Some people play video games. Some people eat. Some people go for a run.

What do I do when I'm bored?

Take pictures of trains, hahahaha.

This time, instead of driving, I decided it was time for exercise...so I walked here. Turns out it was only a 2-kilometer walk, round trip, but that's better than nothing!

During my time standing on the overpass, I realized that a highway overpass must be the coldest place in any given city. When I was walking back, I saw a billboard thermometer saying that it was +2°C outside, but with the wind, it felt more like -10°C. I finally figured out a way to get my scarf to cover most of my face, but next time I need to get heavier gloves and warmer footwear! Mesh-style sneakers don't really block any wind!

Anyway, I stood there for probably 40 minutes, but only two trains went by. I think this is a better vantage point that my other choices for shooting trains in this area.

The other cool thing I noticed recently is that trains kick up snow! It makes for a cool effect.

Tags:   IMG_1009352ps train locomotive VIA train track railroad city winter trees snow Canon Rebel XSi 450D structure transit transportation buildings wires hydro

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Welp, today I bought two more rolls of APS film. It's not impossible to find, but it's expensive.

In other news, imagine a city being so not-conservative that they allow a green streetcar track! Toronto's logic is that it wouldn't allow emergency vehicles to access them properly. But doesn't Amsterdam have emergencies and first responders, too? Surely they've figured out a way to make it work.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_track
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Tags:   green track green streetcar tram Amsterdam transit transport public transit bicycles bikes city buildings transit-focused Europe Europe 2020 winter winter travel pre-pandemic Combino Siemens Combino vehicle environmentally friendlier

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I was not seated in the correct seat. But I got to sit there for the entire train ride, since nobody else boarded and claimed the window seat.

I was surrounded by inconsideramuses (like "ignoramus", but being inconsiderate rather than ignorant) coughing, and I typed in my trip journal that "if I get sick on this trip, it'll be on this train." Remember, at this point, coronavirus was known, and was on everyone's mind, but hadn't gotten completely out of control yet. At the same time, PPE like masks hadn't been made available to the masses yet.
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Tags:   Train Eurostar high speed London rail railway train tracks city England travel vacation UK

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Another terribly-underexposed picture saved by the magic of Affinity Photo!

I believe this was the train that would take me to my next destination.
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Tags:   train Polregio rail railway station Kraków Głowny travel transport vehicle HDR tonemapped Europe Europe 2020 winter 2020 2020 Poland EN57 Pafawag

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The relentless pursuit of likes and comments on the Instagram (yes, "the" Instagram) gets me down sometimes, and it's become apparent that the stuff people want to see is not photos of streetcars and ferries and cityscapes (the stuff I like to post); they want to see pictures of people. Or the algorithm is burying posts that don't have people, and pushing posts that do. Or they just want to see pictures of the bébé, and it feels like my art (my photography) doesn't matter anymore.

But I read something yesterday that said to keep making art even when no one cares. So I continue. And people on Flickr seem to like my art, so that's something.

I also remember that it doesn't really give lasting happiness if one of my pics gets a lot more likes than usual. I like when that happens, but it doesn't bring about a lasting sense of satisfaction. I always want more. I am pseudo-addicted to social media and that's the way they want it to be. I bet some of you are, too.

In any case, meaningful comments mean more to me than likes.
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Tags:   Route 11 streetcar tram Europe Belgium Antwerp city public transit vehicle signs P tracks Primus Den Engel Señor Taco restaurants urban Antwerpen tourism travel Winter travel 7117 delijn

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