Russian Tour and Cruise St. Petersburg, Moscow and Tula Albany-Tula Alliance 20th Anniversary June 16-July 4, 20ll Sponsored by The Albany-Tula Alliance with Grand Circle Travel Arrangements by Charlotte S. Buchanan Russian Tour and Cruise St. Petersburg, Moscow and Tula Albany-Tula Alliance 20th Anniversary Join the Grand Central Tours (GCT) for its cruise and tours from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Experience the personal relationships developed over 20 years with the people of Tula and visit the estate of Tolstoy. Please visit the website of the Albany-Tula Alliance--www.albanytula.org for detailed itineraries, photos, prices, and other information and reservation forms. The GCT portion of the tour includes the following: Round trip coach transport from Albany to JFK and round trip transatlantic air transportation—from New York JFK to St. Petersburg Airport welcome by a GCT representative at your destination Accommodations—14 nights on a Grand Circle river ship in an outside cabin 40 meals— 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches, and 14 dinners (including complimentary wine with dinner) 11 exclusive, guided sightseeing tours—Moscow City & Subway tour, Novodevichy (New Maiden) Cemetery, Moscow Circus, The Kremlin & the Armory Museum, Uglich, Kizhi Island, Petrozavodsk, Peter & Paul Fortress, St. Petersburg city tour, Hermitage Museum, Catherine’s Palace & Park Exclusive Discovery Series events—Meeting with Russian World War II veterans, Russian handcrafts presentation, Russian language lesson, Vodka tasting, Blini party, Home-Hosted Visit, Candid discussions on Russian history Personal headset on all included and most optional tours Exclusive services of up to 6 resident Grand Circle Program Directors (each assigned to a group of no more than 45 travelers) Plus enjoy these features on every Grand Circle River Cruise: Shipboard commentary during cruising Captain's Welcome and Farewell Receptions and Dinners 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next Grand Circle trip Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips Several optional experiences at additional fees are also available. 2 The Tula portion includes the following for a maximum of 25 participants: Travel by coach from Moscow to Tula Three nights in the Ind Garnik Hotel in the center of the City Nine meals--three each of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including one dinner with some of our Russian friends Guided tours--Polenova estate, Tula State University, City Tour including the Kremlin and samovar museum and arms museum, the Polenova Art School, the medieval museum and a staged medieval battle in Central Park, a children’s camp, and Yasnaya Polyana-- Tolstoy’s estate and burial place Evening banya experience and musical entertainment Travel by coach to Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow for departure to JFK For further information contact Charlotte Buchanan (518) 434-3518 [email protected] www.albanytula.org 3 Itinerary 4 Costs and Booking The GCT and Tula portions will be paid for separately to the organizing organization. For the GCT cruise and tours, depending on the deck level on the cruise boat the basic portion for the GCT cruise is from $3695 based on double occupancy per cabin. Travel insurance is available for an additional $475. Optional tours include Peterhof in St. Petersburg at $95, Yusupo Palace at $65, the Russian Ballet at $95, the Karelian Folk Dance at $45, a monastery at $30, the Tretyakov Galleries in Moscow at $60 and Star City (where cosmonauts are trained) outside Moscow). Tours like Peterhof, the beautiful summer palace and gorgeous gardens of the czars and the Tretyakov Galleries in Moscow, housing all Russian art from icons to the 20th century should not be missed. A $500 down payment to GCT at the time of making the reservation is required. Basic GCT Tour, double occupancy $3695 Fees and taxes $314 Departure delay (three days in Tula) $75 Optional tours $250 (or more) Sub-total $4334 For complete terms and conditions see the Albany-Tula website and the GCT’s website for River Cruises, Russia Revealed: St. Petersburg to Moscow, June 16-July 1. The group name is “Albany Tula Group”, and the group number is 23124. Reservations and payment for the GCT portion should be made directly with GCT. The Tula portion will be $1l00 plus a $200 tax deductible contribution to the Albany-Tula Alliance. The price per person is based on double occupancy. For single rooms add an additional $210. If single persons wish to share a room, we will communicate that to the singles, so that they may decide if they wish to share a room. Items not specifically mentioned are not included, e.g. coverage for accident or sickness insurance, alcoholic beverages, excess baggage charges, personal items, laundry, room service, or gratuities for guides and drivers. Tula accommodations, all meals, ground transportation, entrance