There are times when there’s something magical in riding the Hudson Line. The reason I say this is that I’ve had the most intense conversations – happy and enlightening ones – with strangers, strangers who ask a question and the question turns into 90 minutes of non-stop talk after which we either say goodbye at Grand Central Terminal as if saying goodbye to a dear friend, or we exchange email addresses. www.grandcentralterminal.com
Of course there are times when it’s nice just sitting alone by a window with a view of the River. I used to bring a book for the ride, not anymore. Summertime is lovely, riding alongside the River’s edge allows passengers a perfect view of activities on the water. There are days when kayakers are out on the River. Some move in a slow rhythm relishing the simple pleasures of man, boat, river, on a lazy sunny summer day. Other kayakers seem to race against themselves quickly and gracefully. Boats can be seen at a distance from the train. And people standing on the River’s shore sometimes turn to wave as the train passes. The other day we saw a few water skiers. One fell as the train passed by. Interestingly enough the passengers on the train either laughed or gasped as the skier struggled to get up. Did he know he had an audience or was he focused on other things?
Then as the train nears Manhattan the energy quickens, The towns the train passes look more serious. Even the River takes on a different look-not good or bad-just different. And passengers begin to brace themselves in preparation for the big, beautiful, bustling city of Manhattan.
It’s the end of the line.