注意：请【不要】转载、盗图。作者本人保留所有图文版权。违者作者将对其追究责任。尤其请某些随意的杂志、网站编辑注意。

从纽约坐火车去普林斯顿大学

A day for train travel to Princeton University (from New York) 

By NYGossip （First time to write an English travelogue.）

 

Needless to say, as one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution, Princeton University has enjoyed world-wide reputation for its eduational level and research strength. One of the reasons that I have been looking forward to paying a visit there is that it has a beautiful campus. So in a very sunny weekend in mid-September, I decided to make this visit on Sunday.

Princeton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey, but it's not so far away from New York. A train ride less than one and a half hours can take you there.

If you don't want to bother to drive a car to Princeton University, then I recommend taking a train. Amtrak and New Jersey Transit operate trains along the Northeast Corridor rail line that stop at Princeton Junction. Travelers can then transfer to a single-car train operated by New Jersey Transit, known locally as the "Dinky", for the five-minute ride to Princeton Station, where you are officially in Princeton University. The station is located on University Place at the southern end of campus, across from the McCarter Theatre Center.

In the morning, I arrived at New York Penn Station, a main terminal for both Long Island Railway Road and New Jersy Transit. I went to the NJ Transit Area, found the ticket vending machines, then I bought a round-trip ticket between New York Penn Station and Princeton Junction ($14.75 for one-way). As you can see from the image below, since I am going the Northeast Corridor direction, what I need to pay attention to is the line saying "11:14 TRENTON NE CORR...", which will depart soonest from now. Focus on the board to wait for the Track number for your train and then head for that track as soon as it is shown.

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D2/wKgB21B3tl6iDoByAAEjba1dWVE12.groupinfo.w600.jpeg 

(Board in NJ Transit waiting area.)

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D3/wKgB21B3tl7Spk-iAAGXC2zjvxg12.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(NJ Transit waiting area.)

 

After boarding the train, you can either take a short rest or get ready for some New York suburb view from the window. The train I take set off from NY Penn at 11:14am, and arrived at Princeton Junction at 12:25am. Besides NJ Transit (70min $14.75 one-way) you can also take Amtrak (50min but $33 one-way). The info can be found on their official website.

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D5/wKgB21B3tl-3bj22AAEoT90HzgI21.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D6/wKgB21B3tmCd-NmSAAF06Ty04Xk99.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D7/wKgB21B3tmCwrx1tAAF_E9iRiPc14.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(View from the train window.)

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D8/wKgB21B3tmDUH_l3AAEjG9Ba72Q38.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(View from the train window. It is really pleasant for a day trip.)

 

After I got off at Princeton Junction, soon the single-car train called "Dinky" arrived. It would take me to Princeton station located in Princeton University. I didn't know that I was supposed to buy the ticket before boarding "Dinky" so I asked the ticket collector if I could pay by cash when she came. Luckily there was no penalty (but I'm not sure for others) for me, and I paid $2.75 for this 5-minute ride. Later I found that I could've just bought the ticket from NY Penn Station to Princeton station (not Princeton Junction), this combination could be cheaper, as long as I could remember to get off at Princetion Junction and take Dinky. 

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/DA/wKgB21B3tmCm_XsHAAF0QWlYRJU62.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(Dinky is a single-car train that connects Princeton Junction and Princeton University.)

 

Princeton University offers daily tours called "Orange Key Tours", the schedule of which can be found at http://www.princeton.edu/admission/visitprinceton/tours_information_schedule/fall.xml . I planned to take part in the 3:30pm tour for this Sunday, and that were still a couple of hours later so I decided to wander around and take some pictures as I stepped into Princeton U. 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/E4/wKgB21B3tmSeWsH0AAHnUjDUoR883.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/E6/wKgB21B3tmSYVFbSAAIauW6VAMY44.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/E7/wKgB21B3tmXHHdz0AAGyLBYWn8Q45.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

（Blair Hall） 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/E9/wKgB21B3tmaeqdZAAAJF-w_c36w62.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 （Alexander Hall）

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/EC/wKgB21B3tmb0IE-SAAJN3F-5ahk40.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(A sculpture of Henry Moore "Oval with Points" near Alexander Hall of Princeton University. Looks like "8".)

 

After strolling for a while, I found the University Place, where I realize I should grab a bite for lunch. Then I bought a sandwich and some postcards there.

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/ED/wKgB21B3tmaXN5AuAAFKztjZqtA26.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

Before the 3:30pm tour, I decided to go to some locations I cared the most, e.g. Nassau Hall, Firestone Library and the Art Museum. 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/EF/wKgB21B3tmfpTojnAAIzJgdyyyQ89.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(Nassau Hall. Nassau Hall is the oldest building on campus. It now houses the office of the university president and other administrative offices, and remains the symbolic center of the campus.)

