Ridin' the Tide

There's something new in Hampton Roads:  LIGHT RAIL!  It's called the Tide.

My husband and I grew up in a metro area with access to rail/subway.  We became adults and traveled around areas of this country and others where riding the train is THE way to get places.  Our children hopped on the train with us to visit parks and museums and festivals and concerts and the zoo.  They, too, grew up and visited faraway places and rode the rails there.

And now we can hop the train into the next city here in Hampton Roads!

Today, Husband and I parked our vehicle at the train station, bought our tickets, and waited for the shiny, new light rail train to arrive.  It was our first trip on the Tide.  I was so excited.

The train arrived and we boarded, finding seats near the front of the train.  A family with 2 small children sat near us.  I think I was more excited thank the children.  In fact, I asked the smallest child, a precious little princess, to jump up and down with me when the train arrived to pick us up! 

The passengers were all on the train.  The doors closed.  Quietly, the train began to move.  The ride is SSSOOOOO smooth!  As we rode along, we noticed that the light rail planners had incorporated train whistle sounds for when the train passed through suburban areas, and clanging train bell sounds for urban crossings.  It was fantastical! 

The children (remember, not MY children, but the dear ones of complete strangers!) and I giggled uncontrollably.  We noted all the passing scenery as if we'd seen it for the first time.  We wondered at the screeching sounds as the train slowly navigated sharp turns.  We agreed at every stop along the way that we would not be disembarking here! 

Finally, our train station loomed ahead.  We had planned a lovely afternoon visit to the Chrysler Museum of Art for lunch and a stroll through the special "Curious George Saves the Day" exhibit.  Lunch was delicious:  roasted vegetable focaccia with confetti salad for me, smoked salmon and goat cheese wrap with fruit for Husband.  Tummies full, we set off in search of a curious little monkey...

Entrance to the exhibit

What we found was the amazing story of Curious George's creators, H. A. and Margret Rey:

"They were both born in Hamburg, Germany, to Jewish families and lived together in Paris from 1936 to 1940. Hours before the Nazis marched into the city in June 1940, the Reys fled on bicycles, carrying drawings for their children’s stories, including one about a mischievous monkey, then named Fifi."

A wonderful exhibit filled with Margret and H. A. Rey's diaries and drawings and letters and, of course, art and drafts for the wonderful books they created.  The exhibit concluded with a reading room for children (of all ages... Husband read "Curious George Gets a Medal" to me in that room!). 

Tom reading "Curious George Gets a Medal"

We walked the short distance to the train station to head home, through a gracious part of the city.  The station, like all the others, is enlivened with art. 

At the next stop, we found another small friend who was fascinated with my camera and (with my help) played photographer on the Tide!

Photo: Tide passengers, taken by a tiny new friend

Sweet memories today, and already looking forward to my next ride on the Tide!