Military Officer - April 2006 - (Page 49)

T R AV E L I N S T Y L E Our journey on the American Orient Express would take us from Los Angeles to Seattle, a “coastal culinary adventure” that would afford us seven leisurely days traveling through Paso Robles and the Napa Valley wine country. Scheduled were excursions to Hearst Castle and stops in San Francisco and Portland, Ore. A culinary adventure We had boarded the American Orient Express at Union Station in Los Angeles. There were about 90 passengers, dressed casually in tennis shoes, baggy jeans, and sweat suits. I noted that most of these travelers were in their 70s or 80s. A white-gloved porter led us through the narrow passageway of the Monte Carlo Sleeping Car to our Vintage Pullman room. As we squeezed inside the 7-by-7-foot space, I tried to envision Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant lounging on the plush couch, but those stars would have opted for the Grand Suite with three times the space and a private shower. The double-sized Classical Presidential Suite and the largecabin Parlor Suite also had showers. Though our room had a private sink and toilet, there was no shower. The porter signed us up for morning baths, a trek down the passageway to the shower room that had towels, body creams, and shampoo. It proved to be more fun than inconvenient. Miriam and I unpacked, learning to sidestep each other adroitly in the cramped space. As the train lurched to a start, we quickly learned the joy of togetherness. We left our rolling room and ventured to the 1940s-era Seattle Club Car for a champagne reception. Trying out our “train legs,” we wobbled from side to side, brushing against the mahogany walls. We entered the Club Car and were greeted by the melodious sounds of “Bonnie” at the baby grand. (I learned that the piano had been lowered into Passengers relax in luxury in the train’s Lounge Car. the car from a hole cut into the roof.) I noted that most of the passengers were still in casual clothes — that is, all but two. There was one lady who stole Miriam’s heart. She looked to be close to 90, petite and perfectly coifed, dressed in a classic black, knee-length dress and high heels. “Made up like a doll,” Miriam said to me. At the lady’s side stood her well-dressed, whitehaired husband. Miriam talked to the couple and many of the others, quickly making friends with her outgoing, friendly personality. The sun had gone down by the time we took one last sip of champagne and walked to the Chicago Dining Car (there is a second dining car, the Zurich). There we encountered an old-world ambience: White linen-covered tables were adorned with fresh-cut ﬂowers and graced with Orient Express signature china. Long-stemmed wineglasses awaited our order. We soon learned that one doesn’t eat on the Orient Express, one dines. First came an appetizer of pan-seared sea scallop, followed by roasted butternut squash, a salad, then a choice of entrees: roasted strip loin, pan- Deluxe suites are available. seared duck breast, or sesame-crusted tuna. While I was wondering how all this gourmet food could be prepared in the train’s rolling, tilting 10by-5-foot kitchen, I noticed Miriam gazing at the reﬂections in the darkened window. “It’s as if time has been suspended,” she said. “Don’t you feel that this train, like the original Orient Express, evokes a time of romantic and adventurous train travel?” I remembered a quote I had read and said, “The Orient Express summons the romance that sleeps within us.” Touring the sights After a pleasant night of being lulled to sleep by the swaying of the train, passengers took a tour of the Eberle Winery in Paso Robles, Calif., where APRIL 2006 MILITARY OFFICER 49

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - April 2006

Military Officer - April 2006 Contents From the Editor President’s Page Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Lap of Luxury Magic Carpet of the Rails Blue Ridge Wonderland Salud, Santé, Cin Cin! Cover Story: Wounded Warriors On Duty MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services Pages of History Information Exchange Member Books MOAA Calendar Advertising Index Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - April 2006

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