Comments on: International Train Travel: An Evangelist’s Rant

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:23:40 +0000

In reply to Beth. Hey Beth, I think it was my long-distance train trips in childhood that clinched my love of trains!

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:07:51 +0000

I love train travel,as a child, our family went to visit my moms family in England, the Seanes rolling by, the hypnotic hums of the rails more train travel is defitnately on my bucket list

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 16:02:59 +0000

In reply to David DeWitt. David - Seat61 is my all-time favourite most useful travel planning resource (for overland travel, anyway). Love it!

By: David DeWitt

David DeWitt — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 02:13:24 +0000

In reply to theprofessionalhobo. Wow! I love the Seat61 fella's site! So much great information over there! Nora, you are an ever expanding source of great information! :)

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:11:23 +0000

@Jerry – I remain a train travel (and overland travel) enthusiast, but I must say if you have to get somewhere in a hurry, it’s not always the best way! What was supposed to be a 14 hour bus ride (in Florida) just morphed into a 24 hour one! Ah well….sigh…..it brings new meaning to being “along for the ride”, and I must admit I enjoy sitting back and watching human dynamics in situations like these.

Enjoy the ride!

By: Jerry Lutkenhaus

Jerry Lutkenhaus — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:37:25 +0000

I just read your article about Paul Theroux and traveling on trains. He is my favorite travel writer. As another commentator pointed out his book The Great Railway Bazaar is a wonderful read. He took this train through India 30 years ago I believe and then redid it 30 years later and did a new book. Theroux’s quote about arriving by plane is exactly how I always feel. My wife’s father worked for CSX railroad so as a young girl her family was able to travel anywhere in this US by rail at no costs!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:59:19 +0000

@Baron’s – What an amazing train adventure! Wow. And yes, you learned an early lesson in life: hygiene in other parts of the world follows quite a different set of acceptable “rules” than we may be used to!
https://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/vietnam-food-culture-coffee-street-food-and-hygiene/

By: Baron's

Baron's — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:22:53 +0000

Well done Nora…Paul Theroux is my favorite writer of all times…another interesting book of his is “The great railway bazzare” an absolute delight to read….
I also love train travel…My first long train ride occured when I was 14 or thereabouts…my mom, sister and I took a train ride from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbul…and I remember it was a slow ride in those days with many in between stops …(To pick up or drop off passengers) at many stations and local drabby looking vendors came on board hawking all kinds of food and merchandise from newspapers to cigarettes to candies to ammenities and drinks…I remember buying a newspaper wrapped lot of delicious chechi beans and to this day I love Chechi beans…it’s a miracle I didn’t get sick from that because come to think of it, it was not what I would call a very sanitary meal or snack…..I remember the lady who sold it to me was wearing a shabby looking old green dress , had a head scarf partially wrapped around her head and neck, was bare footed, had dirty finger nails and looked meek and weak. I do not remember how we managed to communicate or transact but we did….on another stop, I hopped off the train and grabbed two cups of tea..(Chai) one for mom and one for myself…my 13 year old sister was asleep and didn’t much care for tea anyways….it was quite an experience that remains engraved in my brains and endeared in my heart for ever….Oui C’ete la belle vie sur le Train en Egypte et en Afrique.
Keep well Nora and keep writing

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:20:21 +0000

@Steve – I quite enjoyed using raileurope for my European train travels as well….it’s great for comparing prices and booking tickets. Between that and Seat61, taking the train in Europe is a breeze!

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 30 May 2011 19:05:06 +0000

Great blog!!!

I live in London and travel across Europe frequently using the trains. Not only is it better for the environment compared to flying and using a car, it adds a great sense of adventure!!!

As a train enthusiast I always use railway as it offers the most extensive range of train tickets throughout Europe, and you can plan your journey starting here in England.

Thanks,
Steve