fees $1,100 Tax-deductible contribution to the Albany-Tula Alliance $200 Sub-total $1,300 GCT sub-total $4,334 Total Price $5,634 Your reservation of the Tula portion will be confirmed upon receipt and acceptance of the application and a deposit of $200 per person. One-half of the balance will be due on March 16, 2011. Cancellation after March 16, 2011 will require a forfeiture of $200 per person. The balance is due on or before April 16, 2011. No refunds will be made after April 16, 2011. Price of the tour is based on the quoted prices and exchange rate as of October 10, 2010 and is subject to change Pricing will be based on 15 to 25 people. Checks should be made payable to the Albany-Tula Alliance, Inc. and mailed with the reservation form to Charlotte Buchanan. 5 Pre-Trip Baltic Capitals: Tallinn, Estonia & Helsinki, Finland 6 days from only $695—travel from only $116 a day Day 1 Depart U.S. Depart the U.S. today on your flight to St. Petersburg. Please refer to your individual air itinerary for exact departure and arrival times. Day 2 St. Petersburg, Russia Arrive in St. Petersburg on Day 2. You are met at the airport by a Grand Circle representative and transferred to your ship. Depending on your arrival time, you may not be able to board your river ship immediately after arrival. Your Program Director will advise you of your boarding status and activity schedule for the day when you arrive. You have the balance of the day to relax after your overseas flight. You may want to join your Program Director for an orientation walk to get better acquainted with the area around your river ship. Tonight, you’ll enjoy dinner onboard. Day 3 St. Petersburg After breakfast enjoy a panoramic tour of St. Petersburg. A highlight is St. Isaac’s Cathedral. This is the largest church in the city, built originally to be the main church of the Russian Empire. The dome of the cathedral, which dominates the city’s skyline, is gilded with more than 200 pounds of gold, and the interior is elaborately decorated with exquisite mosaics, icons, malachite, and lapis lazuli. This grand church can seat 14,000 worshippers. Although the church was closed after the 1917 Revolution, it reopened as a museum in 1931, and services for worshippers were again introduced in 1990. You’ll also view the Admiralty, former shipyards, and the present Naval Academy on the banks of the Neva River, showcasing the might of the Russian navy. Other highlights include Palace Square—showcasing the beautifully baroque Winter Palace, General Staff Building, and Alexander Column; St. Petersburg University; and the Bronze Horseman, a striking monument to Peter the Great. This afternoon, after a light lunch in a local restaurant, you continue exploring St. Petersburg with us, with an included visit to the Hermitage. Formerly the Winter Palace and home of the Tsars, today this is one of the most splendid museums in the world. Built by the Empress Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, the palace became part of the Hermitage Museum, originated in 1764 when Catherine the Great began her private art collection. Today, more than 1,000 rooms house nearly 3 million exhibits and displays 6 representing some of the world’s greatest art. The staggering collection of art and paintings ranges from ancient Egypt to early 20th-century Europe and is set in a complex of buildings magnificently and lavishly adorned with gold leaf, malachite, jasper, agate, and marble. Marvel at masterpieces by da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt, a full range of French Impressionists, Van Gogh, Rodin, and many more of the world’s great artists. After your visit to the Hermitage, return to your ship in the afternoon. Celebrate your first taste of Russia and get acquainted with your traveling companions over a Captain’s Welcome Drink and Dinner tonight. Day 4 St. Petersburg/Optional Evening at the Russian Ballet Early this morning, come with us on a visit to one of the great Tsarist palaces, a royal retreat just 15 miles outside St. Petersburg. Named for Peter the Great’s wife Catherine the First, the palace was enlarged and redecorated by his daughter Elizabeth as one of the most striking examples of Russian baroque architecture. The original palace was heavily damaged during the Second World War, and the restored building that stands today is said to be the finest replica in the world. Its grandiose façade stretches 978 feet and glitters in all its former glory, with elegant white columns and ornate gold moldings set against a background of brilliant blue sky. The gem of the palace is the famous Amber Room, opened to the public after the restoration in 2003 during the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg. The room is a unique example of decorative art. You’ll also enjoy a tour of the elaborate gardens that surround the palace, which were originally laid out as a private park for the royal family.