I have always enjoyed train travel. I recently rode the Amtrack from Trenton, NJ to Cary, NC and was quite impressed and pleased. I had to get used to the fact there was no seat belts to fasten, you never have to put up your seat back tray and you can go to the bathroom any damn time you want to. This trip got me fired up for a great train adventure. While playing on the internet, I came across the "The Poor Mans Orient Expess".
The Orient Express train has always captured my imagination. The original Orient Express began when Georges Nagelmackers invited guests to a railway trip of 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) on his 'Train Eclair de luxe' (lightning luxury train). The train left Paris on Tuesday, October 10, 1882, just after 18:30 he and his friends headed for Vienna. It continued to expand and in June 1889 it began to run from Paris to Istanbul. Over the years, several different routes were added. The real Orient Express continued to run until 2009 when it was discontinued.
The route can still be covered by a mixture of regular trains and that is what we are off to do. The route will be:
- Paris to Munich on the overnight train
- Catch the Munich to Budapest day train and spend several days
- Catch the overnight train Budapest to Bucharest and spend several days
- Catch the overnight train Bucharest to Istanbul and tour Turkey
