Orthodox Ukraine
Topic: Tour CalendarSeptember 13 - 25, 2007
Sailing from Kiev to the Black Sea
September 2007
Day 1 ~ 13, Thursday - Departure
All of our tour group members are to be at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport by no later than 2:00 p.m. Here we’ll check in with Austrian Airlines for the nonstop overnight flight to Vienna and then on to Kiev.
Day 2 ~ 14, Friday - Kiev, Board the M/S Taras Shevchenko
Arrival in Vienna, Austria is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. At 10:30 a.m. we will continue with Austrian Airlines to Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine. Following our 1:35 p.m. arrival, transfer to the M/S Taras Shevchenko, our floating hotel for the next ten nights. You’ll have time to get settled and to take a quick catnap or come with Dr. Bruggink for exploration before our evening dinner is served.
Day 3 ~ 15, Saturday - Kiev
This morning we’ll explore Kiev, a magnificent city with a 1,500-year history. It was in 988 that Prince Vladimir was baptized, bringing Christianity to Russ. We’ll see the golden-domed churches, monasteries, the Golden Gate, historic buildings, monuments, the opera house, and museums. Our guided tour will include an inside visit to the Cathedral of St. Sophia, begun in the 11th century, adorned with wonderful mosaics and frescoes. The afternoon is for independent exploration, or you may join Dr. Bruggink in his. We are hoping to offer an optional evening opera or ballet.
Day 4 ~ 16, Sunday - Kiev
This morning’s sightseeing will feature the magnificent Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra, a complex of domed churches and museums founded by monks in 1051. The word “pechera” means “cave,” the place where the original monastery was founded. Later when above-ground facilities were built, the monks moved there and the caves were used as a burial place for the members of the brotherhood. While here, we’ll visit the Assumption Cathedral, which took more than 15 years to build. Greek and Russian architects and icon-painters participated in the process of the construction. The complex became the largest monastery within the territory of Russia—covering 30 hectares. Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra is the center of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians from all over the world. Thanks to this complex, Kiev is known as the “Russian Jerusalem.” The afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration. Tonight’s dinner is followed by an onboard concert by a folklore group. Around 11:00 p.m. our ship departs Kiev for the overnight trip to Kanev.
Pirogovo Optional Excursion—$34
For this afternoon we have scheduled an optional excursion to the picturesque village of Pirogovo with its open-air Museum of Ukrainian Folk Architecture, Rural Life, and Folk Art. In this village-museum, you’ll see a unique collection of folk architecture from all regions of the Ukraine. The exhibition includes traditional houses with all necessary utensils, barns, and even typical trees and plants from the various regions. The second part of the museum covers Folk Architecture and Life in the Socialist Village Exhibition where houses and domestic buildings, dating from the ‘60s and ‘70s, are arranged according to ethnographic and administrative principals.
Day 5 ~ 17, Monday - Kanev
Founded in the 11th century by Kyivan Prince Yaroslav the Wise, the pleasant city of Kanev is the burial site of Taras Schevchenko, the great Ukrainian poet and artist. To honor his legacy, our river cruiseship was given his name. Upon arrival, we’ll have a walking tour, which will include the tomb of Taras Schevchenko. Following our visit, we’ll have a Shashlik party. Shashlik are cubes of meat cured on steel or wooden skewers and cooked over an open fire or a bed of coals, the most-enjoyed food of the summer months. At 5:00 p.m. we cast off for our overnight trip to Kremenchug.
Day 6 ~ 18, Tuesday - Kremenchug
Kremenchug, founded in 1571 as a fortress, has developed important metal and engineering industries. This riverside port abounds with parks and gardens and has a number of sandy beaches. After an introductory walking tour, you’ll have some free time for independent exploration. Be sure to be back on board in time for our 1:30 p.m. lunch. At 2:30 p.m. we’re off for our overnight cruise to Zaporozhye.
Kolchoz Optional Excursion—$27
This 4.5-hour coach/walking tour will include a visit to the village of Kolchoz. Here you’ll become familiar with the life of Ukrainian farmers, you’ll visit the local kindergarten and school, and you’ll have an opportunity to taste some typical Ukrainian cuisine.
Day 7 ~ 19, Wednesday - Zaporozhye
Shortly after breakfast, we’ll be arriving in Zaporozhye, the ancestral home of the legendary Cossacks. The residential areas of the town are very spacious with plenty of light and greenery, and the streets crossing Lenin Prospekt—the longest road—slant down towards the Dnieper River. Our sightseeing tour will include a visit to Khortitsa Island, which was inhabited by the Cossacks and is now a nature reserve popular with weekend visitors. Here we’ll find the Cossack History Museum. After our sightseeing tour, return to the ship for our 1:30 p.m. lunch. The afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration. Departure is scheduled at 6:30 p.m.
