Last year at Christmas the CEO sent over a Christmas bonus-it was wholly unexpected but thoroughly welcomed (and I sent him back a thank you note and, unlike the kind you had to send as a kid thanking Great-Aunt Mildred for those bright orange socks, I meant every word of it.) The bonus had a cash lump sum and something called a Gold Red Letter Day, meaning I could go to the Red Letter Days' website and book up anything I wanted, up to £1000. Luckily, I also had some Red Letter Day vouchers from another award (thus the grand total of Red Letter vouchers was something like £1500), so Angus and I mulled over the Red Letter Days website in detail. We finally chose two activities-we're spending half a week in Scotland in mid-October, and we chose spend a day on the Orient Express.

The Orient Express is something that always intrigued both of us, but seeing as how the cost of two tickets is equivalent to airfare to New Zealand, we knew it would never happen. But with the Red Letter Day, luckily we did get to try it. We opted to go on a day trip to Rye, a very old coastal village in the south of England (at the time, we hadn't known we could've taken the Orient Express to York, which is slightly more appealing as neither of us have ever been to York. Oh well.)

We showed up at Victoria Station feeling bleary-eyed-Victoria is not easy to get to from our home during Peak Travel times and we'd had to leave really early that morning to get there in time. We sign in and are giving our seating-we were to be on the Lucille Coach, seats 15 and 16.

OK, cool.

We wait with many others who are dressed up-although the tickets urged us to dress in 1920's fashion, I knew there was absolutely no way anti-costume Angus was going to do that (I love the fashion of that time, but I wasn't going to dress up like a Flapper, regardless.) Waiting there, I saw no one else did, either. The other patrons were wearing business suits and dresses, and in general they were older and middle-aged couples. I think it's possible I was the youngest person there, but that just meant more champagne for me.

The train finally showed. It hauled onto the platform and people on other platforms stopped and stared-it's honestly an amazing train.

(That's me with Starbucks. Coffee must be had in the morning or I can't function.)

Once on, we couldn't believe it. It was so sumptuous, it was incredible. All of the Pullman cars were originals from the 1920's, all fully restored to original condition using methods from 1920's construction. The walls had inlaid designs from holly bushes, the seats were plush, and the china and crystal were real.

Even the toilets were amazing-stained glass windows, dark cherry wood, original mosaic tiles in the design of African wildlife, and original silver pipes.

(Why yes, I asked Angus to take a pic of the toilet. Lucky for me, he did.)

I couldn't believe it. I was afraid to touch anything. I was afraid to breathe. Everything was so pristine, so beautiful.

They came round with bellinis and breakfast-fresh fruit, followed by salmon with caviar and scrambled eggs with chives. I had never had food like this for breakfast-with the exception of the weekends we tend to be yogurt and cereal kinds of people but hey-when in Rome and all that.

Across from us sat a wealthy couple from Malta-we talked a bit, chatted, and then went about our business of being gobsmacked from the glamour of a train ride.

We also got giggly from the bubbly.

When we got to Ashford, we hopped off the train to be taken via coach to Rye, a lovely seaside village. Unfortunately, the coach also came with a tour guide who talked.

Extensively.

About everything.

We heard about buildings. We heard about minerals in the area. We heard about the various flora and fauna that grew on the pebbly beach (at which point my suicidal tendencies started re-surfacing). We heard about famous people from the turn of the century who had lived in the area. I think it was right about the time that she was listing all of the birds and types of birds found in the area that I switched from "suicide" to "Red Rum" perspective.

Finally, we were in Rye.

We walked around-bought a few antiques (him, a 1920's lampshade that's now hanging in our bathroom. Me, an even older wire egg basket that I'm going to use to hold firewood.) We ate fresh quiche and walked through cobbled streets.

Then we met the Orient Express back in Hastings (as in: Battle of).

It's a pretty train, huh?

The attendant in his livery met each of us at our train cars (they wore white gloves even. WHITE GLOVES. How do they keep them clean?)

Once inside, we were treated to a four-course meal, flowing champagne and sauvignon blanc, and I have to confess-we started getting a bit pickled.

(You can see the original lighting fixtures and the inlaid wood behind Angus here.)

The train was unbelievable. But even more unbelievable was that people gathered on train platforms and stared. They took pictures with cameras and camera phones. Passing through neighborhoods, people came out of their homes to stand and stare, and most of them waved to the train. When they did that, we'd wave back.

