Riding on the Blue Train | Africa Travel Newsletter

by Rochelle Van Der Merwe, 1 April 2007

I get up an hour earlier than usual. The day has finally arrived when I will have a reason to wear the little dress I've been saving since December. My hair goes through an entire blow-drying ordeal. Some perfume is the final touch. I have to look perfect, because today I'm fulfilling a childhood fantasy; I'm finally going on the Blue Train.

The best part is the decadence won't stop there. After the Blue Train, I will be treated to a wine tasting, and then whisked off to the Palmiet Valley Estate, a luxurious five-star winefarm where I will spend my evening enjoying sundowners and oh-so-fine cuisine. Today, I'm living the high life, and I intend to indulge every second of it while looking the part.

Childhood fantasy

Since I was little, I have read about the Blue Train. Enticing words like luxurious, unique and charming floated through my small brain. I didn't need to understand these grown up words to know that I needed so badly to experience them.

I imagined getting onto an ancient luxury steam train, where time would stand still and everything inside was frozen in glamour and grandeur. I pictured settling into my cabin, reading my novel, and later going for a little aperitif in the lounge before I sampled the most delicate mouthfuls of cuisine that many a gourmet magazine had so carefully tried to describe.

The journey begins

At the Cape Town train station, we are welcomed in the stateliest manner and escorted to the Blue Train waiting lounge where delicious goodies await us. Sipping on sparkling wine with my third chocolate brownie in hand, I try to keep my cool and contain my excitement.

The departure announcement for our Blue Train Journey washes over the lounge and the adrenaline rush starts all over again. We all keep reminding one another "act cool" as we are escorted to our part of the train.

My Blue Train Suite is better than I could have imagined and it's almost incomprehensible how they have managed to fit in all the necessities and more into such a limited amount of space, yet still making it feel so roomy. And it wasn't even a deluxe cabin.

I'm a very claustrophobic person, but even my paranoia was quickly soothed and put to bed by the generous layout of the interiors. Along with a movie and music channel and remote-controlled blinds, my cabin has a fully equipped bathroom. There is a shower, basin, toilet, and large gold-framed mirror. I take out my camera and try to capture myself framed in the elegant mirror.

Neighbours and mystery novels

Robyn pops in and tells me to join everyone in the lounge. I follow her and enter a movie. I take in the scene and feel an urge to sit down and write my first murder mystery novel. This is old-fashioned glamour at its best. Everyone already has their drinks and we spend the rest of the morning enjoying ourselves in the lounge while being waited on as if we are royalty.

After a brief tour of the Blue Train with the manager, we enjoy a lavish lunch and head back to the lounge for cigars and sparkling wine. We casually puff and sip as we watch the Western Cape landscapes pass by the large windows behind a haze of cigar smoke.

Off the train and on with the day

At Worcester, a driver faithfully awaits us and we are whisked off to our next stop, Du Toitskloof Wine Estate. Fortunately for us, our driver is a very friendly and understanding young fellow, as we all talk at once, feverishly recounting our Blue Train Journey in detail.

At the wine estate we taste some lovely wines. Rikke buys a Du Toitskloof Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz 3-pack for a mere R23 per bottle!

The fairytale continues

Our driver takes us to our final destination, Palmiet Valley Estate, a storybook winefarm more than 300 years old, and just five minutes from Paarl. Steeped in history, its Cape Dutch buildings date back to 1692, the time when European settlers and wine growers first arrived in the Cape. We are received in the friendliest manner and while our luggage is taken to our rooms, we are shown around this elegant five-star property.

Each room, suite and cottage has been given an individual touch, and just when we thought one room couldn't get better than the next, we are pleasantly surprised. A distinctive combination of classic luxury and contemporary comfort has been achieved by paying attention to the smallest detail.

Garden, vineyard and mountain views fill the ancient window frames. I rest my forehead against the window and long for my husband as I take in this romantic and quiet place.

Unique Romance

Palmiet Valley is a place where fairytale romance takes on a life of its own, with or without a partner - a perfect place for a romantic getaway or wedding. We all decide to do our own thing for the next two hours, before reuniting for sundowners.

Some go for a swim or stroll. I opt for the hammock under the old trees and enjoy a much-needed siesta in the late afternoon.

Wine-kissed fields

Refreshed and completely relaxed, I meet everyone on the deck for sundowners. We sample the estate's delicious wines while watching the sky kiss the winelands in tints of red, yellow and orange. We are mesmerized. As the sun leaves us, new-found excitement for the evening ahead sets in.

A large table bedecked with rose petals and surrounded by lanterns hanging from ancient trees welcomes us under a canopy of stars and leaves. The food is exquisite and I am reminded again of the fact that good wine, food and company are essential ingredients needed to experience magic and bliss.

It all ends in an underwater promise

After we have been spoiled with a three course meal, the conversation grows animated and lively, and the evening unfolds into a social and vibrant affair. We try to stave off the end of such a wonderful evening, and we all get to bed much later than we realise.

Before I hit the pillow, I round my night off with a dreamy bath in a deep bellied, claw footed bathtub. Sinking under water, I make a silent pact with the evening. I will return to Palmiet, and next time I won't be alone.

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