In the history of luxury travel one name has always stood proudly above all others, recognized worldwide as a symbol of elegance, class and romance – Orient Express *.

As I had the opportunity to see, this opinion is not exaggerated. Crossing the threshold of the legendary Venice Simplon-train Orient-Express in Paris, I immediately felt the magical atmosphere of its glory years and the high life with the beginning of the last century. Going to the salon for my personal steward assigned to me, I admired the beautiful wooden mosaic in its original wagons.

Mr. James Sherwood, a businessman and enthusiast, bought at Sotheby’s auction in Monte Carlo in 1977, two of the most famous trains. The condition of cars was not well. They have led to the difficult years of World War II and started after the political situation in Eastern Europe, the unfavorable development of travel and OE. J. Sherwood took several years and spent $16 million restoring the wagons, but the trains reached the state of their ancient splendor and glory. Reaching to the beginning: the first train OE set off from Paris, from the Gare de L’Est in 1883. It was on schedule to run twice a week and traversed the route: Paris – Strasbourg – Munich – Vienna – Budapest – Bucharest – Giurgiu. In Giurgiu (Romania) passengers were transported by ferry across the Dunajec to the town of Ruse in Bulgaria, where the next train was waiting to carry them 7 hours to Varna on the Black Sea. From there it continued by steamboat journey to Constantinople (Istanbul).

In 1919 Mr. Sherwood introduced an additional service, the famous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. The new route ran from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Istanbul of Lausanne, Milan, Venice, Trieste and Belgrade. On board was to take place the action of the popular crime novel by Agatha Christie – “Murder on the Orient Express”.

The historic bar that hosted me and many eminent people who listened to live piano music and sipped a glass of Martini wondered how difficult the task was for the hero of that crime story, Detective Poirot who had found out the guilty party of the murder before the running of the train, or in 3 days. It is true that the action of the novel played out from Istanbul – Trieste – Calais, but in stylish decorated wagons filled with elegantly costumed passengers and a generally distinctive atmosphere still feel like ‘thinking about those exciting times.’ The notorious train was very often a place of interesting events and often intrigues – the fictional and real. It hosted in its salons crowned heads, representatives of the European aristocracy, artists, and even courtesans and international spies. It is not surprising that such a remarkable company, and the beautiful interior of the train, inspired many writers. On the train 19 books were written, it was also the backdrop to several movies.

We were crossing the subsequent kilometers and I also felt like I was in a movie; just after waking to the epic scenery outside the window, I saw the Alps, and behind the door waiting with a delicious breakfast the elegant waiter. The whole service is exceptional, while the longer lunches and dinners are a great opportunity to relax and chat in the international circle. The meals are outstanding, and conversations can stop only during the sounds of opening champagne. 50 percent of the passengers choosing adventure with OE do so to celebrate special occasions.

Suggesting that the photographs in the catalog taken on this journey are some of the best of my creations. It should be noted that OE Guests are asked to respect certain standards of clothing (eg. Refraining from jeans and sports shoes). My elegant creations also proved to be very useful when I arrived in Venice. Together with a group of other passengers we went to stay at the hotelCipriani. It is now without doubt one of my favorite places, and the food that is served there, certainly deserves a separate article.

You should know that today the Orient Express is not just rail travel in Europe. The group now has 30 hotels in 16 countries, it is also a passenger ship on the river in Burma (Road to Mandalay). Orient-Express organizes ultra-luxury tailor-made holidays. All hotels are top class and are characterized by a romantic style and a very favorable situation. Those who definitely deserve attention are: Splendido and Splendido Mare in Portofino, Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro or the Monasterio in Cusco (Peru).

* Orient Express – the name used in the original article from 2004. All the hotels mentioned in the article and other products belonging at that time to Orient Express are now part of the network BELMOND.

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