The Orient Express

If you ever want to experience true luxury anddecadence, take a trip on the Orient Express. From the moment you check in, you are transported back into a more elegant time. The uniformed representatives check you in, take your luggage and then escort you to a local hotel for a traditional Venetian drink called a Bellini (pear juice, ice and Italian sparkling wine)while your luggage is placed in your compartment. Onboard, you will appreciate the fully restored 1920's original Orient Express Pullman cars. Beautiful wood,with handmade inlays, polished brass and the clever compartment setup. The actual compartment is about 5 x5. It contains (for daytime) a settee, table and washbasin - the basin is enclosed in a separate closet.For night, the settee separates into 2 bunk-like beds,very comfortable. Every detail is attended to by your own cabin Steward.

After boarding, we dressed for dinner. Yes, it's formal all right! Tuxedos and cocktail dresses - and all looked elegant. We shared a table with a couple from England, she a podiatrist and he was a"househusband". Dinner consisted of 5 courses, each more delicious than the other. After dinner, we visited the fully restored Barcar for a cocktail and to enjoy the piano player. It was an interesting night - with the beds set up, there isn't much room for movement. In the morning, we had breakfast in our compartment and watched the scenery. Unfortunately, it was raining too hard to get out when we pulled into the Vienna train station. Lunch was served in one of the 3 dining cars. Once again, each restored to it's original glory.

After 2 glorious nights in Prague (details later) - we reboarded the train to Paris. Once again, as we passed through small towns, it seemed like people were waiting for us. But this time, when they took pictures of us, we started to take their picture!

This was truly an experience of a lifetime, we both loved being transported back to a more elegant time. A time when travel was considered a special treat and people dressed and acted accordingly.