Day 8 - October 4, 2006 - Wednesday: Yaroslavl and Rybinsk Lake (B,L,D)
We arrive at 9:00am in Yaroslavl which is set on a steep bank of the Volga River and was founded in 1010 by Grand Prince Yaroslavl the Wise of Kiev. Yaroslavl has always been considered one of Russia’s most beautiful cities with its wide tree-lined streets and attractive parks. Several buildings here rank among the world’s greatest architecture. On our sightseeing tour, we see the exquisite Church of Elijah the Prophet (above left), a masterpiece of local architecture, richly adorned with precious frescoes, and the 12th century Transfiguration Monastery (above right) with murals depicting St. John’s apocalyptic visions. There are many orphanages in Russia and for those that are interested we are arranging time to visit the  Yaroslavl orphanage (above center). In the afternoon we continue our journey northward, cruising through the vast Rybinsk Lake.

Day 9 - October 5, 2006 - Thursday: Kostroma and Volga River  (B,L,D) Founded in 1152, Kostroma lies along the middle Volga, surrounded by rolling hills and forests. Visit the 14th century Ipatyevsky Monastery (above left) and the fascinating Museum of Wooden Architecture (Above right). Kostroma is the only Russian city that has retained its original 18th century street plan with the main streets radiating from the center like the spokes of a wheel. Students in a Russian performance (above center.)

Day 10 - October 6, 2006 - Friday: Uglich and Volga River (B,L,D) We have a relaxing day aboard as we cruise along the Volga, Europe's longest river. Enjoy shipboard activities, including lectures on Russian history and Russian language lessons. After lunch we arrive in the historic town of Uglich. As we approach this picturesque Golden Ring city, be prepared for a lovely view of its Cathedral and St. John’s church (above right) looming on the horizon. Founded in 1148, Uglich is one of the oldest and most beloved towns in Russia. Infamous for being the site of the mysterious death of Ivan the Terrible’s son, Dimitry, the town now hosts a commemorative church - Church of St. Dimitry on the Blood (above left) on the site where the body of the young Prince was found. A walk through this enchanting town is a delight where we may see local musicians performing (above center). We continue cruising in the evening where we can dance the night away in the Main Lounge or watch a performance in the concert hall on board.

Day 11 - October 7, 2006 - Saturday: Moscow: (B,L,D) Our cruise arrives in Moscow as we view the lushly wooded landscape as we sail through the spectacular Moscow Canal, which connects the Moskva River (above left) and the city of Moscow with the Volga River. The capital of Russia since the late 15th century, Moscow is a city of architectural delights. Centered on the Kremlin, Moscow's layout is marked by concentric rings; which chronicle the stages of the city's growth. On a city tour, we see Red Square (above right), the Metro and more. Then in the afternoon, we  visit the Tretyakov Gallery, the National Museum of Russian Fine Art. We have numerous options for the evening such as taking a Moscow-by-night tour, attending the Bolshoy Theater, going to the Moscow State Circus (above center), or seeing a folklore performance.

Day 12 - October 8, 2006 - Sunday: Moscow:  (B,L,D)  This morning our tour visits the Kremlin and its incomparable Armory Palace Museum. A walk within the Kremlin provides a fascinating view of the lavish government (formerly the Czar’s) palaces and splendid cathedrals. See three of the most important cathedrals in all of Russia - the Assumption Cathedral, the traditional investiture place of the Czars; the Annunciation, with its nine golden domes; and St. Michael’s the Archangel, the internment place of the Russian rulers until the time of Peter the Great. Continuing our tour we go inside the Armory, see the priceless collection of imperial treasures, including an extraordinary assemblage of imperial traveling carriages and the renowned Fabergé eggs (above center). The afternoon and evening is free to explore Moscow on our own or we may choose an optional visit to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts (above left). The museum contains a wealth of works ranging from ancient Egyptian to the Impressionists, including works by Cézanne, van Gogh, Gaugin and Matisse. For the evening we might choose to enjoy a rousing performance of a famous Russian folklore ensemble.

Day 13 - October 9, 2006 - Monday: Moscow:.(B,L,D) Free day to explore on our own. We can sleep in, shop (center photo above) at the huge Moscow mall called the GUM (upper right photo) opposite the Kremlin, or return to favorite places we have visited. We could visit the impressive Moscow University or drive to Lenin Hills for a splendid view of the river Moskva and the city below. Possibly take a tour of the famous Moscow Metro (upper left photo), where each station is a living museum of marble statuary, mosaics and crystal chandeliers. Or walk on Arbat Street, a pedestrian only street lined with souvenir shops. An optional excursion is to Sergiev Posad, the seat of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. This delightful excursion, about one and a half-hours each way, takes us to this enchanting medieval town, formerly known as Zagorsk, buried in the greenery of many parks and gardens. Its Trinity Monastery, founded 600 years ago, is absolutely breathtaking and possibly the grandest of all Russian monasteries. For the evening we can enjoy a tremendous variety of Moscow evening performances or simply have a most welcome cocktail and gala dinner aboard our ship.

Day 14 - October 10, 2006 - Tuesday: Trans-Atlantic Flight:.(B,L,D) Bid our crew and fellow passengers goodbye as we disembark and transfer to the airport for our onward flight with Lufthansa Airlines (above left) through Frankfurt arriving later in the day in Washington, D. C., (above center) for connecting flights within United States (above right) and Canada.

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