And I felt so incredibly, unbelievably shocked. I had this wonderful experience, this chance to do something that I never could have foreseen-I got to ride on this famous train and spend a day in a type of luxury I could never have imagined. Here they were, people coming out and waving at the train, taking pictures of it, the train running on tracks in their imagination...yet there I was, a chick who has the background I do-I come from origins so humble they have no claim to modesty. I'm a nothing. I don't deserve to ride a train as sumptuous as this one (much of the time, I don't deserve.) I am a stranger in a strange land but-more than that-I'm a stranger inside. I'm not posh, I didn't even pay for my ticket, the company did.

But I waved back.

Maybe it doesn't matter how I got there, all that matters is I was there.

The trip was brilliant. And I am so hugely thankful that I got to experience a day like that.

We both are.

-H.

PS-like others, we totally kept our champagne glasses (one of which has already accidentally been broken). We may have had this remarkable chance but we're still riffraff, really.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 12:37 PM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
Post contains 1139 words, total size 8 kb.

1 I'm so completely jealous at the same time that I'm so glad that you had a wonderful time!

Posted by: amber at September 24, 2006 01:41 PM (Clmqj)

2 God damned thieves!!! Can't keep the bad element out no matter how hard I try.

Posted by: statia at September 24, 2006 03:20 PM (KcrOI)

3 Lovely description of a fabulous day. But if I could just point out: "I'm a nothing. I don't deserve to ride a train as sumptuous as this one (much of the time, I don't deserve.)" - nonsense. Did the others deserve it because they happened to be wealthy? If anything, you deserved it MORE than anyone else - your hard work caught the attention of the company CEO, who rewarded you. And you are most definitely NOT a nothing - don't ever say that about yourself.

Posted by: loribo at September 24, 2006 05:48 PM (RYVp+)

4 I am so glad you enjoyed it. I'm even more glad that you chronicled it! Just keep in mind that YOU (yes you) are indeed special enough to deserve this, and the proof is in how much you enjoyed it. It would be a pity if the only people who had such marvelous opportunities were those who were blasé about it.

Posted by: B. Durbin at September 24, 2006 05:52 PM (tie24)

5 Riffraff or no, the fact that you won the right to have this day of luxury proves that you do deserve it. Lovely pics.

Posted by: Donna at September 24, 2006 07:21 PM (Aanzg)

6 You little sneak, you! I probably would have taken them, too. Looks like you two had a fabulous time! :-)

Posted by: caltechgirl at September 24, 2006 11:06 PM (r0kgl)

7 You always do such cool things!

Posted by: SaraJane at September 24, 2006 11:21 PM (UKxjN)

8 Wow! What a trip! Thanks for sharing it with us. I'm so glad you had that opportunity.

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at September 25, 2006 02:17 AM (0Pi1o)

9 "'Cause I've got a golden ticket" comes to mind. and like Charlie, YOU totally deserve IT. congrats.

Posted by: J.m at September 25, 2006 03:12 AM (k3v0Q)

10 Of course you deserved it! Those photos are priceless (of both of you as well as the train itself). How wonderful for you both.

Posted by: kenju at September 25, 2006 05:53 AM (2+7OT)

11 Wow!! My stepdad is a train nut and he'd LOVE to do something like that. Looks like a blast.

Posted by: ~Easy at September 25, 2006 11:38 AM (u8qrx)

12 Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. What an amazing experience.

Posted by: karmajenn at September 25, 2006 12:00 PM (ydjuy)

13 Same sentiment I left on your last post. You get to do some of the COOLEST stuff EVER! Glad you had such a good time. Thanks for letting us all get a look at some of the pix!

Posted by: kimmykins13 at September 25, 2006 02:37 PM (QW8XY)

14 Stealing the crystal? Further proof that you could totally sit by me at the lunch table.

Posted by: amy t. at September 25, 2006 03:02 PM (3dOTd)

15 After the crap your work puts you through, you damn well deserve it. Hell, I'd love a ride, and I'm no more deserving than you (probably less - I'd never last in your job). And I don't know what looked better - the dining or the toilet. Both look like supreme luxuries.

Posted by: diamond dave at September 26, 2006 01:58 AM (CTBtx)

16 cool trip!

Posted by: yeper at September 27, 2006 01:00 PM (umRxj)

17 I popped over here from Blue Ridge Blog and very much enjoyed your post about the OE. It sounds like an absolutely fabulous trip. I love experiences that allow you to really step back in time. What fun. Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Kathryn at September 27, 2006 03:27 PM (f/QL5)

18 I haven't been by in a long time and I so enjoyed reading about this fabulous day on The Orient Express! It sounds like a dream come true with the history that this train carry's...So happy for you both that you had this wonderful opportunity! Good to see you again, Helen.

Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills at September 27, 2006 11:17 PM (Alv50)

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