The Orient Express

[ElisabethWhispers]

I would just love to take the original "Orient Express" trip that goes from Paris to Istanbul. It's a fantasy trip for me. They offer this experience once a year.

Heck, I would love to just try one of the shorter trips that they offer!

Anyone else finds this opportunity intriguing and exciting to contemplate? Has anyone actually taken a trip on the Orient Express?

http://www.orient-express.com/web/orex/home.jsp

Always,
Elisabeth

[RedLeg505]

Originally Posted by ElisabethWhispers

I would just love to take the original "Orient Express" trip that goes from Paris to Istanbul. It's a fantasy trip for me. They offer this experience once a year.

Heck, I would love to just try one of the shorter trips that they offer!

Anyone else finds this opportunity intriguing and exciting to contemplate? Has anyone actually taken a trip on the Orient Express?

http://www.orient-express.com/web/orex/home.jsp

Always,
Elisabeth

The closest I ever got was taking a 2 week trip using a EurRail pass (first class) to travel all over Europe and getting off in various cities and hitting the tourist kiosks to find a nice small Pensione to stay at for a day or two while I explored the city. Saw everything from up in Denmark, through Amsterdam to France to Italy to Bavaria and all kinds of stops in between. But not the Orient Express itself. Rail travel in Europe is an experience not to be missed so if you can arrange it, go for it, you will enjoy it.

[Chainsaw Anthropologist]

Last Sunday evening there was a PBS presentation featuring David Suchet (Inspector Hercule Poirot) regarding this very subject.
I would consider it if they put a real engine (coal-fired, steam) back on the head end, not one of those electric-powered boxes. Then it would look like the "real" Simplon Orient Express from the Agatha Christie novel.


c.a.

[Mokoa]

Yes, that was a good documentary. The History Channel ran a series a couple of years back that was all about trains. DVD sets are available from their website.

Trains are a great way to travel.

Murder On the Calais Coach was the title of the book. Great read. The movie made in the '70's based on the book was Murder On the Orient Express. Great movie.

[JohnnyCap]

Originally Posted by ElisabethWhispers

I would just love to take the original "Orient Express" trip that goes from Paris to Istanbul. It's a fantasy trip for me. They offer this experience once a year.

Heck, I would love to just try one of the shorter trips that they offer!

Anyone else finds this opportunity intriguing and exciting to contemplate? Has anyone actually taken a trip on the Orient Express?

http://www.orient-express.com/web/orex/home.jsp

Always,
Elisabeth

I think it would be fantastic, and it was a dream of my father's, so I looked into it. Looks fantastic, but the cost is prohibitive.

[ElisabethWhispers]

Originally Posted by Chainsaw Anthropologist

Last Sunday evening there was a PBS presentation featuring David Suchet (Inspector Hercule Poirot) regarding this very subject.
I would consider it if they put a real engine (coal-fired, steam) back on the head end, not one of those electric-powered boxes. Then it would look like the "real" Simplon Orient Express from the Agatha Christie novel.


c.a.

I watched that show on Sunday as well. Although I've checked into the Orient Express in years past, the show did prompt this topic.

I've been to Europe and loved the trains there. I had one of those Eurail (spelling? need coffee!) passes and took the train all over the place, including Hungary.

However, the Orient Express is an adventure all its own.

Even just going from Paris to Venice would be very interesting and cool.

Thanks for the comments thus far!

[proudoftexas]

Originally Posted by Mokoa

The movie made in the '70's based on the book was Murder On the Orient Express. Great movie.

That's one of the first movies I can ever remember seeing in a movie theater. The ending absolutely shocked me.

[John Bull]

That's on my bucket list, EW. I've done EuroTrains and they are wonderful. Why o why don't we have anything like that in this country? If the pols would just steal a little less of our money, the gov could afford it.

[Guest050715-1]

Originally Posted by John Bull

That's on my bucket list, EW. I've done EuroTrains and they are wonderful.

I love the EuroTrains. I just took one of the high-speed trains from Milan to Zurich. The ride through the Alps was stunning. First Class is only about $150 more per ticket and more than worth it.

As to the Orient Express, Istanbul is one of the loveliest and exotic places I've traveled to. You'd love it Elisabeth.

[ElisabethWhispers]

Originally Posted by OliviaHoward

...As to the Orient Express, Istanbul is one of the loveliest and exotic places I've traveled to. You'd love it Elisabeth.

If Istanbul isn't at the top of my bucket list, then it's right up there. I would also like to see Greece and travel to some of the islands around that country, too.

Just thinking of visiting a place so exotic as Turkey has my mind turning this afternoon.

[Guest050715-1]

Originally Posted by ElisabethWhispers

If Istanbul isn't at the top of my bucket list, then it's right up there. I would also like to see Greece and travel to some of the islands around that country, too.

Just thinking of visiting a place so exotic as Turkey has my mind turning this afternoon.

I did the Greece to Istanbul cruise. It was wonderful. Greece was a disappointment, but Istanbul made up for it all. My next villa's going to be on Cypress LOL.

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by ElisabethWhispers

I would just love to take the original "Orient Express" trip that goes from Paris to Istanbul. It's a fantasy trip for me. They offer this experience once a year.

Heck, I would love to just try one of the shorter trips that they offer!

Anyone else finds this opportunity intriguing and exciting to contemplate? Has anyone actually taken a trip on the Orient Express?

http://www.orient-express.com/web/orex/home.jsp

Always,
Elisabeth

Yes, I have and it is a MUST do babes!

[Chainsaw Anthropologist]

Originally Posted by ElisabethWhispers

If Istanbul isn't at the top of my bucket list, then it's right up there. I would also like to see Greece and travel to some of the islands around that country, too.

Just thinking of visiting a place so exotic as Turkey has my mind turning this afternoon.

Maybe if I went to Turkey as a tourist, it would be bearable. The time I spent there at government expense covered two different trips of about three weeks total and was less than exotic. One was to Trabzon at the east end of the Black Sea, near one of the xxxstans and the other was near Izmir sort of on the Med.

Admittedly it was some time ago and things may have changed but every public area (hotel lobbies, airport or train terminals) reeked from the odor of Turkish tobacco. I'll never forget it. If things haven't changed, you won't either.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed Athens and Teheran, but that was so long ago that the Shah was still in control and his people weren't the zealots you see there now. I imagine the average Iranian on the street is much like they were then, but they don't make good news shots so we get to see the radicals.

c.a.

[Sidewinder]

The Wikipedia article has more information.

The original Paris-Istanbul "Orient Express" last ran in 1977. I saw a "60 Minutes" piece by Morley Safer: they rode the last run. The piece was beautifully intercut with clips from the various movies set on the train.

[Anna Davis]

Originally Posted by ElisabethWhispers

I would just love to take the original "Orient Express" trip that goes from Paris to Istanbul. It's a fantasy trip for me. They offer this experience once a year.

Heck, I would love to just try one of the shorter trips that they offer!

Anyone else finds this opportunity intriguing and exciting to contemplate? Has anyone actually taken a trip on the Orient Express?

http://www.orient-express.com/web/orex/home.jsp

Always,
Elisabeth

I have been and its Fabulous! It is an amazing experience,and if you get a chance to do it go for it.