Everglades, Florida

I'm on a train, barreling thrnugh the swamps at sunset, on my way to Grandmar's house. The ride is smooth and reolaxing, as I watch reeds, ponds, and scattered copses of cypress trees fly past outside my window. Apart from the causeway upon which the railway lies, the only overt signs of civilization are the smokestacks of what appears to be a power plant, which I assume burns oil, coal, or methane. The railway is used for freight throughout most of the day, and probably transports fuel to the power plant. Passenger trains run only twice a day each way, though ridership seems high, so I'm surprised that trains don't run more frequently. Some folks I talked to here ride because it's less stressful than driving in traffic, but most because it's cheaper than driving, especially since gas prices rose to their recent high. Ours are not as fast or punctual as trains in Japan are, but the view of rural America the train affords is a treat.