June 5, 2018 - The Infamous Orient Express and Tanya has travel plans out into 2026!

Elisa's Daily Scoop
Covering Long Island & NYC Boroughs
NEXT EVENT IN: 22 DAYS: MEAN GIRLS ON BROADWAY

The Infamous Orient Express

Gorgeous Day!!! Lovin' the sunshine and crisp, fresh Spring Air!!

I ran into a few friends in town this morning, while going to get my hot chocolate.  It has been a while since I got to catch up and it was a great way to start my day!

Thought I would shed some light on what I think is one of the most romanticized train rides in the world - The Orient Express!

Today, June 5th, in the year 1883, marked the first ever Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul! It was originally created by Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) as an ordinary railway service for international travel.  In a time when traveling was still a bit dangerous and rugged, The Orient Express presented a travel option for luxury and comfort.

Poster advertising the winter 1888–1889 timetable of The Orient Express (wikipedia.org)

Paris and Constantinople (Istanbul) became the most prominent cities associated with The Orient Express and through books and movies such as Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express and Bram Stoker's Dracula, its reputation for intrigue and opulence were enhanced.

Through the years, namely into the late 20th Century, the travel route of The Orient Express changed and even, shortened, until in 2001, it became a short rail trip between Paris and Vienna. 

On Friday, June 8, 2007, The Orient Express ran for the last time from Paris, and a little over two years later, on December 14, 2009, the Orient Express ceased to operate and the route disappeared from European railway timetables.  

First Orient Express brochure, 1887 (credit: Bliss from Bygone Days)

A vintage postcard showing the Dining car of the Orient Express, 1910 c.ca (credit: Bliss from Bygone days)

However, for those of you who love historic travel, as do I, you will be pleased to know that The Venice-Simplon Orient Express train, a private venture by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. using original CIWL sleeping cars and dining carriages from the 1920s and 1930s, continues to run from London to Venice and to other destinations in Europe, including the original route from Paris to Istanbul!!

For a most enjoyable read, check out David Zax's article in Smithsonian.com, entitled, "The True History of the Orient Express" ​written on 
March 1, 2007 and updated most recently on  November 7, 2017. 

Mr. Zax includes some very interesting facts about the famed rail line and its creator, George Nagelmacker, the son of a prominent Belgian banker, who envisioned “a train that would span a continent, running on a continuous ribbon of metal for more than 1,500 miles," excerpt from Orient Express: The Life and Times of the World's Most Famous Train by E.H. Cookridge, which is available on Amazon.

Last night, me and Gianna went to the gym for a quick workout.  I have a new dress for her graduation in a little over a week and I'm trying very hard to shed a few pounds and firm up.

Let's see, the rest of my day is really filled with business writing.  I'm working on a presentation for our Travelin' Cousins Travel Show for some upcoming meetings and I've got a few articles to write for the coming week.

I'll admit, it's so good to have Tanya back posting her Scoop!  But, I will admit, I miss getting her photos and adding them for her - it felt like we were traveling together!!

More tomorrow!
-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop​​
Covering the West Coast & the World
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 37 DAYS:
​WASHINGTON DC / VIRGINIA

Filling my Calendar 

Hi there!

Well at about 7:30p jet-lag caught up with me and I was all of a sudden rather tired! I really don't mind allowing jet-lag to catch up with me once I get home and I'm so glad that I don't ever (not even once) get effected by jet-lag when I am in travel-mode!

We happened to be at choir rehearsal and since there were no meetings I decided (along with Dave) to relax and wait in the car. I did manage to step out when we had a few special visitors show up and show off new 5 week old baby Matthew!

Our choir alumni and past music director Olivia (who was with the choir for over 25 years!!!) is moving to Texas due to her husband becoming relocated. Well she gave birth 5 weeks ago and the ambassadors just could not wait to meet new itty bitty tiny baby Matthew!

Olivia and baby Matthew (c)travelincousins.com

Cosette getting a peak (c)travelincousins.com

Awww (c)travelincousins.com

All the kids were so excited to meet baby Matthew (c)travelincousins.com

After all the ooohing and ahhing over the wee little guy, I made my way back to the comfort of the car and let's just say that I folded over and zonked out! ​LOLOL - yes I can and do sleep in the most unusual of positions!

And that was it, I pretty much clocked out for the night. i asked Dominic to cook dinner and I sat there at the table to be social and keep everyone company. But straightaway after that I was sleeping once again and not awake until 5:20a this morning.

So once I woke up one of the first things that I start thinking about is... TRAVEL! 
Yes I know I'm addicted.

One of the first places that I spotted this morning was the Isle of Skye.

photo credit - isleofskye.com

You know how much I love Scotland, and this just looks gorgeous! I'm definitely gonna have to add this to my itinerary the next time I'm out that way.

Now, as you know I plan well in advance. Much further than anyone I know.  Most peeps can't plan out past the weekend and here I am planning several years into my calendar! 
Personally I think it comes down to commitment issues. But that is just my 2 cents.

The most recent trip added to my extensive calendar was thought of a couple of months ago and then further developed while I was still traveling through Poland/Czech/Austria and Germany...

My 2024 Sports Themed Trip to Europe
Which will include:

• The Paris Summer Olympics 
• The Tour de France
• Cycling in the Prudential RideLondon (an annual festival of cycling held in London) 
• Cycling the Danube from Passau to either Vienna, possibly Bratislava or even Budapest!
• And as if that isn't enough we would also go to the Bayreuth Festival!  

Of course I am also working on trips that aren't so far out, but the addition of new trips sure does excite me!!

In fact I was looking into airfare for our jaunt to London next June for the MLB Yankees vs Red Sox game and of course you know that I'll be tacking onto that one!  

One idea is of course Sicily - since it has been on my list for a while. I only wish that Elisa and my schedule would match and that we could go together.

​Another idea is going back to Iceland,
but the ideas are endless so I've just got to figure out what I'm in the mood to do.

And I'll leave you off with yet another trip to ____ yup it's blank.    Dave is planning to cycle the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and that is just a bit out of my comfort zone...plus it really doesn't look all that pretty. Pretty has a lot to do with where I go! 

So while he is off pedaling, (in between a bigger trip to somewhere in Europe) the rest of us... probably me and the kids, but at this point who knows who will join me. We will be taking a week plus enjoying _____.
Now the only question is where do I want to go???

​I'm sure that I'll come up with something awesome!

I'm signing off for now,
-Travelin' Tanya