Picture this:
Italy.
Tuscan hillside!
The Captain and I on our honeymoon!
Sigh…..
Keep picturing…..
The train, …much like the Orient Express, (only much cheaper)…. and we are in a tiny sleeper cabin.
There is a small portable table with two plush seats on either side beside the large window.
It reminds me of an RV or Tiny House, because a hide-a-way toilet is concealed by another cushioned seat.
Above this commode seat, is a sink that operates like a Murphy bed because it folds into the wall!
There are the amenities, consisting of tiny cups, small towels and of course the obligatory tiny bar of soap like those found in hotels.
The bed(s) are Murphy beds as they fold back into the wall on either side of the small cabin.
Privacy is key of course, and a locked sliding door closes us off from the sometimes busy hallway/corridor of the train.
Curtains!
Oh yes, there are curtains that can be pulled across the sliding door and two windows… and of course we pull the curtains closed.
The newer trains don’t have curtains…instead they have blinds or frosted windows.
Our room is very small.
Barely 6 foot, but instead of feeling cramped, we felt it quaint and very romantic.
Especially as we cozied up by the large window, watching the scenery as the train gently rocked back and forth.
The train we were on was older than most you see these days.
I loved that it was not the sleek, modernized “bullet” that so many travelers choose for their train journey.
This train was special in so many ways.
The window was amazing.
There were spectacular views of the countryside and I especially loved the small villages of Italy drifting by our window.
There was always a view…. if we were in our room or in the dining car.
Sigh!
It seemed strange, yet exciting to see that for the most part, there were no jumble of cars on the main streets, yes, traffic-free… or perhaps just not where the train passed through.
No chain stores, but little pockets of businesses like bakeries and meat shops and of course the never ending outdoor seating of small, small eateries.
We marveled at the people as we watched them through our window.
They would be leisurely sipping coffees or cold drinks, knowing they were in no hurry to eat and run, like we American’s do.
It was like our window was a private viewing into their lives.
And the villas and small homes alike were so beautiful.
We both smiled at the matronly woman in a large white apron, hanging laundry on a droopy clothes line.
It is so quiet and peaceful with only the sound of the train wheels on the tracks until we stop at a station.
There is something hypnotic, as the trains’ wheels sound the alert and we watch passengers getting off and on at the old world stations, most of them just small buildings with charming window panes concealing the interiors of the train station.
One such station had ivy growing on the side.
It appeared to have whitish/purple morning glories intertwined among the green leaves as they searched for the roof of the building, the anchor-less tendrils waving about in the breeze.
So pretty.
Particularly noticeable is that no one seems to be in a hurry.
It is like time stood still and we are transformed to another place in time.
If you ask, many will tell you that the best way to get around Italy is by train.
You see, the Italian Rail network, which runs like clockwork, is connected to just about every major city in Italy.
And there are all kinds of fares/tickets from a simple bus-like double seats in the rail car to really luxurious suites.
My dear readers, you know I am the eternal romantic and there is something romantic about riding the train.
It is…for lack of a better term, (I will take Meg Ryan’s line from Sleepless in Seattle.)….
It is “magic.”
Perhaps it is simply remembering child hood memories or the old black and white movies.
Or perhaps it is the romance and intrigue of a Agatha Christy novel on the Orient Express Train.
When I hear that train whistle in the distance or feel the rumble of the clickity-clack wheels on the rail road tracks, I smile.
Magic!
I can see it when the train engineer or the conductor wave to a passer-by and they wave back.
I can see it in the eyes of a small child as they watch the moving train, wildly waving their hands.
There is something uniquely special about trains and train travel.
I am so glad that this mode of transportation has not gone by the wayside like so many things, as the modern technical world advances further into the 21st century.
And I am so glad the Captain and I got to experience this train ride.
Today, I am in the early planning stages of another train ride, this one from Florida to New York City.
I can hardly wait.
Do you like trains?
Do you prefer them to flying or driving?
Tell me your thoughts please.
Have a great and Blessed Day!
