Euro rail...What an "Adventure".

Oh, where to start... let's begin with our (Sara's) initial idea of what a train ride would be like.

We thought it was going to be a very relaxing and enjoyable evening with some new friends. We imagined our six person crouchette being large enough for everyone to stretch out, store their luggage comfortably, and engage in friendly chit chat. We assumed the other four passengers would be two other couples just like us...backpacking across Europe and super cool. Possibly one couple would be from Venice and would be open to taking us around town on their private boat. Once settled in, we would go to the second level to enjoy a nice dinner, have a drink, and meet more wonderful people. We have 13 hours on the train so plenty of time to eat and drink before heading back to the cabin for a nice long night of sleep. Boy were we WRONG!!!

Here is the actual evening...

After walking for nearly an hour with 30lbs. on our backs, we made it to the train station. We then spend the next 90 minutes trying to find an ATM, a bathroom, and pharmacia to treat Sara's never ending cold; not to mention identify which train was ours. Once our train arrived, we realized that we were on car 97 of 98 (we literally could have taken a train to get to our train). As we approached our car, Sara begins to realize that there wasn't a second level on this train, but thought nothing of it, "the dining area must be on the main level".

Upon entering the car, we quickly noticed the lack of space in the hallway leading to our crouchette. The next big shock was when we saw the size of the room we would be staying in with four other people. Sara begins to barrage the woman, who doesn't speak English, with questions about why the car is not as she had imagined it would be. We immediately noticed that this room would not only serve as our bed and seats, but that there was very little space for the passengers, not to mention the luggage.

Just as Colin had gotten our bags placed in the overhead compartment, which required him climbing up a ladder to the top bunk, "Luigi" steps in...Luigi is nearing 40, most likely lives in his mother's basement, and has three large bags, which he insists must be stored where Colin has just placed ours. All of which is spoken in broken Italian/English, over the head of the confused Frenchman (who speaks no English), standing underneath Colin wondering where he should store his one bag. At this point Sara returns from the wretched bathroom and notices that Colin is not looking well and gets him to check himself...he's at 24!

Considering our unsuccessful search of the train station, and preconceived notion of the dining options, we had no euros or snacks. Enter "Scotty", a middle aged woman and "railer" from Scotland with a fear of flying. She proceeds to inform us that all of the amenities that Sara thought that train life would provide, are nonexistent  on this train. Since we aren't able to leave our car until the attendant "Kabib" arrives to take our passports, we settle into our seats like one big happy family.

Colin eats his remaining glucose tablets, while Luigi polishes off a package of four candy bars and two sodas. We guess this explains why his pants were unbuttoned. As Sara questions why anyone would take the train, Luigi responds stating that he prefers to travel by train because "they don't search his bags". At this point, we say screw Kabib, and head to the dinner car... a whole adventure in itself.

The dining car is in car 83, which means we must go from car to car, while the train speeds recklessly down the track at 65 MPH. On our way, we find Kabib, who we beg for a room upgrade, or for any way out of the room we are in. He tells us to stop back after  we eat. The dinner car, while it wasn't as wonderful as Sara imagined, was a welcome sight, and we briefly discussed staying there all night. Little did we know that it might take that long to get served.

At dinner we spend over two hours attempting to order microwaved food, while three servers tumble back and forth into people and spilling food, while a line of 50 passengers fill the waiting area. We eventually eat and make our way back to Luigi and the car of hell. Along the way we find Kabib and strike a deal where we can join a car with only one other person in it, if we pay Kabib $40 (American) under the table. We are a bit concerned because he is the one holding our passports, but will do anything to keep from sleeping across from Luigi.

We rush back to the room, get our bags, and move into the darkened room occupied by one sleeping man, with Kabib nearby anxiously waiting for his $40. After paying off Kabib, we put our bags away, Sara pops a few sleepy sick pills, Colin eats his Toblerone (the only decent purchase from the dining car), and we settle in for a surprisingly sound night. 

We have many more stories from this evening that we are excited to share when we get back.

Love,

Sara & Colin