Most of us have heard of the legendary Orient Express, few of us have had the opportunity to be a passenger in this deluxe train.
I happened to be going somewhere by train (just a Regionale, nothing grand) on a day when the Orient Express was leaving Venice to go to Paris and London. On this occasion, I had a bit of time before my train departed, so I was able to have a little look (and drool).
There’s no doubt about it, she’s a beautiful train.
So, this high-class train must have an equally refined engine to guide her to her destinations, right?
Wrong. Look what was hooked onto her, for locomotion. What a letdown. But, maybe there’s a more suitable locomotive at the other end of the train, and this one will be left behind in Venice. (I hope.)
If you feel inspired to take a trip on the Orient Express, here are the 2013 timetables, prices and so on. http://tiny.cc/b5y0xw
Hello World 
Joanne, maybe not if the other part of the deal was 9 months teaching hundreds of shouty Italian teenagers? 🙂 I certainly need a break!
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Well try dealing with people who come in want a book with comments like:
I don’t know title but the cover is yellow with black writing, I don’t know what its about but I was told to read it maybe its a romance, You know it was on TV yesterday I of course ask who’s show usually I get I don’t know it just sounded interesting that 7 days a week and send you round the bend.
Keep in mind over 250,000 titles are printed each year
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Hey, I know that book, Joanne! 🙂 That’s like people in Venice saying “It’s a shop in a busy street, not far from a little bridge”.
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you got it
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Sounds quite fun to me 🙂 In fact when I was younger, I thought my ideal job would be working in a bookshop, but it seemed too hard to get into. But I suppose every job has its frustrations when you’re actually doing it.
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I have to admit to going into a bookstore in Venice and not being able to remember the title of the book I wanted…and since I wanted it in Italian I wouldn’t have properly pronounced it anyway. All I said to the nice man was that I was looking for the Italian version of Joseph Brodsky’s book about Venice in winter. He said “Si, Senora” and walked over and picked it right off the self. Helps to be asking for something very well known in Venice.
I have never done that in a bookstore in the states and promise I never will!
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He like myself knows his stock and can walk right to it.Signs of a comptent, knowledgeabe seller. The key here was you knew what it was about and author. Consider how he could have helped you if you walked in and asked for a book in italian and you though it had something to do with the weather. I am sure like me he would have started asking you more questions trying to figure out just what you were looking for. Few realize selling books is part mind reading
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Caroline, enjoy those 3 months to the hilt! Is your lovely altana getting some use?
Pardon my lack of information (I don’t want to call myself ‘ignorant’); I’m surprised that some of the Biennale events are such short-term things.
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Thanks! We’ve used the altana a few times but not much yet, as in the afternoons either I’m working or we’re doing Biennale stuff. But not long now, and in the meantime we are now eating most meals on the balcony. (Having said that, it is raining again this evening; although still warm.) I suppose you can eat on your balcony all year round?
The 2 ‘official’ main venues of the Biennale are open until late November, and most of the main national pavilions around the town will be too. But some of the smaller countries’ offsite pavilions, collateral events and additional ‘unofficial’ exhibitions are only on for a couple of months, a few weeks or even a few days. And it’s not unknown to find some have packed up earlier than advertised. So at the moment we are trying to concentrate on things which finish sooner rather than later, although like I said we’ve already missed some!
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Did I tell you one of our friends took the Orient Express home after visiting us?! She said it was great but I haven’t seen photos. She got a last minute deal.
Also, if you are ever in England, you can take day / half-day trips on it, including lunch, afternoon tea or whatever.
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No, you hadn’t mentioned that, Caroline. So, you can be on ‘stand-by’ with the Orient Express!
How is the Biennale progressing (and your school days)?
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Mm, although she didn’t realise she was! A week or two beforehand she’d seen an advert for late deals, rang up but they had no single cabins left & said they didn’t do single use of a double. Then just as she was leaving to come here, they rang her back and offered her a deal for single use of a double! Presumably they’d decided at that point they weren’t going to get anyone else. So she had to rush back in to the house to pack more clothes including a posh frock!
Enjoying the Biennale although our hope that when living here we could go to everything has already been dashed, as some things have already finished without us getting to them!! High school is finished now but regrettably my employer is *still* finding me new private students for these last few weeks – still, only 3 weeks to go now, then 3 months off!
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Lucky you I would love 3 months off
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Unfortunately it doesn’t run from Venice in December so I have no chance of seeing it this time. I’ve seen several TV programs about it but I’m sure the real thing is much more impressive.
When my rich uncle gets out of the poor house as my dad used to say.
But in reality when my ship comes in I’m more likely to be at the airport….just my luck. But of course I’ll probably be on my way to Venice so still in luck.
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How many days now, Michelle?
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178! I just checked the countdown calendar …since i have two countdowns I have trouble keeping it in my head.
The other countdown is the last day at work…which is November 22. My arrival in Venice is November 29.
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Bill would be jealous – taking the Orient Express is his dream.
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Tell him to start saving, and to brush off his formal wear.
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I took the OE of Africa in March a great trip, no mystery or intrigue for me but great meals,overall service and overnight compartment. Same kind of funky locomotion on it as well only really old and battered that makes this one look like brand new
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What an experience for you, Joanne! Not many of us would be able to say, in that casual manner “”I took the OE”. Good for you!
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Thanks for taking these pictures. What a treat to see the famous train.
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It’s one of those things many of us have heard about, read about. Then, to see the real thing is almost dream like.
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I actually looked into taking it from Paris to Venice…at that time the fare was about $2500 USD…way out of my price range for one night in a fancy, very fancy, rolling hotel room. Although if someone wanted to treat me I wouldn’t say no;-)
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And to think that $2500 would be small change for some people. Wealth redistribution sounds kinda good!
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I’ve been wanting to go on this since I saw the movie Murder on the Orient Express. I bookmarked the link you posted for future reference. Maybe I can afford to do a London/Paris one some day 😉
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You just never know, Pat! Here’s hoping.
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