Czars and Caviar
Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia
August 3 - 13, 2006
FROM IVAN THE TERRIBLE TO PETER THE GREAT
Just as the Royal House of Hapsburg shaped the destinies of its crown
cities of Budapest, Vienna and Prague, the rulers of Russia likewise
focused obsessively on developing their country’s dueling capitals,
Moscow and St. Petersburg. Built on top of an ancient settlement dating
back 3,000 years, Moscow (Moskva) went from a rickety, wooden-walled
fort to a magnificent citadel under the rule of Czar Ivan the Terrible
in the 15th century, when it became Russia’s capital. Two centuries
later, Czar Peter the Great felt Moscow was too Asian, and therefore
too backward for his own tastes. He built a glorious new European-style
capital city and named it after himself—St. Petersburg.
As with most very old civilizations, Russia
has seen more than its fair share of upheavals—from foreign conquest
to internal Revolution and the devastating effects of two World Wars.
Yet Moscow and St. Petersburg survive to this day as both potent reminders
of Russia’s rich heritage, and as beacons for the country’s
bright future. The two cities have very different atmospheres, and both
are evolving to find their footing in Russia’s rapidly growing
economic and political sphere.
The nation’s capital, Moscow, is
the beating heart of Russia, set as it is in the heartland at the confluence
of the Moskva and Neglina Rivers. It is picturesque locale where much
of Russia’s grandiose history has played out, either in public
or behind the walls of the foreboding Kremlin building. Once a site
of pilgrimage not unlike Jerusalem, Mecca or Rome, Moscow became the
political and ideological center of the unified Russian state and later
of the vast Soviet empire. Even though that empire has now broken apart,
the city retains its political, industrial, and cultural sway. With
a population of more than 9 million, it is Russia’s largest city
and home to some of the country’s most renowned cultural institutions,
theaters, and film studios. Many parts of the city, especially within
the Boulevard Ring which includes Red Square, are now sparkling clean
and well kept. Although the Russians are protecting most of their architectural
heritage, Moscow is very much a city on the move into the future.
St Petersburg has survived relatively
intact for 300 years. From its dramatic birth in the early years of
the 18th century, the city has suffered turbulent years of revolution,
the freezing death and starvation of the Nazi siege, the grim purges
of Stalin and the end of the Communist era in the 1990s. With its strict
geometric lines and perfectly planned architecture, so unlike the Russian
cities that came before it, St. Petersburg is almost too European to
be Russian, and yet it is too Russian to be European. It is simply an
amazing combination of both East and West. Built on a grand scale with
splendid boulevards, magnificent palaces built along its many waterways,
and some of the world’s most respected museums, St. Petersburg
provides a lavish setting for cultural and historical exploration! St.
Petersburg feels particularly magical in the summertime because it is
never entirely dark during the white nights of this northern latitude.
Russia is the world’s largest country!
It is truly a fascinating destination that should be on every seasoned
traveler’s list of places to see at least once in a lifetime.
Despite Western media reports to the contrary, Russia is more accessible
now than at any time in the past, so visitors will not experience any
special difficulties in getting there. The imperial cities of Moscow
and St. Petersburg contain some of Europe’s most impressive storehouses
of architectural and cultural wonders, and they embody a larger-than-life
historical significance. Discover your own champagne and caviar dreams
with Toto Tours as we explore these crown jewels of the Czarist empire.
ITINERARY
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Departure
Take an international flight from your home city today bound for Moscow,
Russia, arriving tomorrow. (SVO is the airport code.)
Friday, August 4, 2006
Arrival / Welcome Dinner
Because we are not flying as a group, we have scheduled one airport
pick-up at the Moscow International Airport at 1:00pm. If you cannot
arrange a flight that will arrive by 1:00pm today, we strongly encourage
you to plan on arriving one day early. We proceed directly from the
airport on a brief city orientation tour with our guide prior to check-in
at the hotel. This evening we gather at the hotel for a welcome cocktail,
with introductions all around. Afterwards, Toto Tours hosts a Welcome
Dinner at a nearby restaurant. (Dinner
included)
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Red Square & Kremlin
Enjoy a hot buffet breakfast at the hotel, followed by a full-day
sightseeing tour that features the incredible sights in Moscow’s
Red Square. For most visitors, Red Square is indelibly associated with
images of stone-faced Soviet leaders standing in the bitter cold as
a panoply of military might rumbles past their review stand atop Lenin’s
Mausoleum. Although the Square is no longer witness to the imposing
parades of May Day, it remains a profoundly impressive space. Enclosed
by the stark severity of the mausoleum, the exuberant colors of St.
Basil’s Cathedral, and other expansive facades, Red Square is,
and deserves to be, the requisite first stop for any visitor to Moscow.
Today’s tour features Red Square,
Lenin’s Mausoleum, and St. Basil’s Cathedral in the morning,
a break for lunch, followed by visits to the Kremlin and several other
nearby cathedrals in the afternoon. You’ll be pinching yourself
all day to convince yourself that you are actually walking in these
places you have seen time and again in movies and news broadcasts. (Breakfast)
Sunday, August 6, 2006
Gorky and Pushkin Museums / GUM Department Store
After breakfast enjoy another full-day sightseeing tour. We begin
at the Gorky Museum, which is housed ironically in a splendid art-nouveau
style mansion. Maxim Gorky, father of Social Realism, seems to have
enjoyed his creature comforts, and made this his home after returning
from exile during the early Stalin years. A startling limestone staircase
in the shape of a wave leads to the second floor. Splendid oak doorways
and large windows, all different, can be admired throughout the house.
