Miami Ski Club

RUSSIA - May 18 - 31, 2010

RUSSIA PRE-TRIP PARTY:
Sunday, May 9, 5 PM at 17145 SW 80 Ct., Miami
For map and directions, click here

 RUSSIA TRIP ITINERARY with exchange rates, tipping instructions and other inormation

       View photos of Moscow here

       View photos of St . Petersburg here

       View photos of the MS Leo Tolstoy here

       Download the Trip Forms below:

      EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION SHEET 

        RUSSIA TRIP SHEET

  RUSSIA TRIP APPLICATION

   RUSSIA CREDIT CARD PAYMENT FORM

  RUSSIAN VISA APPLICATION & INSTRUCTIONS

This adventure will have us exploring Russia from Moscow to St. Petersburg, visiting towns and villages along the vast waterways, rivers and lakes connecting the two cities. Once we arrive in Moscow, you will have the rest of the afternoon to unpack, settle into your cabin on the MS Leo Tolstoy and clean up before dinner. We will have three full days to explore this vast city (sixth largest in the world) and its history. Naturally, one of the highlights will be a tour of the Kremlin, which will probably be a surprise to most. We think of it as the center of Soviet power, but "kremlin" in Russian simply means "fortress", and the Moscow Kremlin has been the center of Russian government for centuries. The vast complex contains palaces, cathedrals, churches and museums housing an incredible wealth of art and history.

During our stay in Moscow, our tours will cover not only the museums, cathedrals and historical sites, but will have us exploring the fantastic subway stations, shopping areas and catching a show.

Once we leave Moscow, we will also leave behind the high energy cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city and settle into a more relaxed pace. At first, you will see private yachts, sailing clubs and beautiful luxury homes nestled into the wooded banks of the waterway. Slowly, these will give way to country homes and smaller villages with quaint churches, as we approach the town of Uglich. Here we will have an opportunity to split up and have breakfast in the homes of our Russian hosts, getting a glimpse of every-day life in this city. The churches and cathedral here paint the very picture of Russia you have envisioned, with brightly colored onion domes and interiors filled with Orthodox icons.

Our next stop will be Yaroslavl, which was settled in the 8th century by Finno-Ugric tribes and called Bear Corner. Its colorful history includes the Mongol-Tartar invasion of 1238; being the capital of Russia during the Polish invasion in 1598, and becoming a hub for Russia’s wealthy merchants. It saw the construction of the country’s first national theater and remained the region’s cultural center, even after Peter the Great moved his capital to St. Petersburg and the city lost some of its importance. Our tours will focus on the historical sites of this quaint city with some time allocated to shopping in the expansive local market.

The following day will have us cruising through the beautifully wooded country side, with a stop in the town of Goritsy and the adjoining monastery of Kirillov. The Monastery was founded in 1379 on the shores of the White Lake and by the end of the 17th century became one of the largest and wealthiest religious and military centers in Russia. Consequently, the monastery was surrounded by fortified walls and twenty three towers, which still stand today. Our walking tour will also take us through one of the most impressive collections of religious icons in Russia.

The scenic journey through Russia will reach its northern-most point with our visit to the tiny village on the island of Kizhi. One of the over 1,300 islands in Lake Onega, Kizhi has a population of 64 inhabitants, and is so remote, that during the long winter months can be supplied only by helicopter. Despite it’s remoteness, Kizhi could very well be the most fascinating stop on our thousand mile journey. The cluster of churches, farm houses and bath houses is constructed entirely of wood and presents a truly unspoiled picture of rural life in Russia, mostly unaffected by the passage of time. The highlight is the wooden Transfiguration Cathedral built in 1714, boasting twenty three cupolas which dominate the pastoral landscape.

Our journey will take us through the rugged scenery of Lake Onega, which at 10,000 square kilometers is the second largest lake in Europe. Fed by over fifty rivers and a thousand streams, it reaches depths of up to 400 ft and contains some of the purest water anywhere. It is drained only by one river - the Stir, which we will cruise on our way is twice the size of Onega. The more than 650 islands make for impressive scenery as we make our way to the Neva river, which again is the only stream draining Lake Ladoga into the Gulf of Finland near St. Petersburg.

The last stop on our way to St. Petersburg is the village of Svirstroy. Far removed from the very modern Moscow, Svirstroy will give you a good insight into every day life in rural Russia, which has changed little since the Soviet era, barring the enterprising cluster of souvenir and local handicraft cottages. Here, you will be able to walk around the village and probably get invited into someone’s home for tea or vodka.

For further details please see the trip sheet!

This trip will give us a great overview of this vast and diverse country, combined with the relaxation of cruising the beautiful countryside of Russia. Basically everything is included in our package: airfare, ground transportation, tours, admissions to museums and galleries and all the meals. As we know from previous experience, Lufthansa is a premier airline, and the MS Tolstoy is one of the best boats on this cruising circuit. Most of our tours are customized for our group and include many extras. As the ship will be our home-away-from-home for the entire duration of the trip, there is no packing and re-packing, so you will be able to settle in and enjoy this unique vacation.

TRIP INCLUDES:
A pre-trip party; all air and ground transportation costs, cruise, all meals, luggage transfers, current (at the time of booking) taxes; private guides for the entire trip, all entrance fees to historical sites and museums; free admission to Springfest 2010.

TRIP PRICING:
$6,495 per person, double occupancy
$5,245 double occupancy, if providing your own air
$9,995 single occupancy
$8,745 single occupancy, if providing your own air

$3,250 initial payment
due at time if signing up for trip; single supplements or upgrades due with initial payment.

$3,245 final payment due by Feb. 5, 2010

Land only deducted from final payment. 
All prices quoted with a cash/check discount; if paying by credit card, 3% will be added by vendor.
Credit card payment form available on our web site.

TRIP REQUIREMENTS:

• Current Miami Ski Club membership

• Completely filled out and signed: Russia Trip Application form and the Supplemental and theTerms and Conditions form. Forms are available for download on the top of this page.

• If renewing membership at the same time, membership dues must be paid by a separate check. Membership dues are not refundable.

• You will also need to provide two photocopies of your passport.

• As always, trip insurance is strongly advised.

VISAS:
Valid Russian visa is required. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.

AIR SCHEDULE:
Trip departs from Miami, via Lufthansa. Prices quoted with current taxes, which may increase by time of ticketing. Any additional taxes or fuel surcharges (if any) will be the responsibility of each traveler.

May 18: 3:40 PM depart Miami via LH 463
May 19: 6:35 AM arrive in Frankfurt, Germany
8:15 AM depart Frankfurt on LH 3182
1:25 PM arrive in Moscow

May 31: 6:00 AM depart St. Petersburg on LH 3221
6:50 AM arrive in Frankfurt, Germany
9:55 AM depart Frankfurt on LH 462
1:40 PM arrive in Miami

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Trip leader: George Ondricek 
(305) 234-7344 
or via e-mail:  

Russia@miamiskiclub.net

Mail applications and payments to:
George Ondricek
17145 SW 80 Ct 
Miami, FL 33157

Download Leo Tolstoy photo set

Download Russia trip photo poster

Download Faces of Russia photo poster

Download images of Russia photo poster