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Celebrate Russia
Moscow & St. Petersburg
September 8 - 18, 2005
Russia - always mysterious,
dynamic, and romantic - is in the midst of a fascinating transition, and now is the time
to explore the country. With St. Petersburg beautifully polished for its 300th anniversary
celebration in 2003, and Moscow constantly reinventing itself, this is truly Russia’s
moment.
Diversions
has created an exceptional tour to provide you with memorable adventures into the art,
history and culture of Russia. Traveling in September, when the weather is comfortable and
the cultural season is in full swing, we will stay in two of Europe’s most luxurious
five-star hotels and dine in the ever-expanding array of sophisticated restaurants in both
Moscow and St. Petersburg. Our knowledgeable and articulate English-speaking guides will
ensure that we are shown the best both cities have to offer.
In
typical Diversions style, our tour is a wonderful tapestry of special experiences. Our stay in Russia provides privileged access to
exquisite private palaces and art collections. Russia’s
great museums will open special doors for us, as we offer curator-led tours, private
viewings of rarely seen galleries, and the chance to talk with world-renowned restorers as
they work in their private studios on treasures from the Imperial palaces. What’s
more, we will indulge in some of the world’s finest performing arts with tickets to
the incomparable Kirov Ballet and the renowned Moscow State Circus.
Despite
our wealth of exclusive visits, we have been careful not to overlook any of Russia's
"must see" monuments and attractions, including the mighty Kremlin, her golden
domes reaching to the sky, and the newly constructed Resurrection Gates on Red Square. Countless art treasures await us at the Tretyakov
Gallery, Czarina Catherine’s Summer Palace, and the famous Hermitage. The Hermitage will open before hours exclusively
for us! The great country palaces around St.
Petersburg also await our visit!
Come with us on this VIP journey that offers unprecedented access to
“Celebrate Russia.” Seize the opportunity to:
* Gasp at the Armory Museum’s vast and unparalleled collection of
exquisite Faberge eggs before continuing to the vault housing the
diamond-and-emerald-encrusted crown jewels.
* View the best contemporary and impressionist art in
Russia while sipping champagne at a festive reception in Moscow's top up-and-coming art
gallery.
* Marvel at the grace and beauty of prima ballerinas
during a magnificent performance of the legendary Kirov Ballet, all the more spectacular
from our center orchestra seats!
*Learn about historic nesting matroyoshka doll making in
one of Moscow’s finest galleries and seize the opportunity to purchase an endearing
matroyska doll of your own.
* Meander in awe
through the mystical Trinity Saint Sergius Monastery in Sergiev Posad with its vast array
of bell towers, onion domes, and elegant spires adorning churches spanning four centuries.
* Delight in the company of the members of the Moscow
Youth Orchestra following a performance in our honor at the Pushkin. Learn about the training and lives of these
extraordinary young musicians.
* Engage in a bit of indulgence at the Caviar Bar at the
Grand Hotel Europa with red and black caviar, blinys, fine vodka, champagne and live
traditional Russian entertainment. Na
Zdorovye! (Cheers!)
* Listen to the moving creations of Russia’s musical greats -
Tchaikovsky, Glazunov, Prokofiev and Shostakovich - at exclusive private recitals in both
Moscow and St. Petersburg.
* Recapture childhood memories at the historic Moscow
State Circus.
*Wear VIP status as the doors of the Hermitage open
especially for us after hours so that we may view the State Rooms and highlights of the
major collections in private, followed by a concert and reception. During a second visit
to the Hermitage, a curator will lead us through the Scythian Gold Collections and the
“Hidden Treasures Revealed.”
*Enjoy a fascinating visit to the jewel of the Catherine
Palace, the Amber Room, only recently reopened after decades of neglect and restoration. Master craftsmen welcome us to their workshop to
observe the carving of the 300-year-old panels of amber.
*Travel across the Gulf of Finland by hydrofoil to Peterhof, the
imperial summer residence of Peter the Great, renowned for its fountains descending
seventeen terraced levels to join a canal that connects the palace to the Baltic Sea.
* Experience the aristocratic lifestyle of the 19th-century Russian
nobility as we are invited into the intimate private living quarters (usually closed to
the public) of the Empress Maria Fyodorovna at Pavlovsk Palace.
* Explore the romantic Ostankino Palace. “Where but in Russia” said Jacqueline
* Feel like royalty on two specially arranged gala
evenings with dinner at the
Marble Palace, built as a present from Catherine The Great to her lover,
Orlov and a sumptuous farewell feast in the private Last Palace, the final palatial estate
to be built before the Revolution.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but rather by
the moments that take our breath away.” “Celebrate Russia,” offers such a
moment!
Cost: LAND PORTION ONLY: $7495.00 per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement is $1375.00 per person
International Airfare is currently
being negotiated.
Contact the Diversions office, 410-486-3604, for details.
$2,000.00 per person deposit is required.
As space is limited, if you wish to be included in “Celebrate Russia,” your deposit is required now.
Inclusions:
*Three (3) nights at The Hotel Baltschug Kempinski in Moscow; six (6) nights at the Kempinski Grand Hotel Europa in St. Petersburg
*Full buffet breakfast daily, seven lunches, private receptions, nine dinners
*Tickets to performances at the Kirov Ballet and The Moscow State Circus
*All airport/ hotel transfers, baggage handling throughout the trip when with the group
*All local taxes, entrance fees, gratuities and service charges
*All touring as described in the
itinerary, enhanced by the services of well-informed local
English-speaking
guides and an expert bilingual tour director
*Business class flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg
*Note: The processing of Russian entry visas will be handled by Diversions at an additional cost of approximately $250.00 per person
Don’t let this moment pass you by!