the orient express – travelling in style

by Sharon Santoni

So how often is it that you receive an invitation to spend a day on the Orient Express?   Not so often in my experience, so when that envelope arrived a few weeks ago, I was beyond happy.  And while I don’t often include ‘sponsored content’ on this blog, here was something that was definitely worth breaking the rules for!

I had seen the new Kenneth Branagh film a few weeks earlier, and loved the whole mystique and romance of travelling on the luxury train.  My hopes for the day were high and I was not disappointed.

We set off to any early start from our Paris hotel and quickly drove through the dark streets to the Gare de l’Est where the train was parked at the end of a long red carpet.   We were welcomed on board and shown to our places which of course were not your usual grimy train seats, but plush deep seated armchairs that were not even attached to the train.   Coffee was served while we chatted together and learnt more about the programme for the day.  The aim was obviously to give us as much information as possible about the making of the film.

But first breakfast, because how can a girl be expected to give her best if she doesn’t get the day off to a good start, right?!    We were served tea, coffee, juice and fresh fruits and pastries, with monogrammed  napkins, hotel silver  and waiters in white jackets.  Perfection…. heading east out of Paris, we watched the landscapes change as we crossed the countryside on our way to Champagne.

Before arriving at our destination I had a chance to talk with James Prichard, the great grandson of Agatha Christie.   Agatha had taken the Orient Express several times, and because she always wrote from her own experiences, it was natural for her to use the beautiful train for one of her most loved stories.   I asked him about growing up with such a famous family member, and whether she told great tales around the dinner table.   Turns out that she had the habit, each evening of reading out loud all that she had written that day ….. and that her husband systematically fell asleep while she read!

As I walked back to my seat after the interview, I wondered whether Christie would have been so enthralled by the comfort on board the train, or whether she was used to the high life and took it all for granted.

Of course Murder on the Orient Express is all about solving a mysterious murder on board the train.   In the film Ratchett, an American business man, is found stabbed in his train compartment.  By chance Hercule Poirot is on board and at leisure to solve the crime.   In a surprise flourish he reveals that Ratchett is actually an infamous gangster called Cassetti, responsible for the kidnapping and murder of a three year old heiress, and of course inthe end he reveals the culprit(s)!

As she wrote the novel,   Christie was inspired by  the true and tragic tale of the aviator Charles Lindbergh’s son who was kidnapped and murdered.    This was a dreadful event that was in all the newspapers for months until the  murderer was found, and it most certainly made a deep impression on Christie.

By weaving this true event into a murder mystery on board a luxurious train, she created a story that has held readers enthralled since first published in 1934.

Back to our day.    After lunch at Reims, and a visit to the Veuve Clicquot champagne cellars, (yes, I know… it was a tough day) we climbed back on board and it was time for me to meet  Alexandra Byrne, oscar winner and the costume designer for the film.

This was fascinating.  I was expecting to talk with someone passionate about details, but still amazed to learn that in her quest for elegance and authenticity, she actually had fabric specifically woven for certain items of clothing, such as Hercule Poirot’s impeccable suit.      She explained the long and meticulous process of reading the story,  researching designs, and then adapting ideas to the screenplay.    I’ll watch the film again, just for the costume detail.

The fun continued with a lesson in cocktail making, more champagne and a delicious tea served in the restaurant carriage.

If you haven’t seen the film, or if like me, you think you’d like to see it again at home, then just click HERE to purchase on-line, or find it on DVD or Blue Ray.

And if you’d like to see more images of the day, then pop over to my instagram, and watch the Orient Express story in my highlights.   A day I’ll remember for a long time to come!

49 comments

Kimberly February 20, 2018 - 5:52 pm

What a beautiful post!! I’ve been a Christie fan as long as I can remember and a ride on the Orient Express has been on my bucket list since I was a teenager. Your photos were gorgeous and I particularly loved the details you shared about the costumes for the movie. Who knew that brilliant designer had the fabric specially woven? I will have to watch it again now with an eye for those details. Merci!

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Denise February 21, 2018 - 3:36 am

I so agree- what a wonderful experience!

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Valorie February 20, 2018 - 6:23 pm

So elegant! Thank you for sharing your amazing experience with us!

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Dawn Johnson February 20, 2018 - 6:27 pm

I enjoyed this post Sharon, I really enjoyed the movie when it came out. I thought it was filmed so spectacularly. Now I would like to see it again. I will be in Paris for a few days and this would be a wonderful day trip for my friend and I. Do you have details about this excursion? I’ve tried looking it up but I’m not finding the right trip.

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Sharon Santoni February 20, 2018 - 6:36 pm

Hi Dawn, I’m afraid this is not a regular excursion, it was a special trip organised to announce the digital release of the Orient Express movie.

Hope that helps 🙂

Sharon

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Mary from Life at Bella Terra February 20, 2018 - 6:30 pm

Sharon, what a wonderful blog post today. Back in 2001, my husband and I took the Orient Express from London to Southampton (too short a trip) before we boarded a cruise ship. You pictures revived those memories for me. Not only do I want to watch the movie, but we hope to revisit the Orient Express for our 25th wedding anniversary in 2020. Especially like the details about the costume design! What a fabulous experience for you!

