In last week’s edit, we suggested reading the classic novel Murder on the Orient Express. Well, why not ride the modern day version yourself? First, a little history… In the late 1800s, Georges Nagelmackers, a European railway entrepreneur with deep pockets, was traveling in the U.S. when he rode in one of Pullman’s groundbreaking sleeper cars. Nagelmackers became determined to bring a similar overnight train travel experience to Europe. After many fits and starts, in 1883 he was able to establish a route between Paris and Istanbul (at that time, Constantinople). Though it would go no further east, newspapers of the time dubbed the train the “Orient Express” and the name stuck. What immediately set the Orient Express apart from other train travel was its commitment to a luxury experience. Intricately paneled train cars were decked out in leather furnishings, with silk linens, Persian rugs and other finery. Meals were extravagant. Musicians performed during cocktail hour. And, in an era when dressing for travel was an art form, the overall experience was one of pure elegance. Riders likened it to staying in the finest European hotels. It became the preferred form of travel for kings, celebrities, titans of industry, and, famously […]