Voyages de luxe
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Anyone who knows me well, will tell you that I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.
Admirer of 1920s glamour, opulent fashion and art deco design, it follows that a trip on the Orient Express is top of my list when it comes to dream voyages.
The Orient Express is synonymous with bygone opulence, romance and intrigue, certainly in part thanks to Agatha Christie and of course, Poirot, in Murder on the Orient Express. Train travel at its very best, I can only imagine that a voyage on the Orient Express would be out of this world… which it would certainly need to be for the price!
In this blog I will share with you some of the details of a voyage on the Orient Express, key vocabulary and texts in French and finally an opportunity to book a trip through a friend of mine who runs her own travel company.
Voyager est un art, comme illustrent à la perfection les élégantes cabines de l’Orient Express.
Le jour, les cabines à deux lits superposés vous proposent une banquette confortable d’où vous pouvez contempler le paysage qui défile sous vos yeux. La nuit, elles se transforment en chambres accueillantes, offrant un éclairage tamisé et des draps damassés. Les Cabines Suites sont les plus luxueuses et spacieuses, propice à la détente.
SOURCE: Orient Express
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Comprehension activity:
Match up the beginning and the end of each phrase
| In the day | …the cabins are transformed into welcoming bedrooms. |
| In the evening | …you can contemplate the countryside. |
| The suites | …are warmly lit and have damask sheets. |
| The cabines | …are the most luxurious. |
| From the couch | …the cabins have a comfortable couch. |
Vocabulaire
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Deux lits superposés
Bunk beds
Une banquette
A couch / unholstered bench
Le paysage
The countryside
Chambres accueillantes
Welcoming bedrooms
Un éclairage tamisé
Ambient lighting
Des draps damassés
Damask linen
Propice à
Conducive to
La détente
Relaxation
Selon moi…
Although any stay on the Orient Express would be just wonderful, I would certainly prefer to stay in a private suite!
I can just imagine spending the day relaxing in my suite, sipping champagne whilst watching the beautiful countryside rush by… then donning my best gown and heading to the restaurant for an evening of fine dining.
Very Poirot esq. Without the murder!
I don’t know about you…
…but I would love to have a reason to get dressed up! I have several gowns that I have collected over the years and although none of them would probably now fit and I would have to buy a new one… to be honest I would probably just want to buy a new one anyway so that really begs the question why am I holding on to my gowns? Just for posterity’s sake I guess. Do you do that too?
I would just love the excuse to wear a floor length sparkly dress like the one in this photo (but with less cleavage on show). I think I would have to go full on Poirot / Art deco glamour with the hair and make-up too!
Nourriture
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Le chef cuisinier primé Jean Imbert a rejoint le train légendaire, marquant une nouvelle ère gastronomique d’exception à bord. Jean Imbert associe le riche patrimoine du Venice Simplon-Orient-Express et sa propre passion pour les produits frais de saison pour créer des moments de perfection culinaire.
En repensant l’ambiance du restaurant et en apportant un niveau de précision classique à chaque menu, vous pouvez vous attendre à un véritable voyage gastronomique lors de vos visites des villes les plus exceptionnelles d’Europe.
En repensant l’ambiance du restaurant et en apportant un niveau de précision classique à chaque menu, vous pouvez vous attendre à un véritable voyage gastronomique lors de vos visites des villes les plus exceptionnelles d’Europe.
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Comprehension activity:
Finish the phrases from the first half of the text…
1) The head chef Imbert has joined the …
2) marking a new …
3) Imbert associates the … of the Orient-Express
4) with his … passion for …
5) to create …
1) The head chef Imbert has joined the …
2) marking a new …
3) Imbert associates the … of the Orient-Express
4) with his … passion for …
5) to create …
Jean Imbert
Voted Chef of the Year 2019 by GQ and one of the 50 Most Influential French People by Vanity Fair. Jean Imbert’s vision is to restore the glory of ancient French cuisine, with a new energy and vibrant soul.
Classical french cuisine with a new twist, adding the focus on fresh and seasonal produce this partnership sounds ideal. I am not, however, a massive fan of miniscule portions and overly fussy dishes with ridiculous names… do you think that’s what I would be confronted with on the Orient Express?
Le train
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Le train
accueillir – to welcome
passagers – passengers
Outre – other (than)
à bord – On board
Voitures – cars
accueillir – to welcome
passagers – passengers
Outre – other (than)
à bord – On board
Voitures – cars
Les restaurants
savoureuse – delicious
Verrerie – glassware
Argenterie – Silverware
Nappes – Linen
rappelle – reminds
savoureuse – delicious
Verrerie – glassware
Argenterie – Silverware
Nappes – Linen
rappelle – reminds
Le piano-bar
divertissement – entertainment
le lieu – the place
rencontrer – to meet
les autres – others
un verre – a glass
divertissement – entertainment
le lieu – the place
rencontrer – to meet
les autres – others
un verre – a glass
Infos pratiques…
– Le train peut accueillir 179 passagers. Outre les voitures-lits, on trouve à bord trois voitures-restaurants et une voiture-bar avec une boutique.
– Les trois restaurants promettent des expériences gastronomiques. On y mange une cuisine française et italienne savoureuse. Verrerie en cristal, argenterie et nappes damassées, toute la décoration rappelle l’époque des Années folles.
– Côté divertissement : le centre du train est le lieu de rendez-vous pour rencontrer les autres passagers autour d’un verre, tout en profitant de l’ambiance piano-bar d’antan.
Jean Imbert’s vision is to restore the glory of ancient French cuisine, with a new energy and vibrant soul.
Bon voyage
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Book your trip?!
What better way to reach Venice from London than an unforgettable trip on one of the world’s great rail journeys, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express?
Enjoy delicious food, great views and a romantic overnight stay onboard, before arriving in the magical city of Venice The classic London-to-Venice journey takes 30 hours and is the most popular – it costs from £3689pp for a 4-night trip (1 night on the Orient Express and 3 nights in Venice) through Railbookers.com.
Top tip…
Top tip from travel specialist Jenifer Compton: the reverse journey tends to be less popular, so often has better availability and is often cheaper. Alternatively, if you’re willing to be flexible with your itinerary, you can do a shorter overnighter between Florence and Paris from £2730pp.
Contact Jenifer: jenifer.compton@notjusttravel.com
Vist her website: www.jenifercompton.notjusttravel.com
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