For my Birthday treat Rob took me on a day on the Orient Express - oh it was magical - we were greeted with coffee in the lounge at Victoria then this Steward was there to assist us all the way through the journey. The Orient Express was the inspiration of an American who scoured the country for the disused Pullman Carriages and restored them to their glory - there were ten carriages on our train yesterday all beautiful.
















Dress code was quite strict - and doesn't Rob look lovely all dapper and smart! (Mark you he always looks lovely!!!!) The carriage we were in was called Vera and was built in the 1920's and apparently carried members of the Royal Family at that time including the young Princess Elizabeth & Princess Margaret - it was damaged during the blitz and then restored and then when the Pullman carriages were no longer needed sold to become a children's playhouse in a back garden!! Purchased by the guy with the inspiration behind the Orient Express and restored to its former glory - the marquetry on the walls was fabulous

















We stopped at Whitstable for Oysters & Champagne & a band playing on the platform
As you can see the carriages are immaculate

















There were four people on the train dressed in period costume and keeping us all informed of the history of the trains and where the Pullman Carriages were rescued from and they were soo good they played their parts to the full and obviously enjoyed their jobs!!















The 'Lavatory' Oh they were so sumptious - the floor was a mosaic which was gorgeous - they knew how to live in style in those days they really did.

The food was out of this world, we were greeted with champagne & nibbles, then into the fish course with horseradish & dill sauce, then asparagus & creme fraiche soup with the most gorgeous warm rolls - ribeye steak done perfectly just bloody and soo tender with vegetables & roast potatoes. Then cheeseboard with such a selection of cheeses. We then got off the train at

Whitstable and had champagne & Oysters then returned to the train for the sweet as pictured above with a delicious vanilla sauce, followed by coffee, brandy and chocolates. The wine they served was delicious too - all spread out over the entire journey so it was not heavy at all.

All our fellow travelling companions were super and the whole day was great did not want it to end.