tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9000832674489101851.post4659594209297343748..comments2011-11-04T20:54:04.380-05:00Comments on Impermanent State: 053: Globetrekkingristeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06959668004016755353noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9000832674489101851.post-66035569796374526302011-02-25T20:31:19.455-06:002011-02-25T20:31:19.455-06:00@mlle-madeleine I saw a PBS special on the Orient ...@<a href="#c4624356776578909936" rel="nofollow">mlle-madeleine</a> I saw a PBS special on the Orient Express last year and it's basically my dream trip. If only we had a North American equivalent...risteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959668004016755353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9000832674489101851.post-46243567765789099362011-02-25T19:43:29.232-06:002011-02-25T19:43:29.232-06:00Side note: I have a goal of taking the Orient Expr...Side note: I have a goal of taking the Orient Express before I die, because it is still high class and freaking awesome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9000832674489101851.post-33603170273254065232011-02-25T19:39:08.021-06:002011-02-25T19:39:08.021-06:00I and the one I presume you're going to visit ...I and the one I presume you're going to visit shared Venice-to-Budapest and Budapest-to-Florence, both of which were pretty long and included multiple border crossings. Definitely worth it, if nothing else for the experience, but it's sadly true that the experience isn't quite the same here in the States. Not that we were traveling in luxury on the Hungarian rail line, but North America is much bigger than Europe and our rail system is less used/maintained. So as you've discovered, not much of a savings, plus really long trips.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9000832674489101851.post-47761142948811315922011-02-25T16:48:18.235-06:002011-02-25T16:48:18.235-06:00@kevinknudson Thanks, Kevin -- I didn't know ...@<a href="#c6541002829767202247" rel="nofollow">kevinknudson</a> Thanks, Kevin -- I didn't know about the age of tracks/trains on the Amtrak routes. Train vs. plane would save a little over $100, which doesn't seem like a lot, but makes a big difference for me. Guess I'll just keep saving up my pennies for the plane ticket...risteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959668004016755353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9000832674489101851.post-65410028297672022472011-02-25T13:08:36.302-06:002011-02-25T13:08:36.302-06:00ok. i've actually done a longish train ride (...ok. i've actually done a longish train ride (a couple, actually) and i don't recommend it. Amtrak is not like the TGV--those tracks are smooth, the trains comfortable. Amtrak is at best 1930s rails with 1960s era trains. the 15-hour trip i took from Jackson, MS to Chicago was one of the worst of my life. i can't imagine the three-day affair from MN to Vancouver.<br /><br />how much cheaper is it really? in my experience, you don't save that much on the train. <br /><br />just my two cents...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com