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Cinderella had a glass slipper that allowed her to live happily ever after. As for me, you can keep the slipper and give me a glass-roofed train car any day of the week!
I’m on board the world famous Rocky mountain climber. The bucket list trip of train and travel enthusiasts from all over the world.
We travel via the First Passage To The West route, from Vancouver to Banff for two days of food, wine, travel stories and friendship, all framed by the breathtaking scenery of the Rocky Mountains. All aboard!
The train
I travel in their GoldLeaf Service, seat 31. This is their five-star carriage where the service and the view compete with equal enthusiasm. The GoldLeaf carriages feature a two-tiered glass dome or translucent roof so you can see every inch of the Canadian landscape.
A real mic-drop moment, both when you board and when you catch your first glimpse of the glorious Rockies. The leather adjustable seats are generous with a footrest and especially a seat heater!
Just like on a business class flight, there is a tray in your armrest, which you can work on while enjoying the signature cocktails. Downstairs is the dining room, where we are now going for breakfast.
The food
Breakfast and lunch are served daily in the dedicated GoldLeaf dining room. For breakfast it is difficult to choose between the Classic Eggs Benedict or the Lemon and Honey Buttermilk Pancakes. Eggs today, pancakes tomorrow!
Lunch is a delicious affair where you take time to chat with fellow travelers as you dine on three gourmet courses (shared starter, main course and dessert). I recommend the Striplion Steak and the Lemon Lavender Posset.
How the kitchen staff manages to produce this standard food from a galley kitchen on a moving train is beyond me. Equally amazing is the wait staff who somehow manage to balance four plates as they glide effortlessly around the carriage.
The drinks
Whether it’s early morning coffee (hot chocolate for me!), lunchtime wine or an afternoon cocktail, the premium drinks GolfLeaf offers mean your biggest decision of the day is what to eat. I would often see a drink my fellow passengers were having, strike up a conversation and order one myself.
I developed a preference for a Gin Rocky or two in the afternoon. Then just sit back, take a sip and try to take in the endless view through the window or roof. I can also recommend Baileys on the rocks while you quietly roll into town.
The outdoor viewing platform
If you have a busy schedule of eating, drinking and watching (it’s very tiring!), it’s a good idea to head down to the exclusive outdoor viewing platform a few times a day to stretch your legs and get some of the to taste that fresh mountain air and to take some incredible photos of the landscape, the sunset, yourself and nature if you are lucky. We saw mountain goats and moose, while other passengers spotted some bears.
The landscape
You could really fill a book, and many have, talking about Canada’s incredible landscapes. And before you ask, there is no ‘best’ side of the train, as the landscape is constantly changing, both in nature and from which side it appears. As you leave Vancouver and head to Kamloops, it is the beautiful rivers and lakes that will fascinate you.
As you then travel towards Lake Louise and Banff, the Rocky Mountains rise before you. My words and photos will never do them justice.
Make sure you put down the phone or camera and take it all in from your seat or viewing platform. It’s a unique view from the Rocky Mountaineer, so make sure you keep it in your memory.
The organization
Now I am an organized person. I like a list, a schedule and everything planned down to the last detail. Well, the Rocky Mountaineer team beat me. Early morning hotel pickup from the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is seamless.
You’re taken to your seat and have a coffee and pastry in hand before you blink. Meal times are organized with both warmth and precision. But my favorite part: the luggage.
You hardly have to touch it. Not only will they bring it to your hotel, they will also leave it in your hotel room. They check you in and have your bags waiting for you. The next morning, pack your bags and leave them in your room, where Rocky Moutaineer staff will take them to your next destination. Genius!
The hosts
While the Rocky’s are spectacular and the food first class, the real heroes of this train journey are your hosts. In carriage number 10, Brooklyn, Kelsey, Meg, and Carla had us taken care of.
From sunset to sunrise, these tireless women lead our journey with charm, grace and plenty of local knowledge. Serving drinks and lunch with a side of local history and geography.
They are the heart and soul of this Rocky Mountain adventure. And it’s not just the hosts on the train. Everyone, from the shuttle drivers who proudly talk about their city as they take you to your hotel, to the staff standing in line and waving you off the platform this morning, has the Rocky Mountaineer charm that only comes from loving what you does and wants to share it with the world.
The writer traveled as a guest of Rocky mountain climber.
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