Great Continental/British Railway Journeys

[lyonhibs]

Anyone else really like this program?. The premise doesn't sound too hopeful - Michael Portillo on trains - but he's actually (despite his frankly questionable political past) a really engaging presenter, clearly interested in what he's talking about and goes to some interesting places with entertaining facts about each one.

Not too mention the hilarious pastel colour combos he wears, which must be a piss-take half the time I'm sure.

A refreshing change from The Apprentice, X-Factor and god knows what else gets most of the primetime screen time these days.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

I quite like him too. He still has a long way to go to catch up with Michael Palin who I believe is the main man for these sorts of programmes.

[hibsbollah]

I like him. I wasn't expecting to but he's an engaging personality, as you say.

[Pretty Boy]

I like him. I wasn't expecting to but he's an engaging personality, as you say.

I actually quite liked him on This Week with Andrew Neil as well without agreeing with his politics.

[RyeSloan]

I actually quite liked him on This Week with Andrew Neil as well without agreeing with his politics.

I know what you mean...not a man afraid to say what he thinks and normally does so from a reasoned perspective (his reasoning might be a bit off on occasion tho!)

His train stuff is great and his knowledge, passion and dress sense makes rather entertaining viewing.

[heretoday]

Some nice camera footage and it is curious to watch the man who was going to be the next PM at one time. He speaks with some humility now and has an infectious grin! It's a classic BBC Sunday programme i.e. you don't have to think too hard and it's a bit corny.

[DH1875]

So where/whats the best journey :confused:

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

I can vouch for the Kiev - Dnipro sleeper train! :-)

[hibsbollah]

He did the Cote D'Azur line through Monaco and to Italy, I went on this train two summers ago and it was stunning. The one where he went through the Alps to Switzerland looked the most spectacular.

If you look into it you can catch a lot of these routes via Eurostar at Waterloo; much more relaxing than being stuck in airports.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

He did the Cote D'Azur line through Monaco and to Italy, I went on this train tickets two summers ago and it was stunning. The one where he went through the Alps to Switzerland looked the most spectacular.

If you look into it you can catch a lot of these routes via Eurostar at Waterloo; much more relaxing than being stuck in airports.

You'll not get far waiting to catch a Eurostar train from Waterloo Station these days!

[Godsahibby]

I'm a massive fan of the programme, i'm sure I mentioned it on another thread but the part he did in Europe based on the Bradshaws Guide written just prior to the Great War was really interesting.

[hibsbollah]

You'll not get far waiting to catch a Eurostar train from Waterloo Station these days!

Oh aye, its St Pancras now, I forgot:greengrin

[The_Exile]

Also love the show and don't particularly care about his political background, he's a great presenter on a show I love! I remember Nick Hancock done a series a few years back now, he went to Cuba and far flung places doing railway journeys, it was bloody superb.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

The train trip that Michael Palin embarks on in The Andes is magnificent. IIRC it was on Around the world in 80 days, though it might've been Pole to Pole.

[Pete]

So where/whats the best journey :confused:

The stretch from North Queensferry to Rosyth apparently. Fantastic scenery.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Loved this weeks episode, La Coruna to Lisbon. I had no idea how beautiful Galicia was. Portillos perfect Spanish brought an interesting slant to the viewing as well.

[lord bunberry]

I remember watching it when he was in Scotland, he said that during Victorian times North Berwick was the top holiday destination in Europe.

[Pretty Boy]

I remember watching it when he was in Scotland, he said that during Victorian times North Berwick was the top holiday destination in Europe.

The Great British Railway journeys series was superb as well.

The West Highland Line, which he covered, is well up there in terms of great journeys imo.

[Hermit Crab]

The stretch from North Queensferry to Rosyth apparently. Fantastic scenery.


Not if you work over it every week and sometimes several times a day like me!!

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Not if you work over it every week and sometimes several times a day like me!!

It would be worse if Hammy was planning the repairs! ;-)

[Hermit Crab]

It would be worse if Hammy was planning the repairs! ;-)

Be off the rails!!

[Phil D. Rolls]

I remember watching it when he was in Scotland, he said that during Victorian times North Berwick was the top holiday destination in Europe.

The Biarritz of the North - mind you that kind of implies that Biarritz was the gold standard at the time.

[speedy_gonzales]

Do any dotnetters here work for the railway and use their passes on the continent?
I've got my FIP but never used it, been to Paris and Brussels on the Eurostar but the good lady and 11yr old daughter would like to overnight it from Paris in to Italy, possibly Rome. Just wondered if anyone had used their passes on the continent and booked such a journey via Deutsche Bahn?

[lord bunberry]

The Biarritz of the North - mind you that kind of implies that Biarritz was the gold standard at the time.

I think you'll find that Biarritz was known as the North Berwick of the South :wink:

[Phil D. Rolls]

I think you'll find that Biarritz was known as the North Berwick of the South :wink:

Always happy to stand corrected. Stiff letter now in the post to East Lothian tourist board.

[Hibrandenburg]

Loved this weeks episode, La Coruna to Lisbon. I had no idea how beautiful Galicia was. Portillos perfect Spanish brought an interesting slant to the viewing as well.

The northern and north western Spanish coastline is breathtaking. I spent 2 weeks there wandering the coastline and the Picos and rarely saw a foreign tourist. I'm also a big fan of the sea food diet and local cider, scrumptious. Think the Spanish like to keep the area to themselves.

[Phil D. Rolls]

The northern and north western Spanish coastline is breathtaking. I spent 2 weeks there wandering the coastline and the Picos and rarely saw a foreign tourist. I'm also a big fan of the sea food diet and local cider, scrumptious. Think the Spanish like to keep the area to themselves.

Ryanair fly to Santander, seriously considering a week over there in July.

[Hibrandenburg]

Ryanair fly to Santander, seriously considering a week over there in July.

Do it. Try the salted fish. White fish meat preserved in salt for weeks before cooking, it certainly helps when washed down with copious amounts of cider.

The rugged Atlantic coastline is spectacular with so many little private bays that you can have your own little beach all to yourself.

The Picos to the south of Asturias are great for walking and incorporate a large part of the Jacobs Way. There's hikes for all levels of physical fitness and even several where you can take the cable car up the mountains and hike back down if you're not into the climb. Well worth planning ahead and informing yourself about the different routes to do.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Do it. Try the salted fish. White fish meat preserved in salt for weeks before cooking, it certainly helps when washed down with copious amounts of cider.

The rugged Atlantic coastline is spectacular with so many little private bays that you can have your own little beach all to yourself.

The Picos to the south of Asturias are great for walking and incorporate a large part of the Jacobs Way. There's hikes for all levels of physical fitness and even several where you can take the cable car up the mountains and hike back down if you're not into the climb. Well worth planning ahead and informing yourself about the different routes to do.

Going to start looking at hotels. :aok: