18 September

Dawn, and we’ve spent the night crossing Switzerland and the Alps without a glimpse, now well into France.



Our next stop, Gare de l’Ouest, Paris.



Time to stretch ourselves again . . . .



. . .and actually visit Paris, for a few moments!





Then back aboard . . .



through a Dining Car or two . . .







then the Bar Car





. . . time for a rest . . .





before brunch!



Smoked salmon on a bed of scrambled egg



or perhaps gaspatcho and avocado soup with sweet peppers?



Then, all too suddenly, we’re in Calais, disembarking to transfer to buses taking us aboard the Channel tunnel train . . .







. . . to Folkestone, England, where we board a British Pullman train bound for London . . . but not before we consume a high tea of scones and clotted cream!







all too soon to see familiar London sights (Pink Floyd anyone?) . . .



and pull into Victoria station, our final destination.







So ends a most memorable journey. Almost two days aboard the Orient Express service from Venice to London, more normally made these days via high speed express trains in a matter of hours. Who needs to rush?

But that's not the end of the tale . . .