Optional Cossack Show—$35
This afternoon we’ll travel by motorcoach to a nearby Cossack country estate where we will be treated to a special show of Cossack horsemanship as well as folkloric music and dance. All participants will also dress up like Cossacks and will be confirmed as honorary Cossacks.
Day 8 ~ 20, Thursday - Kherson
An 11:00 a.m. arrival is scheduled in Kherson, the administrative and industrial center of the Kherson region. The town is located at the southern end of the Dnieper River, near the northern shores of the Black Sea. The town itself was founded in 1778 for the defense of the southern border of the Russian Empire from the Turkish-Tartar invaders. Remains of the ramparts, the stone gates, the buildings of the fortress arsenal, along with a well and a powder magazine have been preserved and can be seen in the historical center of town. We’ll be boarding a smaller boat for a one-hour cruise through the narrow canals to Old Fisherman’s Island with the beautiful landscape of the Dnieper Delta as your backdrop. Here we’ll be invited by some of the locals to enjoy a typical Ukrainian lunch.
Day 9 ~ 21, Friday - Sevastopol
At 9:30 a.m. we will arrive in Sevastopol, located on the Black Sea Coast of the Crimean Peninsula. The city has a population of approximately 330,000. Formerly home of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet, it is now a naval base shared by both the Russian Navy and the Ukrainian Navy. During the Soviet era, Sevastopol, a city of enormous strategic significance for the military, was a “closed city.” Any non-residents had to apply to the authorities for a temporary permit to visit the city. The town is well known for the bloody siege of Sevastopol (1854-1855) carried out by the British, French, Sardinian, and Turkish troops during the Crimean War, which lasted for 11 months. A panorama created by Franz Roubaud, housed in a specially-constructed circular building, portrays the situation at the height of the siege on June 18, 1855. Of course, we’ll be stopping here as part of our city tour. After lunch on board, you’ll have the afternoon at leisure. This evening we’ll be entertained by an ensemble from the Black Sea Fleet.
Bakhchisarai Excursion—$47
An afternoon motorcoach tour will take us to Bakhchisarai, the former capital of the Crimean Khanate in the 15th century. Here we’ll visit the Khan Palace, built in the 16th century. During our visit of the palace, you’ll see the Mosque, Harem, and the famous “Tears Fountain.” Nearby we’ll see the Uspensky Monastery.
Day 10 ~ 22, Saturday - Yalta
This morning we’ll sail along the coast of the Crimean Peninsula to Yalta. The city is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, said to have been founded by Greek sailors who were looking for a safe harbor. The town is surrounded by wooded mountains and enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate with many vineyards and orchids in the vicinity. On the 4th of February 1945, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin convened at Yalta to decide the future of Germany and most of Eastern Europe. Upon arrival, we’ll transfer to a local restaurant for lunch. This, in turn, is followed by a city tour that will include a visit to the Livadi Palace where the meeting of the three leaders took place. President Roosevelt also stayed at this palace. The rest of the American delegation was housed in the Tsar’s former palace.
Day 11 ~ 23, Sunday - Yalta
The morning is at leisure for independent exploration and possible attendance at one of the morning worship services. Be back on board in time for our 1:00 p.m. departure.
Alupka Palace Excursion—$47
This morning our motorcoach will take us to Alupka where we will have a guided walking tour of the grand Vorontsov Palace. Designed by English architects in 1828 for Count Vorontsov, the building is a bizarre combination of Scottish castle and Arabic fantasy in the setting of an exotic park. It is difficult to find a more popular and more beautiful place to visit in the Crimea. The park itself is a real masterpiece of garden art. The tour will end with a wine-tasting ceremony at the famous Alupka Wine Tasting Hall. Here you will have an opportunity to sample eight local wines.
Day 12 ~ 24, Monday - Odessa, Vienna
This morning we arrive in Odessa, the fourth largest city in the Ukraine with a population just over one million. Be sure to have your suitcases packed before going to breakfast. After breakfast we’ll say farewell to the crew and then it’s on to our motorcoach for a morning sightseeing tour, followed by the transfer to the Odessa Airport. En route we’ll have time to enjoy our box lunch. We’re expected to be at the airport by no later than 1:00 p.m. Here we’ll be checking in with Ukraine International Airlines for the nonstop flight to Vienna. Arrival in Vienna is scheduled around 4:00 p.m. Following passport control and customs, continue to the baggage claim area. Once having claimed our luggage, continue to the motorcoach for the transfer to a nearby hotel. Our farewell dinner is scheduled this evening.
Day 13 ~ 25, Tuesday - Return
After breakfast, return to the Vienna Airport where we are expected to arrive by 8:00 a.m. Check in with Austrian Airlines for their nonstop flight from Vienna to Chicago. Arrival at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. Following passport control and customs, continue to your home town. We hope you’ve had an enjoyable trip and we look forward to seeing you again.
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