Orient Express unconcerned about the economic crisis

The Orient Express luxury train that travels the Paris-Istanbul route doesn"t seem to pay any mind to the economic crisis, as those who want to travel on it are put on a waiting list. The train entered Romania Sunday night, through the Curtici Border Crossing Point in the County of Arad. The train is carrying rich, famous or even royalty travelers: 60 Brits, 18 Frenchmen, 15 Italians and three Germans. They are either residents or have businesses in Argentina, New Zealand, Holland, Denmark, France, and England.

A voyage on this train costs 7500 Euros. The train left Paris and went through Strasbourg, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest and Istanbul, on a six day trip. On Monday, passengers descended in Sinaia where they visited Peleş Castle and the Monastery of Sinaia, and later left for Bucharest.

Travellers have three restaurants available, Oriental, North Star and Cote D"azur. The menu featured luxury dishes, such as smoked salmon (36 Euros), escalope de foie - gras (32 Euros), Beluga caviar (390 Euros for a 50g dish), and a Baccari caviar dish which costs 220 Euros/75 grams. Passengers were served a banana and chocolate pyramid for dessert (14 Euros). Coffee served at the bar comes from Columbia and old wines were the passengers" favorites.

"We provide our guests with a voyage that keeps the flavor of 200 years ago, with typical music, fine cuisine, and travels through the most beautiful cities", said Bruno Jenssen, the manager of the train.

The train also features a store where passengers can buy souvenirs bearing the Orient Express label.