Othman smoked by the window while Laith sat on one of the twin beds. (The names of most of the Iraqis in this story have been changed for their protection.) Othman was a heavyset doctor, twenty-nine years old, with a gentle voice and an unflappable ironic manner.

NEWYORKER: Betrayed

This entitles you to twin bunk beds (seats by day, convertible at night), your own bathroom, a whole lot of tiny folded towels Amtrak doesn't give you much but they love to give you towels a fold-down table with a checkerboard on the surface and an incomparable feeling of coziness and well-being.

WSJ: Train Travel: Adventure on the Rails

Bungalows with twin or double beds and private bathrooms are less romantic but still feel natural with wooden beds and plank floors.

BBC: Turkey��s lotus eaters