I have always driven in heavy traffic and that doesn't bother me but I had no idea what to expect downtown and figured public transit would be the better plan. Uh huh. Yup. Public transit.
Lucky for me my husband works very close to one of the main Sky Train stations. I parked my car at his work and walked over to the station.
First I got to suck up some rain spray from the big trucks driving by me. Great start. Over I go to the station and up the loooong escalator. Ooops, turn around and walk back down the loooong flight of stairs to purchase a ticket from the machines that were just inside the door when I came in. Kind of behind your back as you are looking ahead.
The trains run often so there was not a long wait. There is such a variety of people on public transit because as I have said they will let pretty much anyone on these things. There were lots of students, chatting on phones, texting and talking to their friends all too loudly.
There were workers of all types heading in for their workday. Several of the young men who reached into their pockets to grab their phones or something would release a very pungent smell of weed. I wonder if they think no one can smell it?
photo D Sharon Pruitt
When you ride on the elevated train you get a very different perspective of the city. You can see into people's back yards, on top of building rooftops, into fenced off areas, into a movie set. You can see graffiti all over the place. There seems to be a new trend of putting couches outside in the rain for years to help them acquire a nice patina. I saw at least 6 in different areas. I am pretty sure there is no garbage pick up in these areas because it is all piled up in the back yards. My god people. Open the front door and put the garbage out to the curb on garbage day. The people on the trains are so odd. Of course there is the customary "scream crazy stuff at everyone" guy. I wanted to peel some of the duct tape off of his jacket and put it across his mouth to keep some of the crazy inside him.
Then there was the man who took off his shoe and adjusted his toes so they were more to his liking. Twice. Then he took the other shoe off but realized he was still not getting the toe on the first foot right so he switched back to the original foot and adjusted it a third time.
Sometimes when the train empties out at a popular stop you glance up and you are looking at the guy 30 feet away from you staring right at you through 4 different plexiglass dividers. It wasn't enough.
You wonder about the people on the train. What are their stories, where are they going.
There is the rather attractive woman who is probably in her early 60's. Lovely, long, wavy red hair, tall, slim and well dressed. And your eyes go down to her boots that more suited to a stripper with their shiny, black patent leather and their stiletto heels. I figure she is a dominatrix. On public transit. Times are tough all over.
I don't have to use public transit often thank goodness but the next time I do I think I will wrap tin foil on my head and talk loudly into a blow dryer. At least I will get the seat to myself ... and likely a date.
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Sounds like quite the adventure...I seem to be a magnet for drawing the weirdo's to me also...funny post.
ReplyDeletewell it gave you a good blog story...LOL...I like taking the train...it's fun looking at the sites and all the different folks..really different here in Texas...then when we rode the subways and busses in New York on a trip...
ReplyDeleteWhen we first moved to Philadelphia (me being from Mississippi and then a small town - mostly Amish - in Northern Indiana) I was absolutely, positively, wet my pants scared every time I took public transportation. But after a visit to New York, I wasn't nearly as frightened lol. Fun post! Kathy
ReplyDeleteBe sure to get a picture for us! Thanks for the laugh out loud!
ReplyDeleteI can so get into this story. Next time wear that tin foil, and maybe spray yourself with some odd smelly liquid. This had me cracking up the entire way through. Been there, done that. And it is so much our transit system. Welcome to the Vancouver Olympics.
ReplyDeleteOh and Lori, these ARE the normal people that you encountered. I lived in Vancouver for years, and trust me, these are the good ones....LOL. They don't bring out the real weirdos until your second visit.
Jen
I needed a good chuckle this morning -- thanks for providing it!
ReplyDeleteI fondly refer to Vancouver Public Transit as "An Experiment in Human Smells".
ReplyDeleteI commuted to and from SFU Burnaby and SFU Downtown at Harbour Centre for 7 years.
Once, a man began chewing on my hair from the seat behind me.
Another time, a man was busy picking his nose (emerald mining) all the way from Waterfront Station to Broadway. Every time he found an emerald, he'd smear it on the hand pole directly in front of him, for everyone's enjoyment.
I don't love public transit...except in Portland Oregon, where they have free transit in the downtown core.
Well.. I can tell you I will be driving up to see my friends instead of taking the train and then the Sky Train.. Oh Boy! Sounds like a fun ride. I have heard some similar stories from M's girls who have taken the Sky Train several times into the city... and thank you so much for the great story in it!!!
ReplyDeleteToo funny, Lucy! Whenever we are anywhere with our son, Dan, he attracts all the weirdos! We can always count on some bozo chatting up to him and only him. I don't know what it is! Restaurants, the metro, airplanes - any event! We just laugh... I don't think you really need a date, do you? LOL
ReplyDeletehugs, Ethel
Aha!! I love this one: "I wanted to pull some duct tape off his jacket and put it over his mouth." LOL!
ReplyDeleteAwww Lori - you met my cousin Gordon (the toe tweaker)!! Seriously I am grateful I don't have to take transit - although the West Coast Express I think carries a better brand of humans.
ReplyDeleteWe are bussing it into town one day for the Victory Ceremony and then driving to Richmond to check out the OZone - that looks like a ton of fun and we are going with our favourite Dutchman to Holland House - YAY
LOL!! I don't know how people in NYC ride those subways ..I can't stand them!
ReplyDeleteThe toe guy..ewwww!
I wish I could send this to everyone in Florida who is behind the new high speed rail their putting in here. It will only be 84 miles long and of course will cost millions, just so they can ride with the people you described. You had me in stitches!
ReplyDeletebtw, thanks for your thoughtful comment about my move and my family history.
You sound like a visitor from another planet looking around you and saying "where are you from?" I was laughing so hard reading your description of public transit. I am with you don't encroach on my space. I find airplanes claustrophobic.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, DH and I had to use public transit--the LRT into downtown Edmonton--cheaper and less stressful and way more interesting. I love people-watching. Maybe I would be that person staring at you through 4 sheets of plexiglass. I sometimes wonder if people think I'm staring--I'm really not, I'm just in my imagination making up a life story for the person I'v noticed. Enjoy your blog. I've been having trouble with somethin either the computer, or the browser, or my internet provider, because for quite a while i haven't had the patience to leave messages--not that I can't, but it takes forever to get to the comments, then forever to post them. But I've been neglecting you, so I took the time today.
ReplyDeleteI always assume that the person next to me thinks that I'm the odd one ;>)
ReplyDeleteI remember the sky train from when we were living in Vancouver in 2000-2001. I understand it's been extended massively since then. Surely the Vancouver commuters can't be less reprehensible than the ones over here! This week it was the "I Haven't Bathed Or Laundered My Clothes In Months" brigade.
ReplyDeletehahaha welcome to the train, lori. i love the sky train! although rush hour i could do without. you'll get used to the weirdos and just when you think you've seen it all, another guy will come along and take the cake. i have too many stories to post here lol. maybe ill do a skytrain post of my own. thanks for the idea, lori. :)
ReplyDelete