Sweet Escape: The Orient Express

Just after midnight, a snowdrift stopped the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train was surprisingly full for this time of the year. But by the morning there was one passenger fewer. An American lay dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside…

From Murder On The Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Nothing like a blustery fall night of high winds to make you want to curl up by the fire with a good murder mystery! But last fall, I got to go one step better than a book by a fire, I had the incredible privilege of actually taking the famed and luxurious train, The Orient Express, from Venice to Paris! Yes! Can you believe it? Little ‘ol me on such a once in a lifetime adventure?!

Being one who positively shudders with glee over simple things like the ambience of low lights and candles in my own living room, the opportunity to ride the Orient Express was pure indulgence, beyond my wildest imagination!

My sister and I shared a cabin on this famed train, and absolutely reveled in the whole experience. We imagined the murder mystery played out around us, we summoned our personal cabin attendant, Ian, over and over again (just in fun between ourselves, he had no idea we were calling him, we aren’t that cruel!) for a fresh cocktail, tiny sandwiches, slippers, you name it we imagined him at our beck and call. We watched the Swiss alps fly by with snow flurries in the air and castles in the hills, and dined on delicacies in the dining car. And, we even got a little motion sickness as we tried to change into our formal attire riding backwards in a cabin so small only one of us could stand at a time. It was the best of times!

I know it seems a little outrageous, but I like to imagine life as charming and full of ambience as that railroad car! I try to recreate those feelings for everyday, at least in my mind. Now, granted, most of my days don’t end up as fanciful as that, but in my deepest imagination, I am dressed up in my finery tonight riding the Orient Express once again.

“Oh, Ian, fetch me my slippers! And my book! Ian, could you please light my heater! Ian, could you fluff my pillow? Oh, and Ian, I could use a hot toddy!”