pullman
MY JOURNEY 35
the end of the carriage (a small bag of toiletries is provided) I dressed and headed for breakfast.
Winter to spring The stewards and waiting staff were already up and about;
do they ever sleep? The sun was now up and the green of the trees and fields was in marked contrast to the wintery brown that had still been Chicago. If anything, the breakfast menu offered an even wider choice than last night’s dinner and proved equally tasty. My morning passed like a leisurely holiday, reading, drinking coffee, checking emails – there’s free internet throughout – gazing through the picture windows watching the Southern states go by and listening to more music in the Club Car. We made one more brief stop, which allowed a moment to stand on the platform in the warm sunshine. And then it was lunchtime with choices including Caesar Salad, burger, and chilled stuffed tomato. Scenically, the last hour or so into New Orleans is the most attractive as the train hurries past the bayous (swamps); I’m pretty sure I saw a couple of alligators basking in the sunshine. A new Chicago/ New York Pullman service will launch this autumn and this will offer stunning scenic backdrops. The last few miles into the Big Easy were snail paced but eventually we eased into a nondescript railway station, had our luggage placed on the platform, said our goodbyes to stewards, waiters and fellow passengers and headed off into New Orleans’ vibrant streets where a huge music festival was being staged in the French Quarter.
Good morning m’am
Southern charm
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Cabin comfort
Your gin and tonic sir
Chill out in the Club Car
Spoilt for choice
THE ITINERARY
19.15 Check into the Amtrak Passenger Lounge at Union Station, Chicago. 19.45 Escorted to the Premier Rail Collection Pullman coaches attached to the end of the Amtrak train. 20.00 The long train eases out of Chicago. I freshen up and head for the Club Car for a drink and to meet my fellow passsengers. Then it was upstairs to the dining car for dinner and back to the Club Car for a few more beverages while being entertained by a guitarist/singer and sax player.
08.30 A lavish breakfast with options
from fresh fruit cup through to steak and eggs. A morning alternating between the Club Car and my room reading, listening to more music or just watching the world go by. 13.00 A light (by American standards) lunch and then more relaxing. 15.45 The train edges into New Orleans Union Station and I walk the short distance to the Hyatt Regency Hotel before exploring New Orleans, right in the middle of the ‘World’s Biggest Free Music Festival’.
WHERE TO BOOK IT GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS
The American Pullman 2014 tour (Tour Code PUG4) is a luxury tour of the eastern United States that includes a night on the beautifully-restored Pullman train, with meals and drinks included. Also on the itinerary are lunch cruises around Manhattan and on Lake Michigan, a dinner jazz cruise on a Mississippi steam boat, 22 meals in total during the tour and a live Broadway show. Fifteen days are from £3,575.
01904 521 980;
GreatRail.com/UK
Cooked to perfection
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