North Pole: Top of the World 2020
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North Pole: Top of the World 2020 Ver. 08/2019 North Pole: Top of the World One departure in 2020 – Special Series – 16 Days July 9-24, 2020 Join MIR on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage to the very top of the earth, experiencing life at its most remote and mysterious at the North Pole. Retrace the path of early polar explorers as you cruise aboard the world’s largest icebreaker, keeping a lookout for the astonishing array of wildlife in the Arctic and enjoying fantastic views of an endless, frozen icescape. © 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 2 Daily Itinerary– July 9-24, 2020 Day 1 Arrive Moscow Day 2 Moscow Day 3 Moscow • Air to Murmansk Day 4 Murmansk Day 5 Murmansk • board the 50 Years of Victory and head out of the bay Day 6 Sailing to the Pole Day 7 Voyage to the North Pole Day 8 Voyage to the North Pole Day 9 Voyage to the North Pole Day 10 North Pole! Day 11 Exploring Franz Josef Land Day 12 Exploring Franz Josef Land Day 13 Exploring Franz Josef Land Day 14 Crossing south toward Murmansk Day 15 Continuing south toward Murmansk Day 16 Depart Murmansk (end of main program) Optional Extension to St. Petersburg Day 16 Depart Murmansk • Fly to St. Petersburg Day 17 St. Petersburg Day 18 St. Petersburg Day 19 Depart St. Petersburg © 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 3 MIR Signature Experiences • Descend more than 200 feet underground into Bunker 42, an abandoned relic of the Cold War built by Stalin to withstand a nuclear attack. • Board the world’s first nuclear-powered icebreaker, the Lenin, launched in 1957. • Enjoy a rare opportunity to travel aboard the largest, most powerful nuclear icebreaker in the world, the I/B 50 Years of Victory, en route to the North Pole. • Helicopter over the Arctic Ocean and witness the expedition ship crush through thick layers of sea ice on its northbound journey. • Look for walrus, polar bears, whales, and seals under the 24-hour daylight of the Midnight Sun. • Experience the thrill of standing on top of the world at 90°N, the geographic North Pole, celebrating with a champagne toast and a barbecue on the frozen ice. • Walk in the footsteps of famous polar explorers at well-preserved historical sites in Franz Josef Land. Tour Highlights Moscow Novodevichy Convent & Cemetery, Kremlin & Armory, Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Garage Contemporary Art Center, Cold War Museum in Bunker 42 Murmansk Regional History Museum, first nuclear icebreaker Aboard/Afloat Helicopter sightseeing tours, engine room tour, possible whale sightings North Pole Walk around the world, Polar plunge, lunch on the ice Franz Josef Land Zodiac and helicopter tours Optional post-tour St. Petersburg St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Peter & Paul Fortress, Hermitage Museum, Peterhof, Pushkin and Catherine’s Palace, Canal Cruise, Faberge Museum Daily Itinerary Day One Arrive Moscow Upon arrival in Moscow, transfer from the airport to your centrally located hotel. This evening, get acquainted with your fellow travelers during a Welcome Dinner at Café Pushkin. The decor of this famous upscale restaurant conjures up an aristocratic 19th century Russian home and the waitstaff dress as servants. Its sophisticated pre-revolutionary Russian and French cuisine lives up to the decor, and includes beautifully prepared dishes such as Czar's Sturgeon. Take a look at the menu and try to guess what Quentin Tarantino ordered. Notice the chairs that Bill Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger sat in while dining here. Meals: D – Baltschug Kempinski Hotel or similar © 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 4 Day Two Moscow Following breakfast at the hotel, set out on a comprehensive tour of this capital city. Begin touring today at Novodevichy Convent’s Cemetery. In some circles the cemetery at Novodevichy is as famous as the convent itself. The fancifully decorated graves belong to some of the most renowned Russians of the last 150 years, including not only artists and musicians, but political leaders like Khrushchev and Yeltsin, aircraft designers like Tupolev and Ilyushin, several cosmonauts, the Soviet Union’s foremost anarchist — Peter Kropotkin — a female sniper named Lyudmila Pavlichenko, and Stalin’s second wife, Nadezhda Alliluyeva, who allegedly shot herself after an argument with Stalin. Today’s tour continues as we return to the center of the city to visit perhaps one of Russia’s most iconic landmarks. The Moscow Kremlin reminds modern-day Russia of its medieval past. Built on the site of Prince Yuri's hunting