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F1/wKgB21B3tmfbB5BvAAHMaBdnMug09.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(The main university library, Firestone Library, which houses almost four million volumes, is one of the largest university libraries in the world and among the largest "open stack" libraries in existence.)

 

When I stepped into the Art Museum, it was about 2pm. I was so lucky because there was a free guided tour starting exactly at 2pm and is offered only at 2pm in weekends (if not reserved in advance). This tour took about an hour, and it really made me better understand the exhibits. This Museum is great and it has many precious collections. One that impressed me was Monet's water lily painting. I remembered seeing one also in MOMA so I got confused if either of the two was fake? Then the tour guide answered my question. The reason is that Monet actually drew many water lily paintings, possibly at different time of the day. The one shown in Princeton U Art Museum might be at the noon time. I saw no one taking pictures at The Art Musuem, so I guess photographing might be prohibited there.

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F3/wKgB21B3tmj0pPOAAAFASwGqhXY45.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(Princeton University Art Museum.)

 

Then I went to Frist Campus Centerto, where the Orange Key Tour meets at weekends. Walk in and find the counter, you can sigh up for the Orange Key Tour without reservation. Some people were already waiting there, and unlike me, most of them might be prospective students, I guess. Our tour guide is C, who is an undergraduate in Princeton University. She is involved in many activities on campus. She took us for a circled walking tour and introduced this university, e.g tuition, courses, gap year program, etc.

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F3/wKgB21B3tmjFY6zVAALqSePBqPM54.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(East Pyne Hall. Where the language and literature dept. locates.)

 

 http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F5/wKgB21B3tmnecB50AAIoZkCo-Fc59.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(Garden in Princeton U.)

I heard that there is a magic gate in Princeton University, if any current Princeton students ever go out of the campus through that gate, he/she will not successfully graduate from Princeton U. I was very curious about this, so when the Orange Key Tour was going to end, I asked C where was the magic gate and if the rumor was true. She said that though it might be a rumor, she would never go throught that gate before she graduate. Haha, it seemed that this might not be total rumor, at least part of Princeton students believe this. 

 

Of course I would go to find that gate, and it turned out to be near the Nassau Hall. This gate is called "FitzRandolph Gate", but I can't locate it using Google Map. Surprisingly, I found many people were passing the gate, in or out, freely. And most of them didn't look like vistors like me. I thought they were Princeton University students, so maybe some of them just don't buy this at all and have the courage to challenge this rumor. 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F6/wKgB21B3tmmshVp4AAIazAfeihY80.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(FitzRandolph Gate. Is it really that magic? I don't know, but maybe you can give it a try if you are admitted into Princeton U. If you challenge the rumor and graduate after all, please tell me. Haha.)

 

Walked though this magic gate from Princeton U, I was on Nassau Street. On this street, I was looking for a ice cream shop which someone told me that Albert Einstein once had ice cream in. It was less than 10 minutes walk, and I found it, "Thomas Sweet". They have a picture hanging, in which Einstein was having ice cream. I bought French Vallina and Chocolate flavor, which tastes good.

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F7/wKgB21B3tmqNVBJGAAETkgiJkIA15.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(No matter if Einstein ever really had ice cream here, their ice cream is good and worth trying.)

 

Before heading for Princeton station and leaving the campus, I walked around and took some photos of Princeton's dorm buildings.

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F8/wKgB21B3tmrQjlSLAAHZiGUqkBE87.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

(One of Princeton's dorm buildings.)

 

If you drive to Princeton U, then you can drive a couple of miles to Education Testing Services (ETS), which I guess most international students should be familiar to. You know, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT etc. 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/FA/wKgB21B3tmv0sJIBAAFXrQpHW9c61.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (ETS.)

If you still have time, you can also go out for a picnic near Lake Carnegie, which is not far away from Princeton U. 

So I guess you know how to go back to New York, first take Dinky to Princeton Junction, and then NJ Transit to New York Penn Station.

After a day's trip, I think Princeton University campus is definitely worth a visit, a very good place for a day trip, with children, families, especially under such a good weather condition.

