Romance of Russia

We begin in Moscow, huge, governmental and powerful, whose glorious museums, palaces, Kremlin towers and Red Square never fail to inspire wonder. We continue to St. Petersburg, home of the Hermitage and the Winter Palace. Its museums, brightly pastelled buildings, bridges and canals have undergone a spectacular renaissance so that this is once again one of the world’s most glorious cities. You’ll stay in beautiful hotels, enjoy delicious meals, attend excellent cultural perfor-mances and encounter a discovery of one of the world’s most fascinating lands at a true turning point in history

WHERE YOU WILL STAY:

Moscow - 4 Nights at the Meridien National / Metropol
St. Petersburg - 4 Nights at the Hotel Astoria / Grand Hotel Europe / Renaissance

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Tuesday • En Route
Evening departure for Russia, via a connection in Helsinki

Day 2 - Wednesday • Moscow

Morning arrival in Moscow, capital of Russia, pervaded with the unique atmostphere of the old and the new, of ages-old solidity and recent uproar, of a deeply rooted cultural heritage facing the onslaught of the latest Western life-styles. Meet your National Guide/Tour Manager and transfer to your hotel. Tonight, Welcome to Russia Dinner. D

Day 3 - Thursday • Moscow

Tour the heart of Russia today - This morning’s panoramic city tour encompasses .-Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral with its onion-shaped domes, the Historical Museum and the GUM Department Store, one of the world’s largest. Continue to Tverskaya Street, Okhotny Ryad, Teatrainy Square and Moscow State University. Lunch in a city restaurant, and this afternoon, visit the Moscow Choral Synagogue, one of the most beautiful synagogues in the world, for a briefing on Russian Jewry. Drive to Memorial Hill, where, overlooking the Kremlin, a new synagogue has recently been built, and is part of a large memorial complex and museum commemorating the victims of the Holocaust. Evening is free. Your Guide will make dinner suggestions. BL

Day 4 - Friday • Moscow

Today, tour the fascinating Kremlin to see the grounds, and within its walls, the palaces, cathedrals and towers including the “Ivan the Terrible” Bell Tower. View the 40-ton Tsar Cannon cast in bronze in the 16th century. Visit the Armory Museum, where the Csars treasures are displayed. Stroll famed Arbat Street for the best, and best prices for antiques, souvenirs and Russian handicrafts. Have your portrait drawn by a street artist, watch jugglers entertain or listed to a jazz band. Tonight, Shabbat Dinner at your hotel, followed by a theatre performance, near the hotel. BD

Day 5 - Saturday • Moscow

Shabbat at leisure in this fascinating city. Attend services if you wish, then join your guide on a walking tour of the city – home of ½ of the Jewish population of Russia and where Russian Jews now can freely visit at least 5 synagogues, 12 religious groups, several Kosher restaurants, nearly a dozen day schools, Jewish colleges and a university and an art center. For those who wish, an optional tour can be arranged for a visit to the Tretayakov State Gallery, one of the world’s largest museums, a treasure house of Russian art from the 11th century. Its founder, Pavel Tretyakov, a rich Russian manufacturer and patron of the arts presented his collection to the city in 1892. Now the gallery holds more than 50,000 works of paintings, graphic art and sculpture which includes some art work by Jewish artists. Tonight, our “Moscow by Night drive provides an incredible view of the city. B

Day 6 - Sunday • Moscow

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to beautiful St. Petersburg, known for 70 years as Leningrad. This city, originally conceived and planned by Peter the Great as Russia’s “Window on the West” is built on 101 islands connected by lacy, elegant bridges. It’s many palaces, once homes of the nobility, have pastel-colored facades by which add to the charm of this lovely city near the Neva River. Evening at leisure. B

Day 7 - Monday • St. Petersburg

Today's city tour includes a visit to the Peter & Paul Fortress, once a prison for revolutionaries, now a final resting place for some of the Romanov Czars and St. Isaac's Cathedral, with its magnificently gilded dome and imposing bronze doors. This afternoon, visit the Great Choral Synagogue, the 2nd largest in Europe, after the Dohany St. Synagogue in Budapest, for a briefing and meeting with members of the Jewish community. Visit the Center of Jewish Arts & Crafts in Gatchinskaya Street with its large display of yarmulkes, candelabra, menorah, challah covers and paintings with a Jewish theme. Tonight, a cultural performance at the Hermitage Theater. B

Day 8 - Tuesday • St. Petersburg

This morning return to Palace Square with its Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum’s three million exhibits, including the Scythian Gold Treasury. Your guide will recommend a spot for lunch, then stroll the city’s elegant streets – perhaps visit the Royal Arts Collection, the Chamber of Oddities, founded by Peter the Great, or explore Nevsky Passage – the largest St. Petersburg department store – the choices are endless. B

Day 9 - Wednesday • St Petersburg

Today’s excursion takes us to Pushkin to see the Holocaust Monument by sculptor Vadim Sidur. The monument resembles a woman weeping. It was erected in 1991 through the efforts of Russian and American Jews on the spot where Nazis killed the Jews of the town of Detskoye Selo in October 1941. Tour the spectacular Palace of Catherine the Great, restored to its original splendor, after severe damage during World War 11. A typical lunch and folklore show awaits in a countryside restaurant before returning to St. Petersburg. Tonight, our Farewell Dinner caps an enchanting tour. BLD

Day 10 - Thursday • St Petersburg

Fly to the U.S. arriving later the same day. B

This is a sample itinerary – Distribution of sites & leisure time is subject to change.

Meal Conditons: Buffet Breakfast daily – 2 lunches – 3 dinners

Where you will stay

• Moscow - 4 nights at the Le Meridien National or Metropol
• St. Petersburg – 4 nights at the Hotel Astoria or Grand Europe

Departure Dates and Prices for 2007
Tour price includes Round Trip economy Air from New York City.