One high point of this journey is passing through places I have been to before from another angle. Albany is the decision making client site for my most recent project. I spent a considerably amount of time here from October 2006 through April 2008 though I only worked for 4 weeks this year. Like so many USA cities I flew in and flew out. When I have time, I spiral out into the countryside to take it all in. Before this job, I had not spent time in the northeast since the late 80’s.
My favorite place to stay is a Holiday Inn Express on a high ridge on the east side of the Hudson River. This location is far enough out and far enough up to afford a spectacular skyline view of Albany in its entirety. The freeway path takes you far to the northwest before crossing the river only to head due south to the office. A local more direct westerly route takes you across and then down the steep ridges of the Hudson River Valley. Near the bottom is the main train yard that bisects Rensselaer restricting east/west traffic.
Many a time I crossed up or down the hill past the brand new Albany/Rensselaer depot without getting any closer. While working in Albany, I considered taking the train down to The City (New York of course). I lived in The City for two summers during college and lived nearby in Connecticut for three years so I know how to get around and have some idea where to go. However, I never took the train down river while in Albany. This trip will be my first time in The City, rather than NYC airports, for a very long time.
Pulling up to the depot on the Lake Shore Limited offered a kind of closure. I threaded the needle between my recent work assignment in Albany and my past to the south. My inbound train pointed to the south towards Manhattan where I was for a time and will be again in a few days. I stand in the crossover passage looking one way into the newest Amtrak station and the other way towards the bridge I so recently drove over. Fittingly my outbound train pointed north where it was destined to rise out of the Hudson River Valley heading east towards Boston.
