Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota
As soon as we checked out of The Palmer House, we made our way to Chicago’s Union Station.  Since we had booked a sleeper aboard the train, we were given access to the Metropolitan Lounge while we were at the station.  We didn’t get to use if for very long though as, once everything was taken care of, including a second trip to and from the car, we only had about 10 minutes before we boarded the Empire Builder on our way to West Glacier, Montana.

What was most impressive throughout the whole boarding process is that we did not have to go past security.  There was no taking off of shoes and having everything you own ransacked as if you were already guilty of being a plotting terrorist, while grandma and an infant are getting frisked to the side.  No, we were let out onto the platform from the lounge and wished a good trip as we made our way to our car.

We boarded car 31 and made our way to our room- Family Room #15.  This is the most spacious of the on board rooms.  It takes up the entire short width of the car and can seat/sleep four people (although I would say it’s more of two adults and two children.  There is room to walk around and even to set up Enzi’s little Thomas the Tank Engine playset.  A few minutes later we were brought some champagne by our attendant, Laura, and asked what time we wanted to have dinner.  She also let us know that there was complementary coffee, tea, juices, and water available in our car for us.

We rested the few hours until dinner.  We stretched out and read and played on the various i-things we brought for entertainment.  C went to get us some lunch from the little counter service place and we had some our snacks that we brought on- which included various liquids above 3 oz that we brought from home.

Dinnertime arrived and off we go to the dining car.  Being in a sleeping car meant that all our meals are included in our fare and all we are responsible for are tips and any alcoholic drinks we wanted.  Sofia greeted us first, sat us, and brought our drink orders with a smile.  Then Justin, from Seattle, brought our food.  Both C and I ordered the steak with baked potato and we got Enzi a grilled cheese.  Both steaks were cooked to our order and very tasty.  We had overheard Sofia mention to another table that she spoke Greek so I mentioned that so did I  so we started speaking Greek to each other.  After dinner we chatted with Justin for a couple of minutes and found that they are on a six days on, five days off schedule.  That is a lot of hours!

After dinner we rolled ourselves back to our room.  We took a small leg stretching break somewhere in Minnessotta, and then headed back inside to start turning in.  Our attendant had made up our room for sleeping and we settled in for sleep.

I wasn’t sure how well we would sleep on a moving train, but I slept really well.  I got cold a bit for a chunk of the night, but not enough to keep me awake.  I certainly slept better than I have ever slept on any plane, that’s for sure.

This morning I woke up to somewhere in North Dakota.  At breakfast, where Sofia remembered us and welcomed us in Greek, we looked out the window at all the fields of corn, wheat, and soy, and something that has small yellow flowers, maybe mustard?  It was quite calming.  Tonight we arrive at West Glacier.