like a fun dinner! That’s so nice that Matt is coming to join you too. Enjoy the first day of Foodbuzz! 😀
Amanda (Eating Up) says
Plantain crusted chicken sounds so yummy! Have fun with Emily!
Simply Life says
glad the ride went well!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
I always loved traveling by train in Europe. It was so calming once situated. Safe travels!
holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
In a way I’d like to be on a train and not have wifi — I’d just relax and bring a book. I like the time to disconnect.
The plantain crusted chicken looks and sounds so good — maybe you should recreate that when you get home 🙂
Kath says
I wanted to enjoy my book, but I had work to do and opened my laptop to get what I could done without internet. If I’d had it, I could be done with the project and can use my flights to kick back and read 🙂
Cara Craves... says
Have a great time!
I am sure that the fun has only just begun!
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
Alexandria has some great seafood restaurants by the water. It’s so peaceful eating a fresh crabcake on the banks of the Potomac.
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
The countryside and your apple is so pretty. I love it when leaves are still attached to an apple. It just increases its beauty exponentially.
Camille says
I was worried you were Amtraking it all the way to California!
Glad you had a safe trip!
Grocery Goddess Jen says
EEek! Have so much fun. And enjoy your time with Emily!
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
We had some struggles with our overly large luggage on our trip last week, though no mile-long walks. Made me think that I’ll pack super light next time, but that’s so much easier said than done 🙂
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
yay for safe travels and meeting up with friends!!!!
christina cadden says
So pretty! Those photos are so pretty!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
We sure are spoiled with free Wi-fi practically everywhere. If there happens to be somewhere that doesnt have it, that seems to be when it’d be most appreciated!
Christin L. says
Oh my goodness… that chicken looks magnificent!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
Have fun!!
Hope says
Aargh, I totally cant read and be moving at the same time! I’m hopeless on trains or in cars, I just have to look out the windows!
Hope you have fun!
Kristen @ Kristen, Sweetly says
When I clicked to comment, it said there were 26! And I thought of you, and completely forgot what I wanted to say. Clearly, this happens on every post. But I was here for it today! Haha.
Krystina says
Glad you made it safely! Your salad looks great. 🙂
MonsteRawr says
I love Pink Lady’s, but not as much as Honey Crisps. I swear, I could eat nothing but Honey Crisps for the rest of my life and be happy as a clam.
Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary) says
Tina’s chicken sounds SO yummy! You ladies have FUN 😀
Amy K. @ onehealthypeanut says
Love the tinsy leaf on you apple, so precious!! Have a fantastic time this weekend!!!
Hannah says
You’re so right about the awfulness of cobblestones + suitcases! I learnt that the hard way in Italy this year… shame your dinner wasn’t amazing, but I guess you can’t win ’em all!
Gina says
Have a great trip and eat lots of great food 🙂
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I miss apples that have leaves attached!! 🙁 We used to get bins of them at our farm market. *sigh* Who would have thought I’d ever miss a leaf?? LOL
Maddie says
Have a good trip!
Anne says
Cafe Salsa has (had?) an AMAZING vegetarian “chiles rellenos” type dish with mole… out of this world…The olive tapenade and plantain chips make me hungry just thinking about them! If you like seafood in Alexandria, the Fish Market has some great options and Asia Bistro is my fave sushi place on King Street! Quiet and peaceful… and great southeast asian food – sushi and otherwise!
Kath says
Didn’t see that on the menu 🙁
Note taking for next time on the other two!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
although i’m excited to see you, i’m disappointed i won’t be meeting matt this weekend 🙁
he’s a KERF superstar!!!
Kath says
🙂 If he were just still writing Brew + Bake he’d be there! But he will be there in Cracker Spirit!
PS. He’s arriving Sunday at 3PM 🙂
Christie {Honoring Health} says
Have a safe trip!
Jen says
Have a great trip and a great time at FoodBuzz! Can’t wait to see the pictures 🙂
Jen
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Glad to hear the ride went well!! Have fun!! 😀
Erika @ Food, Fitness, & Fun says
Have fun at Foodbuzz! 🙂
I know it’s filled with good food! 😉
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Plaintain encrusted chicken?! YUM!
Kiran says
Looks like a great 1st time journey via Amtrak 🙂 How do you work with all those bubbles on your desktop? 😉
Karen says
Lovely photo of you and Matt, Kath…frameworthy for certain!
Claire (Low Impact Fashionista) says
Can’t wait to see what foodbuzz blogger fest brings!
Natalia - a side of simple says
Have such a great time with Emily! With all she’s been through lately I’m sure she’s going to be enjoying your company 🙂
Shannon @ A Better Me says
Have fun!!
Allison K says
I’ve always wanted to take the train somewhere!
Although, i have a friend who took it from Reno Nevada to Minnapolis, and she said that was TOO MUCH TRAIN!
j says
Amtrak is so much easier than all the security at airports. Philly to Boston is a lovely ride up the east coast if you ever get the chance….
[email protected] Rebeltarian says
I love riding on trains. It makes me feel like a pioneer for some reason…
Suzanne S. says
Hey Kath!
As I mentioned a while ago, I am designing the new Good Bite cookbook.
Your recipe is in it, right?
I am going through all the photos from the photoshoot right now, and was wondering which recipe you submitted. One of the designs I have laying out has multiple photos on the cover, and I want to make sure I include yours on the front. 🙂
I’m putting pics from the blogs I read as first choice. 🙂
Enjoy your trip!
Kath says
Hey!! I should have 10 recipes (maybe they didn’t all make it). But I don’t even remember which ones I submitted. Will you send me an email and I’ll figure it out?! Thanks for thinking of me!
Suzanne S. says
I sure will!
Emily says
Glad you made it safely to Emily! Looked like a beautiful train ride…those are so nice sometimes. Happy and safe travels to Foodbuzz, so jealous!
Sarah-Mae @ Eat, Run, Knit says
Love travelling! Enjoy your time!!!
Kaley says
I admit, I’d have been surprised if it DID have wifi. Don’t know…
Trains in the U.S. seem so different than here (in Europe). I’ve had bad experiences with the Chicago train, so I really don’t like them here, but in Europe they are always (99% of the time) on time!
Laura says
Awwww! You two have beautiful eyes! 🙂
Delishhh says
Have a great trip. Fun to read about this on yours and Emily’s blog!
em says
You two are adorable 🙂 And this post is making me miss Old Town Alexandria so badly! We used to live there before moving to NC. And it’s funny because my husband also to use to live in Charlottesville when he when to UVa. We keep switching places!
Nowel says
Gr8 food pics! Im doing my MBA right now so I have no time to cook and even blog as much as I would like to, but i make up for it by reading your blog 🙂 Good stuff!
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
Lovely seafood dinner. I miss decent seafood.. and I miss France where you can get some 😀