Russia - Moscow, St Petersburg and the river Volga

[SCL...@estec.bitnet]

RUSSIA IS WAITING FOR YOU !

Your tour organiser and escort will be Karl Rodman (CES Inc.) who has been
taking groups of American tourists to Russia since 1981. He also escorts
teachers groups there to study Soviet education.

For four years Karl has worked with the Centre of Creative Initiatives for
Peace (CCIP), one of the first Russian non-governmental, non-profit
organisations. CCIP's charter is to provide a bridge for Russia to develop
its strengths in the World community. It sponsors many citizen to citizen
exchange programs, provides aid to the children of displaced families, and
is developing a farm revival program.
CCIP has the know how and the membership to provide us with good care,
and to present an intelligent introduction to their country. They are
able to invite a significant number of English speaking Russians who share our
individual interests and who are anxious to meet us.

Young Russian volunteers travel with you as personal translators and
companions uniquely enriching the entire experience.

A typical day is filled with discussion, sight-seeing, and cultural events
There are language immersion classes in Russian. You'll hear live Russian
classical and folk music aboard ship, and enjoy dancing and movies. Lectures
prepare you for the art and the history of the regions we visit, and you will
always have time to relax on the sun deck watching the scenic Volga riverbanks
glide by.

Day-to-day itinerary.

Your very busy schedule can include..

* Russian language immersion classes
* Lectures and slide shows on the history and arts of the areas we visit
* Concerts
* Dancing late into the night in the ship's cocktail lounge
* Enjoying the company of new-found friends
* And even total relaxation stretching out on the sun deck !

Day 1 - Meet at JFK Airport, New York City
Become acquainted with your group members and settle back for a relaxing
eight hour flight to Moscow.

Day 2 - Moscow
At the airport, your Russian travelling companions and translators will
greet you, and take you to The Valeri Bryusov, your floating hotel. For the
rest of the trip, you can relax without the need to re-pack for each city
visited. A guided bus tour of Moscow includes the Kremlin, the Bolshoi
Theatre, Moscow University and the other major sights. In the evening,
you'll enjoy an unforgettable ballet, a concert, or the Moscow Circus

Day 3 - Moscow and Zagorsk.
In the morning, enter the Kremlin and view its exquisite cathedrals and
lavish museums. Then on to Zagorsk. This breathtakingly beautiful
architectural enclave is the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church. View
its magnificent collection of icons and listen to the stirring music of an
Orthodox Church service. At six in the evening, we set sail.

Day 4 - Moscow river canal and Uglich
Be on deck to film our passage through the massive and fascinating canal
locks. In the afternoon you arrive at Uglich, one of the Upper Volga's
oldest medieval towns, with its colourful onion-domed cathedrals. Your
day ends with an evening of Russian music.

Day 5 - Kostroma and Plyos
Arrive in the morning at the ancient city of Kostroma. Visit the Ipatyev
Monastery and stroll through the open air museum of lovely old wooden homes.
In the afternoon we dock at the small town of Plyos, where the works of the
great Russian artist Levitan and Shishkin are on display. Walk up the path
to a hilltop overlooking the harbour and become immersed in village life.
For many this is their favourite stop.

Day 6 - Nizhni Novgorod.
This magnificent city with its own encircling Kremlin fortress was the site
of Andrei Sacharov's exile. This city had been closed to foreigners until
just 2 years ago, when our group on board fought for and won the right to come
ashore. We can't wait to tell you this exciting story!

Day 7 - Kozmodemyansk
Here are beuutoful 17th, 18th and 19th century wooden houses, featuring
intricate lace-like carved wooden decoration. A bus ride to a neighbouring
Mari village (one of the many non-Russian peoples living along the Volga)
and its local folk art festival celebrates the distinctive culture of the
Mari people. Hear their music and dance with them overlooking the Volga,
which stretches out far below you.

Day 8 - Yaroslavi
Nearly one thousand years old, the town is a gem of ancient architecture
and a must for a guided tour. Stroll along the embankments with some of
your new Russian friends.

Day 9 - Makareyev Monastery
In addition to the usual full program of shipboard activities, todays
highlight is a visit to the newly re-established Makareyev Monastery. A
centre of power in the time of Ivan the Terrible, this complex is one of
the most picturesque stops along the Volga.

Day 10 - Zelyoni Misse
On the return leg of our trip, we will stop for an afternoon picnic in
the enchanting countryside known as Green Bay. Ashore, you, your hosts and
translators, fellow travellers from other countries, and the crew will feast
on barbequed shaslick served with traditional Russian drinks. The band
comes ashore and the dancing and singing are joyous!. Perhaps you'll
play volleyball, walk in the forest, or enjoy a brisk swim.

Day 11 - Moscow
Pursue the special interests you have discovered in Russia. Perhaps visit
the homes of your Russian travelling companions. In the evening we depart
on the luxury train, the Red Arrow (deluxe sleeping accommodations, two per
cabin) and awake in Saint Petersburg in the morning.

Day 12 - Saint Petersburg
Arrival is at 8.30am. Check into your downtown hotel, freshen up, breakfast,
and begin a day of unparalleled sightseeing. Visit the Hermitage art museum
in the Czar's winter palace, as well as Peterhoff, the magnificent summer
palace just outside the city.

Day 13 - Saint Petersburg
Continue sightseeing. Marvel at the Pisarovskaya Memorial Cemetery, a
monument to the city's 900-day siege during World War II. Visit St. Isaac's
cathedral (a rival to St Paul's and St Peter's) and take a boat ride along
the city's magnificent canals which gave rise to the city's nickname, the
'Venice of the North'. Peter's city is one of the World's wonders. Your
visit will bring new appreciation of this giant of Czar Peter the First's
creation of a window onto Europe in these Northern marches, and of his
single-handedly pulling Russia into the modern World. In the evening, we
depart for Moscow aboard the sleeper train.

Day 14 - Our last full day in Moscow
A day free for pursuit of your own activities. Pack, shop for last minute
items, visit with newly acquired friends, or even take one more round of
sight seeing. Be sure to wander in the Arbat Street, famous for its music.
You will be immersed in the world of Matryoshka dolls, lacquer boxes,
Russian eggs, embroidery, and thousands of relics and souvenirs of the
recently departed Soviet regime. Maybe join the line to pay your respects
at the Lenin Mausoleum in Red Square. In the evening, we will have a Gala
Farewell Banquet!

Day 15 - Farewell
Last goodbye to all your new friends, both American and Russian.
Departure from the Moscow Airport at mid-day will get you back to New York
City, on the same day, in the early afternoon.

Trips leave on 3rd June, 21st June, 6th July, 21st July, 5th August,
20th August, 5th September, and 20th September.

Price for 14 days is $1000.00 per person

For more details, please e-mail me SCL...@estec.estec.esa.nl

or phone Lena Nikolova on (**)-31-1719-48673.

Address, Prins Bernhardstraat 29a,
2202LD Noordwijk,
The Netherlands.