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Gina February 20, 2018 - 6:34 pm

Dear Sharon, Oh what fun you must have had. Thank you for sharing photos.
Is it possible to spend just one day on the Orient Express and not take the train from Paris all the way to Venice? Or was this by special invitation only?

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Sharon Santoni February 20, 2018 - 6:37 pm

This was a special invitation Gina, just to remind us how wonderful it all was in the film 🙂

Sharon

x

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Janet Schanzenbach February 20, 2018 - 6:38 pm

Sharon, Let’s add that to the next Luxury and Antique Tour, I know I would want to go! It looks like a wonderful adventure.

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Sharon Santoni February 20, 2018 - 7:24 pm

Wouldn’t that be wonderful Janet, not sure if I can swing the Orient Express tho’ ! One to think about 🙂

Sharon
xx

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Carole J February 20, 2018 - 6:50 pm

Hi Sharon, just love the pic of you boarding the train! Fabulous post, I was reading it so fast as it was so captivating. Carole J

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Teresa Martens February 20, 2018 - 7:12 pm

How wonderful! I’ve always been a fan of Hercule Poirot and his perfect suit and mustache. I’m looking forward to seeing the new movie. Thank you for sharing!

Warm Regards,
Teresa
Hen in a Farmhouse Nest
farmhousenest.com

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Ginger February 20, 2018 - 7:14 pm

It’s always been a dream of mine to travel on the Orient Express! How wonderful an experience for you. Trying to contain a tad of envy!

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Alice Genzlinger February 20, 2018 - 7:19 pm

A once in a lifetime dream experience. Thanks for sharing.

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Sandra Walker February 20, 2018 - 7:37 pm

What a fabulous day for you – I’m green-eyed lol xx

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Lydia February 20, 2018 - 7:58 pm

Sharon what a wonderful post. So glad you “broke the rule” for that one. I may have to put a train on my bucket list.

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Tanya Foster February 20, 2018 - 8:26 pm

So fun to meet you on board the Orient Express. You captured the day perfectly.
xoxo- Tanya
http://www.TanyaFoster.com

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Marsha February 20, 2018 - 8:51 pm

Wow, Sharon, what a wonderful and glamourous experience! I really do envy you this awesome treat. Travelling on the Orient Express has always been on the top of my bucket list so I loved seeing your photographs and reading of this delightful day.

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bonnie groves poppe February 20, 2018 - 9:15 pm

Wish the day trip was a regular run! I visited the Orient Express when it was on exhibit (or some of the cars at least) at the Musee du Monde Arabe in Paris a few years back. They had it set up as if christie, poirot, etc had just left their seats. It was really interesting, loved it. Will try to do a trip on it one day. I’m already living in France, easier than if you’re in the US.
bonnie

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Marianne C Whitman February 20, 2018 - 9:17 pm

Hi Sharon. Oh what a wonderful, exciting experience you had. Something so special to look forward to. The pictures were lovely, so fancy and the menu sounds lovely too. I am so glad you got to experience this and shared it so beautifully with all of us. Thank you for that pleasure. I am definitely going to watch Murder on the Orient Express again.

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Cheri Hansen February 20, 2018 - 9:33 pm

You look so beautiful Sharon…What a wonderful time you must have had….I still hold sweet memories of my tour with you and others.

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Nan February 20, 2018 - 9:37 pm

Sharon, my husband and I travelled from Venice to Paris on the Orient Express and it was a once in a lifetime experience! I took the opportunity at that time to read Agatha’s novel….fun! We saw the movie and it brought back a flood of memories. Thanks so much for another blast of memories!

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PATRICIA H. Flournoy February 20, 2018 - 10:03 pm

Like a luxurious dream! What a treat!

My husband & I took the OE from Singapore to Bangkok…what a great memory…it was like walking back in time to elegant living…

Thank you for sharing..

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PATRICIA H. Flournoy February 20, 2018 - 9:54 pm

Like a luxurious dream! What a treat!

My husband & I took the OE from Singapore to Bangkok…what a great memory…it was like walking back in time to elegant living…

Thank you for sharing..

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Donna February 20, 2018 - 10:02 pm

Thank you for this article and beautiful photos! My husband and I caught the Orient Express from London to Venice via Paris in 1984…. it was exquisite! A journey everyone should try to enjoy.
I will now enjoy watching the movie!

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Adam February 20, 2018 - 10:21 pm

Absolutely stunning photos. Classy & elegant. I’m going to look into checking out the movie!

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Roxane Lacroix February 20, 2018 - 11:26 pm

Traveling on the Orient Express has always been a dream of mine since reading Christie’s book when I was a teenager. It looks like everything I’ve dreamed of and hopefully, one day, I’ll be able to make it a reality. Loved the Instagram video and happy to know that I’ve been opening champagne bottles correctly all these years, lol It’s upsetting when people blast the cork out…what a terrible waste of champagne!!The train is so elegant, loved the monogrammed napkins and all the attention to detail. You looked quite stunning! Thank you for sharing!

