Waterways of the Tsars Moscow to St
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HARVARD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 2016 WORLDWIDE TRAVEL PROGRAM 2016 WATERWAYS OF THE TSARS MOSCOW TO ST. PETERSBURG ABOARD VOLGA DREAM WITH CAROL SAIVETZ Research associate at Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies June 15–25, 2016 WATERWAYS OF THE TSARS MOSCOW TO ST. PETERSBURG ABOARD VOLGA DREAM June 15–25, 2016 Front cover: St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow (photo courtesy of Pål Nordseth); above: Chapel of Dmitry, Uglich EXPERIENCE RUSSIA’S TWO GREAT CULTURAL CAPITALS—THE FABLED CITY OF MOSCOW, POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST COUNTRY, AND ST. PETERSBURG, PETER THE GREAT’S “window on the West.” During four days in Moscow see its iconic sights and enjoy exclusive visits, including a backstage discussion with a dancer at the recently restored Bolshoi Theatre. Visit the newly opened Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, and tour the stations of the Moscow Metro, known as “the people’s palaces.” Then embark the elegant Volga Dream to discover Uglich, with its five-domed Church of the Transfiguration, and Yaroslavl, the oldest city on the Volga. In Goritsy, tour the Kirilov Belozersky Monastery, with its 13th-century Cathedral of the Assumption, and continue to the Ferapontov Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site with magnificent frescoes. Cross Lake Beloye, once known as the “tsar’s fishing grounds;” explore the magical architecture of Kizhy Island; and stop at the village of Mandrogi before disembarking in St. Petersburg. An optional postlude in St. Petersburg includes a visit to Catherine Palace, a White Nights Festival concert or performance at the Mariinsky Theatre, and a tour of the Hermitage. TO BOOK A TRIP, CALL 800-422-1636 OR VISIT ALUMNI.HARVARD.EDU/HAA/TRAVEL. HARVARD STUDY LEADER Carol Saivetz is a research associate at Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. She also teaches Russian foreign policy in the Security Studies Program at MIT. Her most recent publications analyze the newly resurgent Russia’s foreign policies—including energy policies and reactions to EU and NATO expansion. HIGHLIGHTS FINLAND Kizhy Island • Visits to Moscow’s landmarks, Lake Svir River Onega including the historic Bolshoi Lake Theatre and the Kremlin, and Ladoga Mandrogi Black Volga — Baltic to the newly opened Garage Sea Lake Waterway Museum of Contemporary Art Beloye St. Petersburg Goritsy EST ONIA • Scenic six-night cruise of Russia’s waterways aboard Volga Dream, a RUSSIA luxurious vessel well known for excellent service and Lake Yaroslavl Rybinskoye delicious cuisine Volga Uglich River LATVIA Volga River • The Golden Ring cities including Uglich and Yaroslavl, Moscow — Volga Canal the oldest city on the Volga BELARUS MOSCOW • UNESCO World Heritage sites including Ferapontov Monastery, with magnificent frescoes by one of Russia’s most renowned icon painters, and tiny Kizhy Island, with its fairy tale architecture • Educational program with Metropolitan Museum of Art curator Maryan Ainsworth and other lecturers Volga Dream St. Petersburg FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, VISIT ALUMNI.HARVARD.EDU/HAA/TRAVEL. SCHEDULE BY DAY Sunday, June 19 MOSCOW / VOLGA DREAM Enter the Kremlin before public hours for a visit to the Armory Museum, with its collection of tsarist thrones, ceremonial crowns, coaches, and gifts of state. Continue to the beautifully frescoed 15th-century Assumption and Annunciation Cathedrals. Lunch is at the colorful Artist Gallery, a restaurant in the Tsereteli Art Gallery. Travel north of the city to the river port and board Volga Dream. Gather for the captain’s welcome reception and dinner as you begin your cruise on this midsummer night. Monday, June 20 UGLICH The Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow Attend an onboard lecture during a leisurely morning of Wednesday, June 15 newly restored Bolshoi Theatre cruising. Arrive this afternoon Depart U.S. during a backstage tour and in Uglich, dating from the 10th Depart the U.S. on an overnight meet with a dancer from the flight to Moscow. prestigious company. This evening return to the historic Thursday, June 16 Bolshoi for a performance. MOSCOW Dinner is at leisure. Arrive in Moscow and transfer to the deluxe Four Seasons Saturday, June 18 in the historic city center. MOSCOW After lunch at leisure, enjoy Begin the day at the Old a walking tour of Red Square Tretyakov Gallery to view its with its landmark St. Basil’s extraordinary collection of Cathedral, Lenin’s Tomb, Russian art, ranging from and GUM department store 12th-century icons to 21st- facing the red brick towers century paintings. After lunch and golden cupolas of the continue to the New Tretyakov Kremlin. Gather this evening Picture Gallery, with works for a welcome reception and by artists including Malevich, dinner at the hotel. Kandinsky, and Chagall. Then visit the newly opened Garage Church of Elijah the Prophet, Yaroslavl Friday, June 17 