Public transportation can be educational and inspiring
I’m not ashamed to say that I love public transporation, specifically the trains. Probably has something to do with my granddad, dad, and three uncles working for Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Fortunate am I to live in San Diego where I have access to the San Diego Trolley, Amtrak, the Coaster, the Sprinter, and Metrolink. In fact, every time I move, having a train station fairly close by has always been a requirement. Since 2007 I have lived just three blocks from the San Diego Trolley’s 70th Street Station — a walk down the long hill (longest block ever!) and east two blocks and I’m there.
The 70th Street Station is not my favorite station as far as aesthetics are concerned. The historic Santa Fe Depot and the Grantville Station take the top two spots:
Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, California
San Diego Trolley Grantville Station
However, the 70th Street Station is the most educational and inspiring. At the base of each light pole is that education and inspiration:
Sorry. Plastic flamingos not allowed in this blog.
Many people come to San Diego and then go across the border to Tijuana. If you plan on doing that, might I suggest taking the San Diego Trolley to the San Ysidro border crossing, purportedly the busiest border crossing in the world. Walk across the border and take a Mexican Cab to where you want to go, probably Avenida Revolucion, the hot spot for tourists. If you drive across the border, be prepared to wait to get back into the United States. Car lines are long, and the wait can be up to six hours, although it usually is about 60 to 90 minutes. Be sure to have a passport because after 9/11 a simple driver’s license won’t get you back into the United States, another situation where the terrorists won.
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Posted on August 12, 2012, in Inspiration, Manmade, Out & About, Photos and tagged public transportation, san diego trolley, san diego trolley 70th station. Bookmark the permalink. 31 Comments.
Great quotes at the train station ~ thanks for sharing them!
Oh those quotes!!!
I agree: great quotes. Thanks for sharing.
As to public transport: lucky you! That’s unusual for the US, isn’t it? I mean, public transport as good as I’m used to from my native Germany is not to be found here, as far as I know.
Take care, and have a good one,
Pit
I don’t think we can match anything in Germany, but some areas do try.
Hi Russel,
We should not forget that, with those long distances here and many parts of the US not densely populated, it’s really not easy to establish good public transport. It would never pay for itself down here, e.g. But of course, in the big cities and their surroundings something might be worked out.
And as to matching things in Germany, don’t be that pessimistic. I really wouldn’t maintain that everything in Germany is better – not at all.
Take care, and have a wonderful Sunday,
Pit
Great blog and I love the quotes… please no plastic flamingos…
Walking across a border…never done that! Wouldn’t want to be standing in line for 6 hours coming back though!
great quotes
Love the quotes and your wonderful travel information!
“.”
Cat
Nice to hear something positive about public transportation. Certainly not the voice of anybody who lives Phoenix Arizona! Our public transportation is pathetic, but it is available if you don’t mind anywhere you go taking 3 hours…. and waiting at bus stops with little to no shade offered.
That’s the same type of public transportation they had in Houston when I lived there from 1977 to 1983. I just found out a couple of weeks ago that Houston now has a fairly decent light rail system.
Those quotes are great. I really like the catepillar and butterfly one. I often daydream about living in San Diego. So sunny all the time. At least it has been when I’ve visited.
As a resident of NYC, I’m a HUGE user and fan of public transportation. Investment in infrastructure, such as improved public transportation links intra- as well as inter-state and city, would go a long way in creating jobs and diminishing our (I mean human beings of all nations) dependency on fossil fuels. Okay, getting off the soap box now.
The quotes are awesome!
I like your soap box.
I visited New York City for part of my fifth anniversary tour of the nation. We did the subway, Statue of Liberty, World Trade Center, Fifth Avenue, Empire State Building, Central Park, Strawberry Fields and the Dakota (I’m a big Beatles fan), MoMA, Ellis Island, and then ran out of time. Y’all just have too much to do up there……lol
Yeah, we do! Maybe that’s why we keep working on our public transportation, so we can get everywhere and not have to remember where we parked the car! lol
Public transport is the best way to see a city when you are travelling.
It’s not a bad way to see the world between cities, either! I can highly recommend Houston to New Orleans and San Diego to Santa Barbara on Amtrak.
What great quotes!!! Love the entire story. I hope that I am a traveler, not a tourist. Sometimes even in all the travel, I miss the seeing, though. That’s why I’m loving the camera. It helps me remember while I’m rushing to get things done.
What an interesting collection of quotes and facts at that station! And I’m with you re the public transportation. We got quite used to it in Europe, and it made travel across cities and countries so easy and pleasant!
San Diego is so beautiful, I just love it there. We stay on the island and rent bikes to get around, it’s very commutable via bike too. Love it.
Public transportation is the best! I just wish there was a more organized and efficient nationwide train system than Amtrak or even just in California. Living in EU and visits to Japan make me wonder why this type of travel has not matured in the USA.
It costs money, and enough Americans are against spending money so they block the political system. We have two of them running for President and Vice-President on the Republican ticket.
We have something in common, Russel. I also love trains, especially those that travel through the countryside.
Blessings – Maxi
Hello.
I love those quotes! What a great idea to add interest to… light poles. Simple but nice.
Although I have to admit I don’t understand “Your best teacher is your last mistake” lol.
Great. just great, okay I’m having trouble leaving your blog. You are so fun, insightful, clever and you have a very cool cat too! Just enjoying myself here so much!
Just click on that little red x in the upper right corner. That should do it. Let me know if you need more help………..lol
And a most interesting sense of humor, see, just great! lol
I love these shots and the sentiments.
Thanks for following my blog; hope you enjoy the posts!
Hello! I have nominated you for The Super Sweet Blogging Award http://marionquitasol.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/super-sweet-blogging-award/
This is my thank you for inspiring me once in a while.
Thank you, although are you sure I’m super sweet? Zoey the Cool Cat might want to weigh in here……..lol
Yes, I’m inspired with your ideas and photos.
And with Zoey the Cool Cat, she made it even sweeter. 