“Fooling“ around in Russia

Cruising the Volga-Baltic waterways with Russia’s Holy Fools

DESTINATION
Moscow, historic towns of the Golden Circle, St. Petersburg

DATES
Aug. 23–Sept. 4, 2009 (12 nights)

READINGS
Selections from Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Pushkin, Vasilenko and others. Click here for more details

Description/Itinerary
In Russian culture, the holy fool has a lofty role as a traditional guide, mentor and savior. It found expression in numerous fairy tales about Ivan the Fool and was continuously exploited by dozens of Russian writers, including Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Pushkin. This flamboyant Russian type and literary character serves as our guide to Russian metropolises, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and the enchanting towns in between.

We will sail through history and culture in style and comfort on board a floating hotel, the 150-passenger MS Tolstoy. Built in Austria, for Kremlin officials, the Tolstoy is the most luxurious and comfortable cruise ship ever
built for Russian rivers.

We will spend several days in legendary Moscow, then cruise north and visit the picturesque Golden Ring towns of Uglich, Kostroma and Yaroslavl. These towns feature monuments of Russian architecture from the 12th – 18th centuries, centuries, including kremlins, monasteries and cathedrals. We continue along the Volga-Baltic waterways
to St. Petersburg, one of the world’s most beautiful, culturally rich cities, often referred to as the Russian Venice. We will experience a kaleidoscope of Russian life and literature.

Leader
Gary Schoepfel is a seasoned leader with the Great Books Foundation, Harrison Middleton University, Classical Pursuits and beyond. He looks forward to exploring a sampling of Russia’s foremost writers on this extraordinary literary journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

Accommodatiation
The MS Tolstoy, 12 nights

Fees
Cabins from $5600 Cdn to $8500 Cdn Click here for deck plan

Single supplement from $1500 Cdn to $2949 Cdn, (depends on the cabin selected)

Fee includes books, accommodation, three meals a day, discussions, walking tours, talks, excursions, admissions and transfers to and from the boat.

Non Refundable Deposit:

Double occupancy:
$ 750 pp (Categories E – A)
$ 1,000 pp (Jr. Suites and Suites)

Single occupancy:
$ 1,500 (for categories E to A)
$ 2,000 (Jr. Suites and Suites)

Registration
Exotic Destinations
251 Davenport Rd, Suite 207
Toronto, ON, M5R 1J9 Canada
416-214-2235; 1-877-698-6588
www.exotic.to
info@exotic.to