Museum of Contemporary Art MOSCOW in Gorky Park, designed by century. A walking tour of Following a morning lecture, Rem Koolhaas. Alternatively, the city includes the Chapel tour the Pushkin Museum travel to the East District of of Dimitry, a 17th-century of Fine Arts, housing a the capital to see Kuskovo, architectural treasure built remarkable collection of one of the first great summer on the site where Ivan the French Impressionist and Old country estates of the Russian Terrible’s young son met his Master paintings as well as the nobility, or tour the beautiful death. Visit the five-domed famous Schliemann gold from stations of the vast Moscow Church of the Transfiguration, Troy. Following lunch at the Metro, known as“the people’s noted for its beautiful celebrated Café Pushkin on palaces.” The balance of the iconostasis, and enjoy a Tverskaya Street, discover the day is at leisure. concert of choral music. FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, VISIT ALUMNI.HARVARD.EDU/HAA/TRAVEL. Tuesday, June 21 OPTIONAL POSTLUDE YAROSLAVL ST. PETERSBURG The oldest city on the Volga June 25 — 28, 2016 River, Yaroslavl was unharmed At the peak of the White Nights during World War II, and season of the midnight sun, many religious buildings spend three days in vibrant dating from the 13th to 17th St. Petersburg, founded by centuries remain intact. In Peter the Great in 1703. Travel the Spassky Monastery, see to Peterhof, “the Versailles of the Transfiguration Cathedral, Russia,” to see the Cottage adorned with murals depicting Palace and the Bath House the apocalyptic visions of St. of the Tsars, and enter the John; then view the richly Hermitage. On an exclusive frescoed Church of Elijah the visit to Catherine Palace, view Prophet. Enjoy a stroll in the the exquisitely restored Amber lively market before lunch aboard Room and stroll in the formal Volga Dream. As you cruise this gardens. Attend a White Nights afternoon, a Russian language Festival concert or performance class will be o!ered. Church of the Transfiguration, at the Mariinsky Theatre, Kizhy Island and enjoy a canal cruise past Wednesday, June 22 the city’s magnificent pastel GORITSY Thursday, June 23 palaces. Choose to visit the This morning arrive in the KIZHY newly opened Fabergé Museum, peaceful village of Goritsy This morning attend lectures or wander the shaded avenues to tour the Kirilov Belozersky and learn to prepare blinis and of the Summer Garden. Monastery, with its frescoed pelmenis during a Russian Accommodations are at the 13th-century Cathedral of the cooking class. In the afternoon iconic Grand Hotel Europe. explore the tiny, picturesque island of Kizhy, a UNESCO World Heritage site on Lake Onega. The open-air Museum of Architecture includes the Church of the Transfiguration, an onion-domed masterpiece built without a single metal nail and resembling something out of a Russian fairy tale. Friday, June 24 SVIR RIVER CRUISE Be on deck as Volga Dream navigates the Svir River toward Lake Ladoga, Europe’s largest freshwater lake, past a shoreline dotted with graceful willows, alder trees, and pines. Step ashore for a brief visit to the Assumption. Continue to the vacation village of Mandrogi Peterhof Chapel, St. Petersburg (above) Ferapontov Monastery, a and enjoy an informal talk by and Fabergé eggs (below) UNESCO World Heritage site with your lecturer. This evening, magnificent frescoes painted the captain hosts a caviar in the 15th century by one of and blinis reception before Russia’s most renowned icon a farewell dinner. painters, Dionisy. Return to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon Saturday, June 25 Volga Dream crosses Lake ST. PETERSBURG / U.S. Beloye, or the White Lake, Disembark this morning in formerly known as the “tsar’s St. Petersburg and transfer fishing grounds,” and continues to the airport for the afternoon toward Lake Onega. flight home. VOLGA DREAM CRUISE RATES SUN DECK Per person, double occupancy 411 409 407 405 403 LADOGA NEVA 101 to 108 BAR 412410 408 406 404 402 LOUNGE $5,995 Standard Cabin PROMENADE DECK 201 to 210 $6,995 323 321 319 317 315 313 311 309 307 305 303 301 Superior Cabin 325 300 LIBRARY 324 322 320 318 316 314 312 310 308 304306 302 301 to 315 & 326 317 to 324 $8,495 MAIN DECK Deluxe Cabin 207209 205 203 201 DINING 406 to 409, 411 & 412 ROOM $8,995 FOYER SALON Superior Stateroom 210 208 206 204 202 316 & 405 $9,995 CABIN DECK Junior Suite 101103105107 402 to 404 $10,995 Superior Junior Suite 108106 104102 300 $11,995 Owner’s Suite SPECIAL OFFER FOR SINGLE TRAVELERS: 325, 326 & 410 $5,995 Standard Single Cabin Volga Dream stateroom (left) and dining room (right) TOUR COST INCLUSIONS Three nights hotel before departure, 50 percent; no refunds will be given for accommodations at the Four Seasons, Moscow; six nights cancellations received within 60 days of departure. No cabin accommodations aboard Volga Dream, including all refunds are given for cancellation on or after the day of port charges; buffet breakfast daily, three lunches, and departure, or for unused portions of the tour, for any reason.