Life on the Train

I love to ride the train. Given enough time, my enthusiasm may wane but I would bet not. It is a rare day that I do not ride the train. My commute is a short one. One I wish were a bit longer. That is the reason I know. I love to ride the train.



My time on the train...it is a time to let the mind wander. A mood lifter. A shared laugh with strangers. A time to breath. An opportunity to learn. An uncomfortable moment when you find yourself in the midst of someone else's very personal conversation. A time to meditate. Entertaining. A reminder of where I am. A different perspective. A nap. A fashion runway. A rest for sore heels. At this moment, an attack on my sense of smell. And a fairly reliable mode of transportation.

It is a perfect opportunity for me to observe my surroundings. Observe the city and landscape but also the other riders. Aye, I am watching you just as you are watching me. The commuter group is a quiet bunch, ear buds in, newspapers, eReaders or smart phones. Living near Hampden Park, I sometimes end up in a swarm of football fans. Not so quiet. In the middle of the day, one stop will bring a swarm of school kids filling the car, only to leave as quickly as they arrived (I am impressed with the politeness of these unsupervised young teens). With every ride, there is a diverse group stretched out among the seats or in today's rare case, squeezed together in an intimate dance resembling the tango, practically chest to chest, slipping around each other to find a way for everyone to fit.

I admit that it took a few weeks of riding for me to relax and have confidence that I am on the correct train.

I have yet to do any proper photography walks of the beautiful architecture in Glasgow. I look forward to heading out with camera in hand now that the days are so long. In the meantime a few random photos...

The trees are just coming into bloom.