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Kathryn Gauci February 20, 2018 - 11:45 pm

Fabulous post, Sharon. What a marvellous experience. I have long been fascinated with the Orient Express both as a traveller and writer. Last year I was in Istanbul and sat in the Orient Express bar at Sirceci Station for an hour waiting to meet my husband. The station still retains the mood of the heyday of the Orient Express days with wonderful photographs of Agatha and other great names.We also stayed at the Pera Palace which was once owned by the Wagons Lit Company. The bar and the train feature in my next full novel, especially the opening chapter. Your pictures and experience served to spur me on and sent me spiralling into that luxurious world. Thank you.

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Roxane Lacroix February 21, 2018 - 2:28 am

Oooo, this sounds marvelous! I’ve added your books to my Goodreads list.

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Bronwyn Lee-Coward February 21, 2018 - 12:30 am

What a lucky girl you were to receive that very special invitation. Photos divine as always and your enthusiasm and descriptions made me feel like I was there. You look as elegant as the setting and mood of the experience in the end shot.Thank you for sharing.

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Dianne Adams February 21, 2018 - 2:07 am

Oh, my!!! I’ve always had such a fantasy about traveling on the Orient Express. Thanks for sharing!!

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Esther George February 21, 2018 - 2:28 am

An elegant ride for an elegant lady…Hi Sharon this was a treat for me, I watch everything Agatha Christie, you could say I am a huge fan. I will be sharing this with my daughter and my niece (also a big fan). Thank you for sharing beauty, you have made my day as always. Till next time, regards Esther from Sydney.

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Sue Malizia February 21, 2018 - 2:34 am

That’s what I’d call a great day trip! =) Loved your photos and seeing you on board. Hoping to experience it for myself someday.

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Debra Pinck February 21, 2018 - 4:06 am

What a fabulous opportunity. I saw the film when it first came out and loved it. Thank you for sharing this wonderful day. Just beautiful

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Pat February 21, 2018 - 4:08 am

Loved your post and pics and I loved the film too. Thanks for sharing this special day.
Pat

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Karen T. February 21, 2018 - 4:48 am

I adored the film and will have to se it again with particular attention to the costumes.

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Karen T. February 21, 2018 - 4:49 am

*see

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Stacy February 21, 2018 - 7:04 am

Sounds like a fabulous trip! I had a similar opportunity once to attend a luncheon served in an elegant renovated private rail car (apparently in the days before cars the very wealthy traveled in their own private rail cars attached to trains.) Was a lovely chance to escape into another era. Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip with us here.

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audrey williamon February 21, 2018 - 8:31 am

such an interesting account for an Agatha Christie book and film fan like me ! I enjoyed the ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ film equally as much for the costumes, train elegance and all that was lovely about the style and fashion of those times, as the story itself. Like you, Sharon, I will be watching it again (& possibly many times again), for the wonderful ambiance. i must compliment you, too, Sharon – you also looked so much the elegant part too.

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Taste of France February 21, 2018 - 10:59 am

Some movies, like this one, really let us travel through time (and what a cast!). Your photos also capture the mood of the period beautifully. Such romance!
Thank you for all the behind-the-scenes details. And the bit about Christie reading aloud what she’d written–no wonder her books are so delicious; we hear the music and rhythm of the words even if we are reading silently.

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Mary E Stawarz February 21, 2018 - 1:31 pm

I too have seen and enjoyed Murder on the Orient Express. I appreciate the details about Agatha Christie writing and reading her work to her husband. It made me smile that he would fall asleep. The historical correlation to the Lindbergh kidnapping and murder were quite tragic. I vaguely remember my father recounting this story when I was very young. Also I liked the details of costume designer and design. All of the details made this a very enjoyable post. Thank you.

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Emily Heston February 21, 2018 - 5:19 pm

Thank you for breaking the rules. I have always been fascinated by the Orient Express, what a very special invitation indeed!! Will find you on instagram!!

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Tinger February 22, 2018 - 9:17 pm

Great job! These photos are amazing and happy you had a great experience!

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Susan February 23, 2018 - 1:10 am

I absolutely ADORE your posts ~ feel like I’m right their with you on your adventures!
Thank you

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This & That: February 23, 2018 – The Simply Luxurious Life® February 23, 2018 - 10:01 am

[…] ~Sharon Santoni of My French Country Home had the opportunity to travel on the Orient Express. Take a look at her beautiful images and the reason for the invitation. […]

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Ewan February 25, 2018 - 10:25 am

Thanks so much for the post.Really thank you! Keep writing.

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Parisbreakfast February 26, 2018 - 8:33 am

Such atmospheric photographs! And what a fabulous trip! I saw yhe trains at the monde arabe exhibit too. Thanks for the link to rent the movie.
As usual i am behind the 8-ball.

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Donna D March 5, 2019 - 1:42 pm

My husband and I were lucky enough to enjoy an overnight trip on the Orient Express from London to Venice, via Paris in 1984. It was truely magnificent and reading your delightful story brought back such lovely memories. The photos are beautiful….thank you.

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