Off to Paris! Night two on the Orient Express.

Off to Paris! Our second day journey on the train was lovely! I covered the big stuff in my post about our first night, so here I will just share some more eye candy on the way to France.

Vienna: The Hofburg Palace and the Kunsthistorisches Museum

I just can't resist a horse or two!

My husband and I were walking to the Hofburg Palace, when a coach and horses crossed our path. Well, what better way to show up to the Spanish riding school than by carriage! Quite in the spirit of it.

2015 In Review

Oh, and it started off so strong! Unfortunately, only a few things were actually completed last year, but here they are!

Haha first was a tea cozy. It's very handy!

Then, the only complete outfit of the year: my costume de ball for the Jane Austen Evening, in Pasadena. I made a sleeveless shift, a bodiced petticoat and a gown. I also repaired an antique tiara for the outfit.

Off to Vienna! Our first evening aboard the Venice Simplon Orient Express

Taking the Orient Express was definitely one of the very best parts of our trip! Everywhere you looked were beautiful details. The train was gorgeous, the staff was impeccable, the food and cocktails were fantastic. Oh, and the fashion opportunities! 

The train is made up of sleeping and restaurant cars, mostly from the 1920's and 30's. Almost every detail in the cars is the way it was. And the guests have to take part, too. No jeans, no cell phones (except for photos), no bottles - glasses only, thank you very much. It's lovely!

And, of course, the train is quite famous for being the backdrop of Agatha Christie's mystery, Murder on the Orient Express.

We boarded in Venice and were shown to our cabin. It was a lovely and cozy little room! 

Touring the Gardens of a Renaissance Villa

Following yesterday's theme of Italian eye candy, let's go to Cernobbio and explore the grounds of a 16th century Lake Como Villa. 

The Villa d' Este has been a hotel since the 1870's, but started as a Cardinal's lake house. In the early 1800's, Caroline of Brunswick took up residence at the villa and when a new building was erected on the grounds, she took the remains on the 15th century convent that once stood there and moved it above the gardens. Quite a hike, but very cool to explore!

Wandering Through Venice

Good morning, Venice! Let's have a wander through the alleys and canals. We'll meet in the afternoon for a drink!

I would love to make this a post about fashion history, but architectural eye candy will have to do.  Enjoy!

Visiting the Roman Baths and the Pump Room

One thing I was very excited to do, while we were in Bath, was to visit the Roman Baths. Now, they have been there since Roman times (hence the name, of course!), and have been enjoyed throughout history, but, as I have more of an interest in Georgian history, I know of the baths as the place that Georgians would go to, to "take the waters" for their health. Very fashionable!