VPR s Citizens of the world Tours presents

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "VPR s Citizens of the world Tours presents"

Emery Edwards
5 years ago
Views:

1 VPR s Citizens of the world Tours presents With host Christopher Wren July 13-25, 2011

VPR s Citizens of the world Tours presents Trip Highlights Experience Russia with your hosts, former New York Times Moscow bureau chief Christopher Wren and his wife, Jaqueline.

Take in the passing Russian landscape of charming medieval towns, quaint river villages and breathtaking scenery at a leisurely pace as you cruise down the Neva, Svir and Volga rivers.

2 VPR s Citizens of the world Tours presents Trip Highlights Experience Russia with your hosts, former New York Times Moscow bureau chief Christopher Wren and his wife, Jaqueline. Cruise the waterway from St. Petersburg to Moscow on one of Russia s most luxurious and intimate ships, the MS Tolstoy. Take in the passing Russian landscape of charming medieval towns, quaint river villages and breathtaking scenery at a leisurely pace as you cruise down the Neva, Svir and Volga rivers. Spend a full day viewing the magnificent art collection of the Hermitage which includes many important Impressionist paintings. Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, Kizhi Island, home of the spectacular Transfiguration Church, and Novodevichy convent. Russian language and dance lessons included. Enjoy 4--star hotels in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Walk in the footsteps of Dostoevsky s characters from his famous novel Crime and Punishment. Tour the treasures of the Armory at the Kremlin. Price $6,365 per person, double occupancy $470 Single supplement air fare not included Register by phone (toll free ) or Carrie McDougall: carrie@culturalcrossroads.com.

VPR s Citizens of the world Tours presents Day One - Wednesday, July 13th St. Petersburg Today we arrive at St. Petersburg airport after our overnight flight from North America.

Petersburg Walk in the footsteps of Dostoevsky s characters from his famous novel Crime and Punishment as we visit key places in the city which inspired his novel, including the Dostoevsky Apartment

3 VPR s Citizens of the world Tours presents Day One - Wednesday, July 13th St. Petersburg Today we arrive at St. Petersburg airport after our overnight flight from North America. We will be met by our guide and transported to our hotel. Day Two - Thursday, July 14th St. Petersburg Walk in the footsteps of Dostoevsky s characters from his famous novel Crime and Punishment as we visit key places in the city which inspired his novel, including the Dostoevsky Apartment museum. In the afternoon, we peruse the collection in the Russian State Museum. Day Three - Friday, July 15th St. Petersburg - Novgorod Enjoy a full day visit outside of St. Petersburg in the ancient city of Novgorod. The city dates from 859 B.C. and has played an important role in Russia s rich history throughout the centuries. The tour begins with a visit to the Novgorod Kremlin, the very heart of the city constructed in the early part of the 11th century. The red brick Kremlin walls surround the beautiful St. Sophia Cathedral, the oldest church building in Russia. Our tour then continues to the Yuriev Monastery, built by Yaroslav the Wise. The monastery was destroyed during Soviet rule and was occupied by armed forces during World War II. In the 1990 s however the monastery was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church and some restoration work has taken place. The Vitoslavitsy Museum of wooden architecture completes our tour of Novgorod offering a taste of local life as it once was. A collection of houses, churches and other buildings have been relocated from the vicinity of Novgorod to preserve the original architecture of this fascinating city.

Day Four - Saturday, July 16th St. Petersburg We head out to enjoy a visit to the world renowned art collection housed within the Winter Palace, known as the Hermitage.

Day Five - Sunday, July 17th MS Tolstoy Today, we begin with a city tour including St. Basil Island, The Building of Exchange, Palace Square, Rostrum columns and the Nevsky Prospekt.

4 Day Four - Saturday, July 16th St. Petersburg We head out to enjoy a visit to the world renowned art collection housed within the Winter Palace, known as the Hermitage. We will have the opportunity to explore the millions of exhibits at leisure before transferring to the port to board the MS Tolstoy, ready to set sail. Day Five - Sunday, July 17th MS Tolstoy Today, we begin with a city tour including St. Basil Island, The Building of Exchange, Palace Square, Rostrum columns and the Nevsky Prospekt. We also have some more time this morning at the Hermitage. We will have lunch in the city centre and dinner is onboard the MS Tolstoy. Day Six - Monday, July 18th Mandrogui This morning, we have a presentation of Russian national crafts in Mandrogui along with a village tour. The village was destroyed in WWII, but had been a home of many craftsmen who built a fleet of ships for Peter the Great. The village has been rebuilt and the crafts and traditions are being redone. In the afternoon, while sailing, there is the opportunity for a Russian language lesson. Tonight we have a Ukrainian dinner onboard and evening folk concert. Day Seven - Tuesday, July 19th Kizhi Our day begins with a visit to Kizhi, one of Russia s largest open-air museums, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lunch is onboard. The afternoon includes a Captains bridge tour, Marteshka painting lesson and a Russian tea party. Dinner is onboard and there is an evening show. Day Eight - Wednesday, July 20th Goritsky We sail in the morning and after lunch visit Goritsy and the Monastery of St. Cyril on the White Lake, one of the oldest and most famous monasteries in Russia, which dates from the 14th century. It has one of the most important collections of icons. Tonight, we have a Russian dinner onboard and a folk concert.

Day Ten - Friday, July 22nd Moscow Breakfast and lunch are onboard our ship.

