Transalpine Express.....

So I have managed to be fairly sparing in my photograph taking, until today! We were given the option to board the Transalpine Express, a train the travels for 4.5 hours across the mountain range from the west to east coast. Half of us opted to do it. We boarded at Christchurch at 8:15am and were given lovely seats on a posh train (well one up from Britsh Rail!). There was a viewing car, which I had had visions of lounging in drinking G&T's, until I found out that it was open to the elements (so bloney cold), a bit like a cattle carriage, and there was a tendency to have Japanese cameras shoved in front of you just as you lined up the perfect shot! But the views were breathtaking (or maybe that was the cold air!!!!)

The time just flew by, and I barely sat down in my seat. Being a hardy Northerner I outlasted most of the others! In fact after the initial excitement most of the Japanese tourists slept the rest of the way! The best Japanese tourists are sleeping ones!!!!

I am not sure what it is exactly, but there is definitely something exciting about taking a train journey that you don't get from travelling the same way in a car. My favourite memories from previous holidays involve train or boat journeys. You just see a more unreserved, ordinary everyday way of life. Their ordinary becomes our extraordinary.