After looking out the window this morning, I decided that a drive in the rain and dark wasn’t all that smart and waited till almost 0700 before hitting the road back to the Twin CIties. The route was easy most of the way – I90-> then I35 heading north. The challenge became the connection with I494 and construction. Now, I have driven in SF rush hour traffic. This was northing. Drivers here in Minnesota are polite and let people merge.
Dropping off the car was easy as was catching the shuttle back to the terminal. My driver was originally from the Caribbean. He had lived in LA; hated it. Moved here about 20 years ago. So much better, people are nicer, working conditions saner, and the weather doesn’t have hurricanes.
I caught Light Rail to MPLS then changed to the Green Line and rode to the end. Union Depot – the train station in St Paul was apparently renovated in the last 10 or so years. The inside of the main building is amazing (and across the street from the actual rail yard). There is a lovely book store complete with store-cat and a train store (which unfortunately wasn’t open today).
I then was treated to a delightful lunch at the home of a couple who I haven’t seen in about 44 years. While we moving regularly, they have been in the same house since the 70s. Lunch was outside in a wonderful garden, I got to watch Monarch butterflies, avoided the yellow jacket and just relaxed, Back to Light Rail and got to be entertained by the “check your ticket” enforcers on the line. As soon as the first batch left the train, the second group boarded and did the same thing all over again.
Met George at the rail stop, dropped off my backpack at the hotel, grabbed supper. After watching the the Dream-Fever basketball game it was more than time to get some sleep..
