Venice to Paris on the Orient Express

After a great three days, a water taxi

leaves the Bauer Hotel to taking us

to the station and the Orient Express

Approaching the Academia Bridge on the Grand Canal (left) and (right) our taxi driver chats to a buddy as they drive in parallel in bright early morning sunshine.

Venice Santa Lucia station. Looks like any other station - but the train should be something different.

After the highlights of Budapest, Vienna and Venice we had left the best until last - or so we hoped - We were about to find out

The Express leaves Venice with a last view of the Lagoon (left)

A short time later we take tea in impressive surroundings. Note the careful colour coordination of G's jacket with the lamp shade lampshade!!.

(Below) A good shot of the dark blue train climbing into the Dolomites then reaching the top of the Brenner Pass and the Austrian border (right).

(Left) Into Austria and the Tyrol heading for Innsbruck the first snow of winter just visible on the peak to the left of the church spire.

With the sun going down Jacky inspects the magnificent dining car before going to change.

The food matched the grandeur of the decor and was superb - we even managed to persuade the waiter to locate an off menu sweet white with the pate de fois gras - in a neat twist he found a glass of Hungarian Tok

Bright and early the next morning Jacky enjoys

breakfast in one's 'suite' passing through

champagne country approaching Paris and the

end of this superb experience.

And yes, as good as Budapest, Vienna and

particularly Venice had been - we had left

the best until last!!