Put me on a train and you can pretty much color me happy. I’m still waiting for someone to build railroad tracks across the Atlantic Ocean and I’d never fly again. Love trains. Hate planes. It’s that simple.
Trains are all about an era gone by. Think of trains and think of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. Classic.
The Classics
It’s all about the classics and it’s all about watching the world pass by and losing yourself in daydreams. You can see so much from the window of a train, staring out at the picture perfect landscapes seemingly running alongside of you, or even behind you for that matter.
And just as you’re completely lost in your thoughts you’ll experience that suddenly loud whoosh… of another train passing by at high speed. So close you feel as if you have to hold your breath in fear of the two trains colliding. It’s exhilarating!
Where to Go?
I still vividly remember the day I learned Eurail agreed to partner with us. Lying in bed reading emails I came across the good news, leaped out of bed and nearly gave Abi a heart attack. He was peacefully brushing his teeth, when I began to joyously dance about the apartment. Guess what?! Guess what?!
With 10 days of train travel to call our own, I was like a kid having just been given a $10 bill to spend in a candy store. Where to go?!
A Mis-Guided Notion
There is a long-standing romantic notion of using a pass to hop on/off trains on a whim, but truthfully, I believe those days are gone because train travel in Europe has become so popular. We carefully chose our train travel dates based on our overall itinerary and it worked out really well for us. We did manage to spend a day hopping on/off when we traveled from Aix en Provence to Marseilles to Arles and back again in one day. Yep. It worked and we had a fabulous day.
A Bit Bleary Eyed
Traveling by train is not always perfect, we did experience a few delays along the way, but overall it was so much fun. Well, the overnight train from Porto to Madrid left us a bit more than bleary eyed, but it was still a good experience – one to add to the list of, okay, that was different but still good. I thought we’d never get through the 100 numbers in front of us at the Barcelona train station where we waited to make reservations for a train to Aix en Provence.
The Eurail Pass
The great thing about a Eurail pass – aside from saving money – is the flexibility. I’ll let you in on a little secret… if you play by the rules you are supposed to fill in your date of travel before you board the train. But, as long as you don’t fill in the date of travel on your pass, until you are actually on the train, that day is unaccounted for and still available for travel. So, if for some reason you miss your train, or just change your travel plans, you don’t lose a travel day. Sshhh… don’t tell anyone.
We did learn, however, that even with the pass you’ll need reservations as some trains are extremely popular, such as the train from Paris to Bayonne. And, you will have to pay a reservation fee which is calculated by your travel destination points. You’ll still come out ahead though using the Eurail pass.
The Party Bus
No worries if you can’t reach your destination by train; we scored a great bus connection using our Eurail pass. I dubbed this baby the party bus because if offered comfortable seats, power outlets, free WiFi, a WC and a vending machine! We arrived in Nuremberg by train and connected to the party bus for the drive to Prague. It worked!
Riding the Rails
Lest you think travel by train is less than comfortable… check out this meal we were served while riding the rails between Madrid and Barcelona!
I have to admit we never figured out how to tell if we were going to be served a meal or not, but we just looked at it as a surprise perk of the day if we did. We were also served a box lunch while traveling across Germany. While traveling from Barcelona to Aix en Provence, we watched a full-length movie – Disney’s Planes.
There’s nothing like a train for being able to stretch out and totally relax while watching the world go by – with your eyes closed. Put me us on a train and you can pretty much color me us happy.
So what do you think, is exploring Europe by train in your future?
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The French bullet trains are fantastic! We took one from South of France to Barcelona and across France. They are on time, comfy, efficient and easy to use. In high contrast with Amtrak which is rather archaic in comparison. No comparison!! Haha…The romance of trains can still be found, in Europe. I would also ratger takea train when possible, than a plane ( except for in the U.S.)
Peta
Green Global Trek recently posted…Colombo’s Pettah Market ~ the mother of all markets
They are indeed! So comfortable, lots of leg room, you can get up and walk around and my favorite part, watching the world pass by. I love it. There’s just something old-school magic about traveling by train. And, you’re right, no comparison to Amtrak. 🙂
My only experience with trains in the US left me disappointed. I really like to drive or walk on my journeys but would consider a train in areas where that’s not possible.
Gaelyn recently posted…Catstair Canyon rock art Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Train travel in Europe is v-e-r-y different from train travel in the states. I agree about driving – road trips are my favorite.
I’m not sure I exactly understand that thing about when to write the date on your ticket that we are not supposed to tell anyone about. This means it is probably fairly certain that I won’t be able to tell anyone about it—- at least not convincingly. As another commenter mentioned, I also find it somewhat disconcerting to be sitting across from a stranger on a train. On our last European train ride from Munich to Vienna, we a shared a table with a nice young couple from Ireland. I wonder what they say about us because before the end of the journey, I spilled my diet coke on the guy’s lap.
Suzanne Fluhr recently posted…Sisterhood of the World (Travel) Bloggers
Spilled your diet coke in his lap – way to leave your mark! 😉 We only had 1 situation in which our reserved seats were facing two other seats. The 4th seat facing Abi was empty so I sat there instead of next to him. When the 4th person got on the train, in the middle of the night, I was 1/2 asleep and sitting in his seat – I asked if he wouldn’t mind sitting in the seat next to Abi. It worked. But yes, those two facing two are not ideal.
I love train journeys and would love to go on the Orient Express, I have dreamt of doing that ever since reading the Agatha Christie’s book Murder on the Orient Express. I often use the train to visit my sister in London and I have done the cross country one to Scotland. It can be a bit expensive though, but it is usually a comfortable journey. I think the Eurail Train Pass can be a very good way of travelling by train across Europe, looks like you both had a lovely time.
Gilda Baxter recently posted…Climbing Mount Snowdon – The Hardest Hike of my Life
Oh yes, traveling on the Orient Express would be the ultimate in train travel. Maybe if I win the lottery!! 😉
My only problem with trains in Europe is that the seats facing each other are so close. My knees actually touched the knees of the woman across from me. I felt as though I was in her lap. And tried not to listen to her conversation with the guy next to her. Other than that trains are fantastic. Rolling from the airport to Rome is so cool. I can’t believe all the gardens on balconies. And the train stations themselves are fascinating.
The train stations can be incredible, I’m thinking of Porto, Portugal which has amazing blue tiled walls. And the uber modern Frankfurt train stations where the upper level is all glass panels. Stations are an experience in themselves, for sure!