Orient Express Arrives in Turkey from Paris, Inspires Novels
The historic Venice Simplon Orient Express train recently entered Turkey from Kapıkule Station, after departing from Paris and making stops in Budapest and Bucharest. The train, which is famous for being the subject of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” is scheduled to arrive in Istanbul in the afternoon. The 57 passengers on board were greeted by a folk dance team upon arrival in Turkey, and they joined in on the dancing as well. The train service officer, Wolfgang Eipeldauer, confirmed that the journey is a 5-night trip, during which passengers are served by a team of 40 staff members. Janet Mattar, one of the passengers, shared that they had a wonderful few days in Paris, followed by great experiences in Budapest and Bucharest, and that they are looking forward to exploring Istanbul. Another passenger, Ann Stern, described the train as being like a step back in time to the 1920s, with luxurious and beautiful decorations. The passengers all expressed their excitement to visit Istanbul’s famous sites, such as the Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, and Blue Mosque.
