Jude and I ride the Amtrak Texas Eagle from Austin to Little Rock at least once a year to visit my family.
We get a private cabin and find train travel to be a great alternative to the hassle of air travel – the slower pace IS the luxury. We bring several books and just enjoy a relaxing day of reading and appreciating the scenery.
But, DAAAAAAMMMMNNN! – Now that I’ve seen Patron Billionaire John Paul DeJoria’s private passenger railcar up close and personal, while enjoying sips of $600/bottle Patrón Burdeos and noshing on delicious tex-mex cuisine, every single other travel experience I’ve ever had pales in comparison. Shout out to Michael Tashnick (local hero and owner of the best Austin sports bar) for extending the invite to us.
The railcar, originally built in the 1920s and owned by DeJoria since 1996, has been lodged at the Amtrak station just to the west of downtown Austin since last week (if you live at The Spring Condos in downtown Austin and face west – you may have seen it through your window), and last night Patrón held a special, intimate gathering to promote their fine, fine liquor and show off The Patrón Tequila Express. I ate to my heart’s content, took a ton of pictures (including one with the billionaire himself – I die!), and reveled in all the cool stuff (special things happening all the time, that don’t make it to the mainstream) that happens in Downtown Austin!
I think the pictures speak for themselves! (Many thinks to friend and Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association President Mitchell McGovern for sharing some of his pics, too!). Just FYI, this was pretty much Jude and I’s reaction faces the whole time we were in the train:
Gallery after the jump….
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