Arrival

I try to be discreet when taking pictures on the train. Particularly when there are a ton of people right next to me. I hope for no one sitting next to me, because then i feel like a complete tourist or... well... a complete nut.

Part of me wonders if i'm not supposed to take pictures from the train. I turn off the camera as the traffic cops come by and check our fares. I'll pause here for a note; be sure you understand the fare system before boarding the train. This means, get to the train station EARLY so you can scope out the "how's". It is very easy, which also means it is very easy to make a mistake.

Anywho... This first picture is of the arrival at Target Field. You can kind of make out the general shape of the stadium. I promise to take a better picture when weather cooperates, which may not be till summer :).

The crazy thing about where the train arrives, it's literally at the feet of the stadium. As the train pulls up, it stops just before going under the bridge and then under the stadium. What's interesting about this perspective is; this is the ultimate view of public transportation. The train arrives on the tracks below. Above on the bridge there are city buses flowing by in a constant stream (the bus garage is across the street from the stadium), and then there is the light rail chiming away. It is a hub of public transportation if you will.

When the train stops, everyone spills out. Since it is winter, i take my time stepping onto the platform. Once i know i'm not going to wipe out in front of everyone, i haul it. I have two blocks of skyways before i get to my building.

Into the lobby of the train station. We all funnel through the doors and either choose to go up the single-wide escalators or hoof it up the stairs. I prefer the stairs. It's the same theory as being stuck in traffic. I would rather take the manual route and keep moving vs. taking the "express" route with stop and go movement. We make it to the upper lobby and WHAM! the elevators for the stadium to the left, doors to the light rail to the right. VERY convenient, except i don't take the light rail and this is where the hoofing it starts. The walking trip to work is another blog (and pictures).

This second picture shows the other side of the train on arrival. This is the platform side. I'm on the left side of the platform, the platform is to my right and the stadium is to the left. On the other side of the fence you see the awning over the sidewalk. This leads up to a men's clothing store. It's pretty nifty. I have a picture of that building and will post when i talk about departure.