""I am never sure of time or place upon a Railroad. I can't read, I can't think, I can't sleep - I can only dream," wrote Charles Dickens in his journal during the 1850s. "Rattling along in this railway carriage in a state of luxurious confusion, I take it for granted I am coming from somewhere, and going somewhere else ... I know nothing about myself - for anything I know, I may be coming from the Moon.""
"Arriving at Istanbul's historic Sirkeci Station after a stroll through the city's vibrant centre, boxes of baklava in tow, guests are greeted with a welcome fit for a king. The entire train platform has been transformed into a makeshift open-air Turkish tea house, with steaming hot çay (a potent, dark amber Turkish tea) being served in areas decked out with intricate carpets, upholstered footstools, brass and copper trays."
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express operates a five-night luxury rail journey from Istanbul to Paris with scheduled stops in Bucharest, Sinaia and Budapest. Each carriage has been meticulously restored and dates to the early 20th century, with individual histories such as King Carol using Sleeping Car 3425 in 1940 and Sleeping Car 3544 serving as a wartime brothel. Arrival at Istanbul's Sirkeci Station features an open-air Turkish tea house on the platform, serving steaming hot çay amid carpets, footstools and brass trays while traditional music plays and wet-plate portraits are taken. Guests board into period suites named after European cities and are shown to cabins by stewards.
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