TRAIN STORY: RIDING THE LEGEND (Part 3)

You get your own hotel room. Usually with bathroom, wardrobe, even table and couch. Now that is one aspect of luxury train travel that far surpasses all other forms of transport.
AS SHARP AS CUT CRYSTAL

Each compartment on the Venice Simplon Orient Express was serviced by a steward and ours, a well-trained lad from the Outer Hebrides of Scotland had a wit as sharp as the cut crystal on his tea trays. He made our beds with impeccable precision and brought our breakfasts and afternoon teas right into our compartments. He also brought gossip from the train, the cities we were to visit and friendly banter.

The Scot was never at a loss for words until I asked him the "daunting question´ regarding the highlight of his career on the Venice-Simplon.

THE GOD HIMSELF

He closed his eyes for a moment as if to relive a moment kept close to his heart. In a reverent whisper he confided: "The time Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones hired out an entire carriage." A pause that brought me leaning closer. "We were talking about guitars one day and, he"?¦he let me play his guitar. His guitar! The god himself."

Yup that would surely be a memory to treasure. Now would that ever happen on a plane?

Orient Express www.orient-express.com