With just nine days to go until the big day, I realize that I haven’t told a soul what is on my list for this year. Really, it’s quite a short, simple list. What I really want for Christmas is a journey on board the Royal Scotsman, a luxury charter train run by Orient-Express Hotels, Ltd.
Carrying a maximum of 36 passengers, the Royal Scotsman is kin to the fabled Orient Express, and provides the lucky few with a unique journey of a lifetime through the majestic Scottish countryside. Nine railcars make up the entire entourage: two dining cars, five state cars, one crew car, and one observation car.
Simple enough and straight to the point, isn’t it? The only question Santa may have is exactly which excursion I would prefer. Hmm…
The Grand North Western Journey includes the adorable western coastal village of Plockton where I ended a drive from Inverness many years ago. Using a vibrant rainbow as a guide to my next destination, this delightful town was the pot of gold for the day.
The Grand West Highland Journey goes to Inverness, and the heart of the rugged Scottish highlands. A September journey would provide glimpses of purple heather blooming all along the route and leave me with a colorful memory of this very green country.
The Classic Whisky Journey with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society sounds like a very Scottish thing to do. With nearly one hundred active whisky distilleries, Scotland has a solid reputation as an expert in this field.
The Country Homes and Gardens Journey would take me to some of Scotland’s grand country estates with a garden writer and professional photographer on hand for good measure. Historic manor homes and elegant gardens offer a peek inside a life that I think I may have lived once. I think I miss this familiar past life very much. So, yes, the Country Homes and Gardens Journey it is. This is the one, dear Santa.
Now that I have made my list known, I can sit back and wait to see if Santa comes through. The anticipation is so exciting!
