Life Aboard the Southern Aurora

If you haven’t travelled overnight on a sleeper there is a lot of insignificant detail to learn. How do you get the bed down? Why won’t it lock back into the wall? Why isn’t there any drinking water? Why won’t the footstool stay up? Why do I have to wait till we’re moving to have a shower? Can’t they hear their alarm? etc…..Fancy, they used to smoke in here!  It was only after my third breakfast I realised the blinds on the windows went up. It would have made my sunrise photos or round the bend photos so much easier. Seems obvious once you know, doesn’t it? I need to be just a few inches taller.

Inside the carriage with the 20 single compartments there’s a narrow corridor that snakes around each of the births to provide entertainment for your fellow travellers as the train rocks from side to side as they make their way up to the lounge or dining cars. The seat is quite comfortable and the bed is in the wall behind it & pulls down over the top. From the seat or bed you have the steel cabinet with the wash basin and the toilet. It’s rather compact but very convenient.

   Very Cosy!    

There’s a little hanging space & a drop down ledge by the head of the bed as well as a powerpoint, that’s all. My small suitcase is under the bed. The men said they didn’t have trouble with the length of the bed which must have been about 6 foot.

Just when you’ve got it all worked out it’s time to go. No worries. I’ll have to go again! Perhaps I can convince them to have scones or high tea next time!