Next we have the opportunity to stroll
through the world-famous GUM Department Store, which takes up almost
the entire eastern side of Red Square. Built between 1890 and 1893,
it boasts an elegant turn-of-the-century interior, comprising three
parallel arcades centered on a fountain and overlooked by galleries.
Light floods in through the building’s glass roof and souvenir
stands, foreign stores and designer boutiques fill the arcades. After
a lunch break and free time in the Department Store, we visit the Pushkin
Art Museum which possesses an impressive collection of European art,
second only to St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum, including many
Impressionist masterpieces. (Breakfast)
Monday, August 7, 2006
Losiny Ostrov “Elk” Island
After breakfast enjoy a half-day excursion to Losiny Ostrov Island,
on the outskirts of Moscow. This island is part of a massive national
park that encompasses 46 square miles and has dense, 200-year-old forest
groves and wetlands teeming with waterfowl. The island, once home to
a large herd of indigenous elk (hence it’s nickname), has been
a favorite place for relaxation since the 18th century, with fishing
and swimming ponds, decorative canals, and lush woods. Returning to
our hotel, the remainder of the day is free. (Breakfast)
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Sergiyev Posad / Train to St. Petersburg
After breakfast we check out of the hotel and begin a full day of
adventures leading up to the boarding of our overnight train to St.
Petersburg. We begin with a half-day excursion to the Zagorsk Monastery
at Sergiyev Posad. A scenic, 45-mile drive from Moscow through dense
forests and over rolling hills brings us to the town made famous by
its spectacular fortress monastery. Built in the early 14th century,
it is Russia’s most important Orthodox pilgrimage site. As part
of our visit to the monastery, we visit St. Sergius Cathedral, the beautiful
grounds and the chapel at the well.
The village of Sergiyev Posad has been a center
of wood-carving and toy-making for centuries, and continues to carry
on this tradition. Every summer it is possible to see artists at work,
and to purchase all types of wooden crafts, including matrioshka dolls
(nestling figures). After free time for shopping and lunch, we return
to Moscow.
The motorcoach is at our disposal within
the Moscow city limits this afternoon, and the group will consult with
our tour manager on how best to utilize this free time. After dinner
we transfer to the Leingradsky Vokzal Train Station for our overnight
journey to St. Petersburg in First Class, 2-Berth Sleeper compartments.
Train tickets must be purchased 60 days prior to departure, so it will
not be possible to join this tour at the last minute! (Breakfast)
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
St. Petersburg Sightseeing
Upon arrival in St. Petersburg this morning, we load our luggage onto
a waiting motorcoach and enjoy a reviving breakfast at a local restaurant.
Sated, we plunge directly into sightseeing, beginning with a tour of
the world-famous Hermitage Museum. One of the world's greatest museums,
the Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings situated along the
River Neva, right in the heart of St Petersburg. Since the museum houses
nearly 3 million works of art, it will not be possible to see everything
in a few hours, but we will definitely hit the highlights and you can
scout out galleries you want to see on a possible second visit.
Today’s sightseeing also includes a visit
to Fyodor Dostoevesky’s House, a small museum dedicated to the
famous Russian author, and also the Russian Museum with its collection
of Russian art encompassing 10 centuries. We check in at our hotel,
and the remainder of the day is free. (Breakfast)
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Summer Palace
After breakfast enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour, beginning with
the Nevsky Prospekt, the city’s equivalent of Paris’ Champs
Elysées. Visit St. Isaac Cathedral, boasting one of the largest
domes in the world, and then on to the Peter and Paul Fortress on a
small island in the Neva River. Our next stop is Peterhof, the Summer
Palace of Peter the Great. It is a lovely, two-story yellow residence
set in beautifully manicured, European-style gardens.
After a break for lunch visit the Alexander
Nevsky Monastery, a historic complex of churches and prestigious cemeteries
where many giants of Russian culture, such as Tchaikowsky, Dostoevsky,
Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Glinka, are buried. Our last stop is
the Smolny Cathedral, one of the most gorgeous churches in Russia built
for Empress Elisabeth and completed in 1761. Returning to our hotel
the remainder of the evening is free. (Breakfast)
Friday, August 11, 2006
Kirovsky Islands
After breakfast depart for a full day excursion to the Kirovsky Islands,
including Kamenny, Yelagin and Krestovsky. Situated north of the city
center, the islands have historically been a playground for nobility
and therefore are made up of beautiful parks and palaces. An ideal spot
for fun and frolic, these islands offer great places to cycle, stroll
and picnic. One palace of particular interest, the imperial summer palace
of the Tsars, Yelagin Palace, is open to the public. Built for Alexander
I’s wife, this lovely estate includes a serene setting of picturesque
ponds and lakes and the best view of the Gulf of Finland. Upon returning
to our hotel the evening is free. (Breakfast)
Saturday, August 12, 2007
Free Day / Farewell Dinner
Today is a completely free day to do as you please in St. Petersburg.
You may choose to sleep late and enjoy a relaxing breakfast, or you
may opt to head out early for last-minute sightseeing and souvenir shopping.
This evening Toto Tours hosts a gala Farewell Dinner, bringing our Russian
tour to a festive conclusion. (Breakfast
/ Dinner)
Sunday, August 13, 2007
Departure
The tour ends officially after breakfast this morning. Arrange your
return flight home for any convenient time today. Toto Tours provides
one group transfer to the airport this morning. We will be happy to
assist with your accommodation arrangements if you would like to remain
longer in St. Petersburg. (Breakfast)
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