 

(THE END) 

从纽约坐火车去普林斯顿大学 中文版

注意：请【不要】转载、盗图。作者本人保留所有图文版权。违者作者将对其追究责任。尤其请某些随意的杂志、网站编辑注意。

文/纽约Gossip

 

作为常青藤八所盟校之一，普林斯顿大学在世界上的学术地位无庸置疑。早就听说普林斯顿的校园非常漂亮，于是等到了九月中旬一个晴朗的周末，我决定去看一看这所大学。

普林大学位于新泽西州的Princeton，其实离纽约市不是太远。坐火车的话大约一个半小时。

如果不想自己开车去普林斯顿，从纽约去那里最便捷的方法就是坐火车了。Amtrak和New Jersey Transit都可以。先从纽约坐Northeast Corridor线到达Princeton Junction，再从那里坐一种叫做“Dinky”的小火车（只有一节车厢）到达Princeton Station（5分钟），一下车就是普林斯顿大学啦。其实这个Dinky是特意为普林斯顿大学而建的。Princeton 站在普林斯顿大学的最南边，在University Place旁边。

早上，我先是抵达了纽约的Penn Station，长岛火车LIRR和NJ Transit的一个火车站。我走到NJ Transit的区域，找到卖票的机器，买了从Penn Station到Princeton Junction的返程票（14.75单程，往返*2）。在显示屏上找到Northeast Corridor方向的车（下图），发现11：14的TRENTON NE CORR...就是我需要搭的车。快要上车的时候注意屏幕上闪动的自己那班车的track number，免得走错track误点。

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D2/wKgB21B3tl6iDoByAAEjba1dWVE12.groupinfo.w600.jpeg 

 (NJ Transit等候区显示屏.)

 

 

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D3/wKgB21B3tl7Spk-iAAGXC2zjvxg12.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (NJ Transit等候区.)

上了火车之后，就可以小憩一会儿，或者看看窗外的纽约郊外的景色。我坐的火车11：14am从Penn Station出发，12：25am到达Princeton Junction。其实除了NJ Transit (70min $14.75 one-way) 也可以坐Amtrak (50min but $33 one-way)，区别是Amtrak虽然更快但是也更贵。这些信息都可以从他们的官网上看到。

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D5/wKgB21B3tl-3bj22AAEoT90HzgI21.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

 

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D6/wKgB21B3tmCd-NmSAAF06Ty04Xk99.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

 

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D7/wKgB21B3tmCwrx1tAAF_E9iRiPc14.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (火车窗外.)

 

 

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/D8/wKgB21B3tmDUH_l3AAEjG9Ba72Q38.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (火车窗外.)

 

等我到达Princeton Junction之后，只有一节车厢的小火车"Dinky"就来了。Dinky会从Princeton Junction开到Princeton Station。我不知道上Dinky前要线买好票，所以当收票的人来的时候我问她能不能付现金，结果是可以，而且也没有penalty，不用多付（其他人我就不知道了）。Dinky全程5分钟，2.75美元。我后来发现其实我可以在买从Penn Station到Princeton Junction的票的时候就直接买从Penn到Princeton Station（而不是Princeton Junction）的票就好，这样买会比分开买便宜。

 

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/DA/wKgB21B3tmCm_XsHAAF0QWlYRJU62.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

(Dinky，只有一个车厢的小火车，连接普林斯顿大学和Princeton Junction。 )

普林斯顿大学官方提供daily tour叫做“Orange Key Tour”，导游是普林斯顿的学生，时刻表可以在http://www.princeton.edu/admission/visitprinceton/tours_information_schedule/fall.xml 找到. 我是周日去的。准备参加3：30pm的tour，现在还有几个小时猜到，所以我先在校园里逛一逛。

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/E4/wKgB21B3tmSeWsH0AAHnUjDUoR883.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

 

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/E6/wKgB21B3tmSYVFbSAAIauW6VAMY44.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

 

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/E7/wKgB21B3tmXHHdz0AAGyLBYWn8Q45.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 （Blair Hall） 

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/E9/wKgB21B3tmaeqdZAAAJF-w_c36w62.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 （Alexander Hall）

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/EC/wKgB21B3tmb0IE-SAAJN3F-5ahk40.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

(在Alexander Hall旁边。亨利·穆尔的雕塑“椭圆上的斑点”，被戏称为 “尼克松的鼻子”，像一个8。）

 走了一段时间后，我到了University Place，想买一点午餐来吃。买了一份三明治和一些明信片。

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/ED/wKgB21B3tmaXN5AuAAFKztjZqtA26.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

在3：30pm的那个tour之前，我还去了一些普林斯顿大学比较有名的地方，比如Nassau Hall （历史悠久，现在是校长办公室所在地）, Firestone Library（图书馆） 还有 the Art Museum （艺术博物馆也很有名）.

