The Venice Simplon-Orient Express

Agatha Christie would still recognize the resurrected (in 1982) and highly re-priced Orient-Express although the name of the train is now the Venice Simplon-Orient Express (VSOE). You can travel from Victoria Station in London across the Channel (by boat, not train) and Europe to Santa Lucia Station in Venice, or you take the less crowded reverse route starting in Venice. Service is twice a week in each direction. A friend who has taken the train in both directions is convinced that leaving from Venice allows one to see the best scenery during daylight hours. She also advised that the bar car was the place to meet the rich and famous. And since the London office of VSOE threw in airfare from London to Venice for a song, I was easily persuaded to begin in that wonderful Italian city no larger than New York City’s Central Park.

After three exquisite days in Venice, we took a water taxi to the ferrovia (train station). I though we had a gondola arranged but there was obviously a communication gap. It took thirty dollars and ten minutes from Pensione Accademia to ferrovia. On the way we passed three traffic lights above the canals. There was even a traffic cop giving a ticket to a taxi driver on one canal. For 2 euros, I let a porter carry my two small bags. I’m glad I did. He went straight to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express red carpet reception area. They had me listed as a Mrs. But a quick check with a supervisor confirmed the clerk’s suspicion that I was a man and all clear for departure.