Night train (harry potter style)

Hehehe that was a great experience, just like either stepping back in time or into Harry Potter! The train was an old colonial beast run on diesel taking us the distance between Bulawayo and Vic Falls. Despite being warned of its dangers – possible break down, sleeping gas, robbers… we thought what the hell, when are we aver going to get a chance to ride though the night through Zimbabwe for a mere 4 pounds!
Even from the train station the adventures began (or when did they actually stop you might ask and I think you might have a point!) we were harmlessly chatting to a couple of guys at the café when one of them was unsurepticiously pulled over. When we questioned him he said that a member of the CIO (Zimbabwe CIA) had been asking him what we were talking about and whether we were reporters! Then another man, obviously not trained well in his acting skills, came and sat right next to us, completely obviously eavesdropping our every word! And this is not the first time that I have been mistaken for a reporter – in Gueru another guy asked me if I was there to monitor the elections. On the one hand we thought that it might have been beneficial to say that we were as we would have been sure to have gotten top notch security!
We booked first class, on Lucy’s insistance, I was begrudging about the extra pound, of which I was mightily pleased when the following morning I investigated third. So we had a cabin to ourselves, there were two bunks, a fold out sink (no water though), a cupboard, rack for our bags, fold out table, mirror, window, lights (but they didn’t work, and many other fascinating gadgets. Then much to our surprise, as we set off we were given sheets and blankets!
Despite the ‘luxury’ we were careful and kept the door mostly locked, especially after one guy in the corridor said ‘so shall we make a baby’ to me while passing our door! The train was incredibly slow and stopped in the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason for hours at a time but that was quite alright as we kept the window firmly closed and were able to get a good nights sleep!
In the morning I watched the sun rise and saw monkeys on the line which was ultimately fab. And got chatting to various males as Lucy is not a morning person. One asked to take me down the train to meet his brother, which I accepted, it being light at the time so probably not dangerous. The train was FAR longer than I expected and got progressively worse as you went toward the front. The cabins turned into four bed, then two benches, then no cabin, falling apart seats, holes in the WOODEN floor through which you could see the track, a hole as a toilet, missing doors and people strewn everywhere sleeping, selling bread, maize, sorting and washing greens, platting hair, just a hive of activity! But I was pleased that Lucy had insisted on first class as we would not have gotten a wink of sleep there, probably have got raped and had our belongings (the many of them) stolen in about half an hour.
I wish they had these trains from Cambridge to Scotland, they are much more fun than National Rail!