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/EF/wKgB21B3tmfpTojnAAIzJgdyyyQ89.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 （Nassau Hall. 是普林斯顿大学里最古老的建筑了。现在是校长办公室和学校的一些行政管理官员的办公室所在地。是普林斯顿大学的标志性建筑。)

 

 

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F1/wKgB21B3tmfbB5BvAAHMaBdnMug09.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (普林斯顿大学的主图书馆，Firestone Library是世界上最大的图书馆之一。)

 

 等我走进艺术图书馆Art Museum的时候差不多是2pm。我很幸运地赶上了一个免费的tour刚好就是2pm开始（周末如果不预约的话只有2pm一次）。tour需要一个小时（即使是一个小时还是有很多展品没看因为这个博物馆确实挺大的），有人解说的话确实看展品看得比较懂。这个博物馆有一些展品还是很珍贵的。让我印象深刻的一个展品就是莫奈（Monet）的“睡莲”。 我记得我在纽约MoMA也看到过莫奈的睡莲油画于是我问导游是不是这俩其中一个的假的呢？导游说，其实莫奈不只画了一副睡莲，他画了很多副，而且是在每天不同的时间点画的。普林斯顿这幅大约是在正午的时候画的。虽然博物馆里没有严禁拍照的标记，但我没看到一个人拍照。

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F3/wKgB21B3tmj0pPOAAAFASwGqhXY45.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (普林斯顿大学艺术博物馆Art Museum.)

 然后就去Frist Campus Centerto，这里是Orange Key Tour周末集合的地点。走进建筑物找到前台，就可以报名参加Tour，不需要预约。我去的时候已经有一群人在那里了，而且大部分人看起来都是准备报考普林斯顿的学生还有他们的家长。我们的导游是凯瑟琳，是普林斯顿的一个本科生，参加了很多校园活动。她带我们走了一个环形的圈，边走边介绍校园文化啦、学费啦、课程啦、间隔年项目啦等等。

 

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F3/wKgB21B3tmjFY6zVAALqSePBqPM54.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (East Pyne Hall. 外国语和文学系的位置。)

 

 

 

 http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F5/wKgB21B3tmnecB50AAIoZkCo-Fc59.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (Garden in Princeton U. 普林斯顿大学的花园。)

 

在来普林斯顿大学之前，我听说这里有一扇奇特的附有魔咒的门：如果有任何普林斯顿大学的在读生在毕业之前胆敢穿越这道门，就不能正常毕业。我对此很好奇，于是问凯瑟琳这个传说是不是真有这个传说。她说她反正是不敢在毕业之前去穿越那条门的。看来这个传说也不是空穴来风啊。

当然了，我肯定去找那扇门看看。原来那扇门就在Nassau Hall旁边，叫做菲兹兰道夫门 "FitzRandolph Gate"。奇怪的是我没法在Google map上定位它。我看到很多人都肆无忌惮地穿越这道门，而且那些人看起来也不像游客，所以我猜想还是有很多普林斯顿的学生不信邪来挑战的，只是他们到底能不能毕业嘛，我就不知道了。

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F6/wKgB21B3tmmshVp4AAIazAfeihY80.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 

(菲兹兰道夫门 "FitzRandolph Gate"。魔咒到底是不是真的呢。问我我也不知道。热烈期盼有普林斯顿的学生亲身挑战这个魔咒之后又正常毕业的，请告诉我。)

 

穿过这道神奇的门，就出了普林斯顿大学，到了Nassau Street。我要去找一家冰淇淋店，为啥？因为爱因斯坦曾经也在那里吃过。走不到10分钟就找到了这家叫做 "Thomas Sweet"的冰激淋店。店里面悬挂了一张照片，照片上一行就是爱因斯坦很萌地拿着一个冰激淋。我买了法国香草和巧克力口味的冰激淋，味道不错。

 

http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F7/wKgB21B3tmqNVBJGAAETkgiJkIA15.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (不知道爱因斯坦是不是真的在这里吃过冰激淋呢。但他家的冰激凌还是值得一试的哦。)

 

在离开普林斯顿之前，随便走了走，看了看普林斯顿的学生宿舍。

 

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/F8/wKgB21B3tmrQjlSLAAHZiGUqkBE87.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (普林斯顿的一栋宿舍。)

 

自己开车来普林斯顿玩的同学，也可以再开个几mi到ETS去看看，考过托福，GRE，GMAT等的中国学生应该不会陌生吧。

http://file20.mafengwo.net/M00/9A/FA/wKgB21B3tmv0sJIBAAFXrQpHW9c61.groupinfo.w600.jpeg

 (ETS.)

 

如果还有时间，可以去卡耐基湖旁边的草坪上吃点东西，不是很远。

原路返回纽约。先是坐Dinky从Princeton到Princeton Junction，然后再坐NJ Transit 回Penn Station。记得先查到火车时刻表，免得等太久。

一天的普林斯顿之行就这么结束了。总的来说普林斯顿的校园还是很漂亮的，尤其是今天的天气也好得不能再好了。

(THE END)