5 Day Nine - Thursday, July 21st Uglich We begin the day with walking city tour of Uglich. We see the territory of Kremlin, the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood (the place where the Tsarevitch met his death) and the Transfiguration Cathedral. This afternoon there is a Russian dance lesson, and then a farewell dinner onboard. Day Ten - Friday, July 22nd Moscow Breakfast and lunch are onboard our ship. After lunch, we arrive in Moscow and go on a city tour which includes Leningradskaya Street, Tverskaya Street (also known as Gorky Street, and is the main street in Moscow), the KGB headquarters and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Dinner is on the Moskva River. Day Eleven - Saturday, July 23rd Moscow Today, we disembark and begin our discovery of this magnificent capital city. Enjoy a visit to the Moscow metro and the interior of the beautiful Novodevichy convent. The Moscow metro system offers some unique designs in many of the stations and we will go underground to see some of the most noteworthy including: Mayakovskaya, Ploschad Revolyutsii, Kropotkinskaya, Komsomolskaya, Novoslobodskaya and Novokuznetskaya. We visit Novodevichy (or New Maidens Convent). Now a Museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is in a beautiful setting by a lake, outside the centre of Moscow. One of the finest examples of 16th-19th century architecture, it is located on the territory of a former convent for ladies of noble birth. There is a history and arts museum on the grounds. Following these visits, we transfer to our hotel for check in and overnight. Day Twelve - Sunday 24th July Moscow This morning, we visit the treasures of the Armory, housed within the Kremlin walls. This is a unique collection of gold and silver items of the 12th-19th centuries, Russian arms, State

European and American Art from the 19th and 20th centuries.

6 regalia, thrones, carriages, historic coronation dresses and religious icons. In the afternoon, we will enjoy the Pushkin museum of Art including the main building and the Gallery of European and American Art from the 19th and 20th centuries. We stop at Christ the Saviour Cathedral to listen to a service during the day. Day Thirteen - Monday, July 25th Today, we check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for our departure flights.

7 GENERAL INFORMATION Tour Administration This tour of Russia is designed by Vermont Public Radio and Cultural Crossroads to give an in-depth look into the culture of this complex country. VPR Commentator Christopher Wren will host the tour. A tour director will accompany the group throughout the program. A portion of the tour benefits Vermont Public Radio, but is not considered a tax-deductible contribution according to IRS regulations. Air Travel Arrangements Group flights are scheduled on Lufthansa Airlines from Kennedy Airport in New York. A customized air itinerary can be also be arranged for those individuals traveling from other cities. Reservation Procedure You may register by phone (toll free ) Carrie McDougall: carrie@culturalcrossroads.com. Registrations will be accepted in the order in which they are received. Please remember, space is limited. Accommodations During the tour, accommodations will be arranged in the best possible hotels in double occupancy rooms with private shower or bath. Single rooms can be arranged for a supplementary fee of $470 and are based upon availability at the time of your request. The hotels are selected to provide a balance between central location, excellent service, character, amenities, and price. The hotel and ship are 4 star. Changes in the Itinerary VPR and Cultural Crossroads, LLC, reserve the right to alter the order of events or to make changes deemed necessary for the comfort, convenience, and safety of the participants. Every effort will be made to adhere to the printed itinerary, but weather conditions, transportation difficulties or other circumstances beyond the control of VPR and Cultural Crossroads, LLC, and the local suppliers could force the cancellation or substitution of events or specific services. Payment Policy & Schedule Tour payments may be made by check, payable to Cultural Crossroads. After your initial deposit of $1500, the balance payment is due by May 1, Deposits and payments are refundable if written notice of cancellation is received 120 days or more in advance of departure, less a $100 per person non-refundable administration fee. 90 days prior to departure: Full refund less $ per traveler. We regret that refunds cannot be made for cancellations less than seventy-five (75) days prior to the departure date. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodations reserved prior to and after the tour. Vermont Public Radio and Cultural Crossroads, LLC, cannot assume responsibility for any fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets. What s included 3 nights accommodation in St. Petersburg on a bed and breakfast basis (4 star) 2 nights accommodation in Moscow on a bed and breakfast basis (4 star) 7 nights accommodation on the cruise ship on a bed and breakfast basis, plus lunches Sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary with an English speaking local guide On the land portion of our tour, a welcome and farewell dinner Arrival and departure transfers Hotel porterage Visa support documentation Hotel rates include local VAT which is currently 18% but which is subject to change REGISTRATION Please reserve place(s) for the following individuals on VPR s Tour of Russia, July 13-25, A tour deposit of $1,500 payable to Cultural Crossroads is enclosed. NAME (as it appears on valid passport): Address City Phone (days) Travel companion name(s) on passport: Travel preferences (please check all that apply) Double occupancy with traveling companion I would like a single room I (we) have read the itinerary and terms and conditions as found above and agree to abide by all the stipulations contained therein. SIGNED DATE Please make tour checks payable to Cultural Crossroads and mail registration to: 20 Meadowcrest Lane, Barre For more information call: or Ty Robertson: trobertson@vpr.net

SPECIAL OFFER. TRANS SIBERIAN EASTBOUND Moscow to Irkutsk 12 DAYS MORE THAN TRAVEL TAILOR- MADE TOURS TO RUSSIA

SPECIAL OFFER. TRANS SIBERIAN EASTBOUND Moscow to Irkutsk 12 DAYS MORE THAN TRAVEL TAILOR- MADE TOURS TO RUSSIA SPECIAL OFFER TRANS SIBERIAN EASTBOUND Moscow to Irkutsk MORE THAN TRAVEL TAILOR- MADE TOURS TO RUSSIA Your personal Consultant: 12 DAYS 1 July 12 July, 2019 9-20 September 2019 2020* *Exact dates to be