Bjørn and I wouldnt have had the chance to check out Americas premier military cemetery at Arlington, if not for Amtrak. (More on that later.) Despite wanting some easy (and free) tourism during a layover, I wasnt quite expecting to be confronted with my own mortality at so many turns. I also wasnt prepared for the vastness of the grounds, or for how easy it was to get there. Even in the blistering heat, Im glad I got a chance to see a place that made me question a lot of things about myself and even my convictions about national mythology.
It started out easily enough. I didnt even have to leave the train station to get to the DC Metro, since Amtraks Union Station is on the metros Red Line. Change at the aptly named Metro Station stop for the Blue line, and Arlington Station is only a few stops away. The cemetery is at the top of a hill, with the train station all the way at the bottom. No worries, though, since youve got escalators to get you from the station up to the main level of the cemetery. Once you reach the top of the escalators,
It was REALLY hot today, though, so thats gonna color my entire story. The other thing that will color my entire story is my Bjørn. Bjørn and I have been on many trips together, mainly since I found out that he me inside an airplane without having to be checked at the gate. You see, Bjørn is my luggage: a handsome, blue, suitcase with rolling wheels and an extendable handle. And he can expand at the waist, too, in case I need to bring back more stuff than I took with me on the trip. (Full disclosure: This is actually Bjørn, Jr., since the original Bjørn resides at my parents house, and has been there since 2015; Ive only had Bjørn, Jr., since 2019. But for the sake of brevity, Ill refer to the younger one as Bjørn, since the older one doesnt factor into the story.)
If not for Amtrak (part 1), I wouldnt have even been able to go to Arlington, since I wouldnt have dared try to stop in DC on a road trip. The traffic and parking, not
to mention expensive hotels, dont really make DC a good place to do touristing. But because I took the train, I had an layover in DC, and I figured it was as good a time as any to visit the cemetery, since I hadnt been able to fit it into my travel plans a year ago.
So Bjørn and I made our way to the top of the escalator, at which point I needed to delve inside of Bjørn for a change of clothes. The heat was brutal, the sun unrelenting. No clouds entered the picture. So I took off my shirt (needed for the chilliness of the train ride) and applied sunscreen to my bare arms. Then I made my way to the entrance of the cemetery, with Bjørn in tow, his wheels loudly clacking at each groove in the pavement.
I was apologetic about Bjørns presence with the first park ranger I saw, but she was sympathetic. Youre not the first person Ive seen with their luggage here.
If not for Amtrak (part 2), I wouldve been able to store Bjørn with the rest of the luggage at Union Station. But, despite
claiming on their website that luggage storage did exist, this was a lie. I suppose there is a room designated for luggage storage, and a sign, and window, but its all behind a gate with no employees.
Answer: Anyone on an Amtrak layover who wants to see the sights. It was my turn to do it, but at least I wasnt alone in my struggle.
I was also relieved that it was standard practice for EVERYONE to put their belongings through an machine before being allowed into the park. I didnt feel so called out, being the only person in line with a suitcase. When they asked me to open it afterward, I wasnt really surprised. But the reason they wanted me to open it was because they thought I was smuggling alcohol!
I extricated the container, and they were all in awe. Theyd never seen one that looked like that. I opened it up
just to show it wasnt fake, and I even offered them a smell, if they wanted. Both the women were impressed and wanted to know what brand it was, for future reference.