Oh, my….what a posting and what a wonderful memory!! The pictures are charming and it felt as though we were seeing it all. Thank you for sharing, and, yes, I LOVE the sound of a train whistle. Both my grandfathers worked for the railroad. Do share the trip to NY…can’t wait to hear!
Hi Kari! Back in the 70s, my grandparents used to take the train from Buffalo, NY to the Syracuse area where we lived to visit. Oftentimes, I’d go back with them. The train was always such fun! The scenery in upstate NY is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your trip to Italy! Hugs~
Thank you for stopping by Tammy…You are right, the train is a way to see and appreciate beautiful scenery.
Kari, I commented on this earlier today and now I don’t see it.
I don’t know what happened Pam…..but it is there now. Hugs and Blessings
Kari, I so enjoyed reading about your train trip in Italy for your honeymoon. I have claustrophobia so I would need larger accommodations (lol). The hubby and I took a train through the Canadian Rockies, but we stopped each night and stayed in gorgeous hotels. The food on the train was fabulous. I would take that same trip again. I can’t wait to hear about your next adventure. Blessings dear friend!
thank you Pam….it is true, the ‘roomettes’ are very small…perhaps I would need larger accommodations these days…not only have I gotten wider, and even though I love my Captain…sometimes I need “space”…if you know what I mean. LOL Thanks for stopping by dear friend.
OMGosh…so gorgeous!!! I know it was a wonderful trip! I’ve always wanted to go to Italy. My grandparents came to the US from Palermo and we still have family there! One day…. I’ve never been on a train either….it’s on my “to do” list! Love and hugs sweet friend!!
there are so many train rides here in the U.S. which will give you a good idea as to what it is like on a train. We took the Colorado…( Durango to Silverton) day trip train and the Chama, N.M. day trip train and there are a couple trains in the Dakotas and just all around, once one checks it out.
Here in Florida, we take our guests on the dinner murder mystery train which leaves at 6 pm and arrives back home at 9-ish. They serve a 4 or 5 course meal while actors give you clues on the murder mystery on the train. They have new and different plots so you don’t have to see the same mystery twice. You can play along and try to guess who the murderer is. It is “cheesy” but cool none-the-less.
It sounds enchanting, I might need a little larger suite however! I can’t wait to hear about your trip to NY! Anything beats flying these days!
Jenna
Definitely not for the claustrophobic…..but it makes for more cuddling. LOL
How wonderful to experience this. My hubby and I want to go to Italy. The photos are quite lovely. Thanks for sharing Kari. I haven’t been on a train much, so i am looking forward to experiencing something like this.
You must do it when you go to Italy Linda…there is nothing like it. thanks for stopping by. 😉
This post is dripping with romance and adventure thank you for sharing. I was a tween when my mother and I traveled by train to Texas from Michigan and it was so different. I loved it and hope to take another train ride soon. Prior to that we had always traveled by bus, one of the most uncomfortable rides ever. However, given the chance to fly or take a train, I’m afraid the plane ride wins. Unless of course we’re traveling through Italy.
I hear ya Sandra…if one wants to get the travel over with…flying is the way to go. But when one is in no hurry and can share the sights with a loved one…trains can be romantic. Sigh! thanks for stopping by, my friend.
We love trains. My husband worked for railroads for 40 years. I rode trains often when I was a little girl. My husband and I have considered riding from Chicago to the West Coast. Our friends did that last year. When we lived in Baltimore we took the train to New York often.
Can’t wait to hear of your trip to New York.
So relaxing Nancy….it takes a little longer, but aren’t we suppose to stop and smell the roses? I didn’t even mind the station stops…loved it. thanks my friend.
We love trains! We took one from a little village in England to downtown London. It was only two hours but we saw so much as we drank wine and looked outside the window.
Soon we will be experiencing the same trains you speak of …as we are going to Germany and Italy late summer.
Enjoy your planning stages of your upcoming train trip! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Your pictures are beautiful and what an everlasting memory for you! Thank you so much for sharing, Kari.
Thanks Nancy….you must tell me of your train trip too. How exciting for you. I want to hear all the details my friend.