lodge, the Kremlin overlooks the Moskva and Neglina rivers. In the mid-14th century, the Russian princes ruling from the Kremlin became so powerful that Moscow was named the center of the Russian Orthodox Church. Under the guidance of Ivan the Great, Moscow extended its influence and soon became the seat of Russian political power. Red Square owes its origins to Ivan III, who in the late 15th century had all buildings removed from the eastern wall of the Kremlin. For the next 400 years, this newly formed area was a trading center. In 1920, all traders were banned from the square, and in the early 1960s cars were banned as well, making Red Square a pedestrian area. St. Basil's Cathedral was built to celebrate Ivan the Terrible's victory at the Tatar stronghold of Kazan in 1552. Built between 1555 and 1561, it was originally painted white. The domes were not patterned and colored as they are today until a hundred years later. St. Basil's is named after Vasily, the "holy fool" who predicted that Ivan would murder his own son. Admire the cathedral’s famously vivid exterior. Today, the Kremlin remains the center of Moscow and Russian politics. Inside the fortress walls are palaces, cathedrals, government buildings, and the Armory Museum. Built in the 16th century as a warehouse for the Kremlin's weaponry, the Armory was transformed into an exhibition hall and museum in 1814. It now houses Russia's national treasures, such as religious icons, Fabergé eggs, a bejeweled chalice belonging to Prince Yuri, and Catherine the Great's ball gowns and shoes. Following lunch, venture more than 200 feet below Moscow to Bunker 42, an abandoned relic of the Cold War built to withstand a nuclear attack. Stocked with food and provisions, the 75,000-square-foot space was meant to sustain 5,000 people for three months. Ordered by Stalin in 1951, the shelter was finished in 1956, and soon became a secret communication bunker and, reportedly, a missile control center. A tour of the formerly secret bunker includes a video presentation on the Cold War. Founded in 2008, Garage Contemporary Art Center is a cutting-edge center for contemporary art and culture. Located in a renewed Gorky Park, Garage supports important international and Russian © 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 5 modern art and cultural projects, including photography, installations, and educational outreach. An upbeat café offers sustenance to the center's visitors. This evening, enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant and return to the hotel for overnight and to prepare for the exciting journey ahead. Meals: B, L, D – Baltschug Kempinski Hotel or similar Day Three Moscow • Air to Murmansk This morning, enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for the flight to Murmansk. Founded in 1916, the port city of Murmansk exists because even though it is above the Arctic Circle, the warm waters of the Gulf Stream keep it ice-free for most of the winter. It is so far north that the trees stop growing over a hundred miles south. The sun doesn’t set all summer, and doesn’t rise all winter. During the winter a ghostly fog rolls off the ocean, which remains much warmer than the land. Upon arrival in Murmansk, transfer immediately to the hotel for overnight. This time of year, you’ll have the chance to fully experience the majestic white nights of summer. Meals: B – Azimut Hotel or similar Day Four Murmansk Following breakfast, set off on a full day of touring in the city. We start with the Murmansk Regional History Museum, founded in 1926. In 1957, the museum moved to a former school building in the center of the city. The museum features exhibits on the history of the Kola Peninsula from the 17th century, national costumes of northern indigenous people, including the Saami, rare photos, and documents from more recent history. It also includes extensive information on Murmansk's role in WWII. Break for lunch, then board the world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker, the Lenin, now a museum ship moored in Murmansk. The Lenin was launched in 1957, and worked clearing the northern sea routes until 1989. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, records became public that showed the icebreaker had experienced two nuclear reactor accidents, one in 1965 and one in 1967. After the second mishap, the original reactors were replaced with two more modern reactors. Explore the decks, inner corridors, some of the vessel's compartments, and exhibitions about the future of the Arctic region. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Meals: B, L, D – Azimut Hotel or similar © 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste.