Riding the Rails

(Posted by Ange written March 21st)
Well, we have completed all of our first class travel and I must say, I'm not really sure how I'm going to go back to coach come Friday when we board the plane.

Our first class train experience was fabulous. Keeping in mind I've never been on first class anything, this was definitely the way to go, in my opinion. That is once we figured out where the hell we were supposed to be on the train! Here is Ange and Dave's 1st Time Getting to First Class on the Alpha Pendular Train Experience:

Arrive at train station (Albufeira) at 6:30 A.M. to catch 7:06 train. Not knowing how it all works we figured we better be there early. So we were the first ones there. Apparently you don't really need to arrive until about 10 prior to departure time. Unfortunately the picture of me standing under the big clock that announces this god awful time is on Dave's computer or I'd post it here for proof that I was actually standing upright with my eyes open at that hour!

So, the train arrives. We have tickets but don't know what any of it means, so we figure "first class front of the plane, first class front of the train." (Later when we switch trains in Lisbon, we see the blatent labelling of "Conferto" and the carriage number on the side of the train.) We race down to the first train, barely getting our 2 enormous suitcases, 2 way to big duffel bags and 2 knapsacks (NEVER again will pack this much stuff!!) on the train before the doors close. Whew. We look around. This is not first class. Or it better not be! Dave goes to investigate while I wait with our ridiculous pile of luggage. 10 - 15 minutes later, Dave returns. Our first class seats are in the back, not near the back, but the last car. So we now have to lug all aforementioned luggage from the first car to the last car. I think there must have been 6 cars in-between, since we didn't sit down until 7:40, 35 minutes after we boarded the bloody train! Making your way with such luggage is no joke-the aisles are narrow and apparently all the friendly people in Portugal stay in the Algarve. I'm sure everyone hated us, but give me a break! Yes, lady, if you don't move your arm from dangling outside the seat my suitcase is going to hit it. Yes Mr. 250 pound heart attack waiting to happen, it might be considerate to MOVE instead of just standing between cars, carrying on your conversation with your equally ugly wife. It was unbelievable and by the end I was ready to tell anyone without common courtesy to Fuck. Right. Off. I'm not kidding when I say people coming toward (carrying nothing) us actually expected us to move somewhere (maybe they thought we could levitate or something). We had some very good laughs, but jeez!

Ahhhh... but we finally make it to our seats, leaving the riff raff behind. Although we have missed hot food service and magazine/newspaper give away, we do have seat service for light refreshments. We have so much space we don't even rub shoulders. My chair not only reclines for my back, but the bottom seat slides forward, so I am really chillaxin' here. We have coat hooks for our jackets (which I don't figure out until some time later, but I still think it's cool). There is an automatic blind should the sun be too bright or if for some reason we don't want to see the amazing scenery. And foot space! I am completely stretched out and my tray still comes down so I can have my tea. And the bathrooms... ladies you will appreciate this. So clean. They have toilet liners. The paper is softer than it was in my apartment in Albufeira. Everything is automatic. Yep! I'm liking this first class.

The scene between the Algarve and Porto is incredible, from vineyards, to cattle farms, forests, to flat plains, to the ocean with citrus trees thrown in everywhere. It's gorgeous and I don't sleep a wink of it. Although we are travelling at times over 220 km/hr, so it does rather wiz by, leaving me somewhat nauseous and with a bit of Vertigo for the rest of the day.

So now I am converted. Like I said, perhaps it is because I have never travelled first class anything, but in my opinion, first class on the train is one lovely experience and if I ever take a train again, it's first class all the way baby! And should I win the lotto, I'm moving on up to first class on the plane as well, which I picture to be somewhat similar. Look what Europe has done to me!!!