This is said to be one of the “Great” rail journey’s of the world. Originally running between Cusco & Machu Picchu in Peru, South America, but for the last year or so, starting some 40 minutes from Cusco at the small village of Poroy. This is due to the length of the journey (4 hours, from Cusco, many tourists think this is too long in a train!!) This diesel service now takes approx 2 hours to complete the journey to the Lost City of the Inca’s. The train follows the river through the Urubamba valley for much of the journey. We travel through the 1000ft gorges, the mountain peaks are dusted with snow and on this Vistadome Express are made to feel like Inca Kings & Queens. At the new main station of Machu Picchu, ( the old one in the middle of the town is now used by back packers & locals only), is in the centre of the tourist hotel area, it allows rail fans, such as us, the benefits of seeing all of the trains from the comfort of our hotel. We have managed to film some scenes in the main street, plus within the new staion and also from our hotel balcony. For more info on our other productions, please log onto www.sprucestudios.com. Filmed June 2009

Duration : 0:9:57

Read the rest of this entry

Technorati Tags: Bob, cusco, diesel, great, Inca's, journeys, Machu, Peru, Picchu, rail, sprucestudios, Symes, Travel

Ever since it took to the rails in 1883 the Orient Express has been known as the finest train in Europe; the “Grand Hotel on Wheels” Anyone of importance travelled on this famous train. Following its withdrawal in 1977 it has been totally restored at a cost of 16.5 millon Euros. Now the Orient Express runs once more.
We have painstakingly recorded all the minutiae of the rebuilding of carriages and the recreation of the sybaritic luxury of the service. We have captured the beauty of the journey, including a spectacular crossing of the Alps partly observed from our own helicopter.
With my co presenter of the world famous BBC “Making Tracks” series, Mary-Jean Hasler, I travelled on the restored Orient Express all the way from London to Venice via Paris. This exclusive film is the result of close cooperation between Bahnorama and Orient Express Ltd and is the official report about the “V.S.O. E.”. The DVD is available from www.bahnorama.com.

Duration : 0:2:15

Read the rest of this entry

Technorati Tags: Alpine, Bob, Crossing, express, luxury, Orient, Symes, Train, Travel, venice