Traveling by train/ Carlos Pueblo
In two
weeks, I shall return to visit Europe. I am considering again for a
trip by
train. Eurail has a multi nations plan which I can select 4 nations
with a
non-consecutive 9 days trip for about US$700, of course, I include
the additional
tax when reserve the ticket. I evaluate the cost and the
feasibility
during the four nations trip, Ireland, Germany, France, and Spain,
by comparing
with those train trip which I have done in Taiwan, Japan, and
Spain.
$700 for 9
days train trip means that average trip must be about US$80 to
be called
even, don’t you think? This is why I am thinking. Taiwan is a small
island
nation with 11 thousand square miles in size, one high speed rail about
200 miles
long on the west coastal line and a traditional rail system around
the island.
I have done that across the island by rail twice, one trip is within 12
hours period
in a day including two sit down lunch and dinner. I don’t believe
that I can
pass US$80 a day train pass, instead, I practice with a senior discount
on each train
trip in Taiwan to visit townships in short distance.
Traveling by
train in Japan is amazing and fantastic. I have done it twice, one
week and two
week passes, which have covered most cities in the nation. In
Japan, you
can take high speed rail, Shinkansen across the nation, and along with
the traditional
rail system. Once you get familiar with the JRPass, you can utilized
the
availability of such rail system. Because I attempted to get even with my cost
for
those two
passes, I had reached north to Otaru, north of Sapporo in Hokkaido, and
south to Hakata/Fukuoka
on the northern tip of Kyushu. Shinkansen is very fast with
frequent
schedule which I can visit two cities in a day. With JRPass, you don’t pay
additional tax
and reserve a ticket.
High speed
rail in Spain called AVE is also very convenient as well, especially the
station is
inside the traditional rail station, not as in Japan while there are two
stations separated
except in Tokyo or Taipei of Taiwan. From Barcelona to Malaga,
a 6 hours
AVE ride, is well above US$80 daily average cost that I feel better already.
For short
distance ride, I must take a round trip visit in order to get that cost even
and it is
due to that fact I miss Granada Moors Palace visit, Alhambra., therefore, I
must go back
to Spain again. This time to Europe, I shall try local air flight and local
train in
combination. I’ll travel between capital cities in air and by local township
by train, a
town at a time for 6 weeks.
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