The airports have been full of mask-holes.
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Chicago is FAR better masked than the other two stations we’ve been in. Those unmasked (unless eating) probably number <1%. I haven’t seen anyone enforce it either. It seems more akin to people doing whatever the masses are doing.
There is one lady here H and I seriously wonder about. She’s breathing very heavily (not normal at all), definitely has extra lbs on her, and is now lying down on a couch in the lounge. We took our lunch in and sat down relatively near her, but then opted to move before eating much - just in case. She had a pack of cigarettes near her, so perhaps that’s the cause - but perhaps not too. It’s tough to tell. She’s not coughing at all though - just working hard to breathe (or so it seems).
We aren’t able to leave the station to explore. Freight trains used our time for us… we got in a bit late.
Amtrak also moved us to Plan C due to something mechanical wrong with our roomette on train that can’t be fixed, so, now we’re heading south to LA (Southwest Chief) and will try to return via the California Zephyr. We’re kinda bummed that Plan B didn’t work, but at least they upgraded us to a room from a roomette on the next train so we’ll be able to compare it to the rest.
Overall, we really enjoy train travel as it’s far more relaxed than planes are (more room, ok with all sorts of luggage, ok to bring on food/drinks, more socializing if one wants it), but one has to be able to be flexible and be ok with the noise/movement of the train. We’re both. We respect that not everyone is.
Interesting last bit… an employee just came by to remind everyone masks must be worn unless actively eating or drinking. Someone might have complained about those 1% or maybe it’s just his job. Either way - totally different than Pittsburgh and Harrisburg (where we started).
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I think the reason is because of the Glenwood Springs mud slides. I-70 is closed and I’m pretty sure the Zephyr isn’t running right now. It really is a horrible mess and they do expect to have one lane in each direction cleared in a few days, but it is the major highway across Colorado.
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Update to the long-ago mentioned plan to travel to the UK for a wedding.
We bought tickets less than a week ago, after the UK lifted the ten day quarantine period for fully vaccinated US travelers. We have to present negative covid tests from yesterday, plus vaccine cards. After we arrive, we need another covid test two days after arrival, done at our expense. Then we have to do another covid test two days before we leave the country. I think we will also have to do a covid test within a day or two of returning. That’s a lot of nose picking!
Because we have family and friends there, we aren’t too worried about a place to stay should one of us test positive. Obviously, we are going to be cautious. I’m very thankful that the forecast is great for the wedding day, as that means we will be outdoors most of the time. Everyone coming is vaccinated, I believe, but that’s no guarantee with Delta.
We debated going, but literally every member of my husband’s family will be present. After losing his mom to Covid and being unable to see her before she died, much less attend the funeral, he really wants to be there. Wish us luck!
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Yeah we actually saw that last night after a number (7?) of passengers on that train got off the Zephyr and switched to the Southwest Chief causing quite the frustration on the Chief because the train is sold out. These folks got on without a ticket and there’s nowhere to put them. The conductor on our train said he was going to toss them off at the next stop, but was apparently overruled by a higher power - so they’ve been told to hang out in the observation car. I feel for both Amtrak and the passengers involved because that train was full too - though I’ve no idea how many planned to go beyond the mudslide.
Now H and I are wondering if someone had made a note on our reservation that it was an Anniversary trip with someone else seeing that note and switching us (claiming mechanical issue with our room), giving us the upgrade and literally saving the whole deal for us. If so, I’m incredibly thankful to them!
The room is nicer/larger, though using the term large seems wrong. The bathroom/shower in it is smaller than the common area ones, but it’s still nice to have our own toilet. H chose to shower in a common area shower. I’m just holding out until tomorrow’s hotel for my shower.
We will definitely be traveling by Amtrak again at some point choosing their scenic lines. It lets one see the US in a way that flying doesn’t. One can see the US driving too (as we have in the past), but this is just different and quite enjoyable for us, fitting our wandering lover personality. The food is really good IF one is in a sleeper car and has access to the dining car (meals are free and cooked to order). If just buying from the cafe due to going coach it’s rather typical, very overpriced, basics, but one can bring their own on instead.
If the Zephyr isn’t ready by the time of our return, we’ll see where Plan D leads us. I’d rather they be sure it’s safe than end up making the news.
As of now, we’re really glad we chose this for our Anniversary. It’s new to us even though we’ve been to these states before. The train makes it different, and it’s super relaxing.
My mind reminded me of this quote I used to have in my signature line on another site and still love:
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
― St. Augustine
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Should also mention/remind people with the train that masking isn’t really enforced a lot. We’re back in “red” territory now and it shows. Chicago was an anomaly from our experience. One lady sitting near me was even telling someone else about it on the phone - in a positive light about not needing masks here as one would on a plane.
I’m glad we’re vaccinated and will be trusting those odds.
I think that if you do plan on flying now, you should expect delays and screw ups. On my recent flight from MSP to EWR, we were delayed because they had to convince 8 passengers on a smallish plane (Bombardier) to give up their seats and take another flight. The reason? The plane was “overweight.” Apparently they had to add fuel in order to fly around some bad weather over the Great Lakes, and that meant fewer passengers. Well naturally the flight was delayed two hours while they bargained up and sweetened the pot ($1600 gift cards) until enough people were willing to make alternate plans.
My D and SIL, returning to Logan on the same day, sat on the tarmac for an hour because the a/c wasn’t functioning. Lovely.
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We ran into that overweight issue on our first flight! We weren’t too heavy, just unbalanced. They asked some guy to move. We thought it odd that he wasn’t happy to move. He was seated right near a screaming baby and was moved up front. We were like “pick me!” 
And then another passenger on our flight had a worse issue. He was on our original flight that got delayed 6 times and then cancelled. (We were told us various issues ranging from overscheduled the pilots needing to rest, to unruly passengers on the incoming plane, to mechanical issues with the imcoming plane.) We immediately got rebooked on a much later flight out of another airport. He tried to fly standby on the next one. He said there was a seat and he got on, but they made him get off because the plane was too heavy. Then, they rebooked him on our alternate flight and had to rush to the other airport. Ugh!!!
Fortunately the way back was issue free.
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that happened to me twice on the same flight pre -covid! I was put on a flight standby for the last one going out, as my original flight was going to be 6 hours delayed due to weather. Then they took all of us off, then they allowed us back on , and then finally took us off, stating weight. I did not think that 6 people would make a difference, but they did, and this was on a MD90.
Oh goodness… his parents were worth “2 million goddamn dollars.” /insert eyeroll here
Well he was flying Frontier 
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Sounds like pleading “affluenza” might be in his defense plans.
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That page says:
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Oh yes, thanks! I was just about to post that same quote. How ironic…
Reuters is reporting US plan to require full vaccination for nearly all foreign visitors.
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The Frontier episode and other reports of bad passenger behavior reinforce my view that we are in the grip of a widespread mental health emergency. I see people in the airports, supermarkets etc. behaving poorly. In no way am I excusing or diminishing this behavior. I am sad because there is something weird happening everywhere. I no longer trust the average person to behave with circumspection and dignity, like I used to. I wish I could. Lack of trust in one’s fellows makes travel a challenging proposition.
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Fish rots from the head. When some of our elected leaders and celebrities aka “heroes” behave like certified a-holes, the public will begin to treat this sort of behavior as acceptable. Sadly.
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I wish that would include students.
That’s the best award yet!
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Has any been to Napa lately? H and I are celebrating our 41st anniversary in November (couldn’t do anything last year) and were considering flyng out there and touring a few wineries. We’d stay in San Francisco (possibly with my nephew) for a night and then driving up. We could also wait until next year.