Ukraine

ITINERARY:
This trip started on July 13 by a train ride 2,544 km long from Prague (Czechoslovakia) to Moscow. Along the way it crossed Slovakia, which was part of Czechoslovakia that time, and Ukraine with Ruthenia (Ruthenia was part of Czechoslovakia between WWI and WWII). The train stopped in Moscow, RUSSIA, in mid day of July 15. After 2.5 day sightseeing the city, we boarded a plane and left Moscow for Jerevan, ARMENIA on July 18. Until July 22 we were sightseeing this country from Jerevan, the capital, to Lake Sevan and visited several monasteries. On July 22 we took a train from Jerevan through western part of Armenia and through Georgia and after more than 27 hours we reached Soci in RUSSIA on the shore of Black Sea. Here we spent 7 days in a youth center with young people from various countries from East and West. We also took a bus trip to Lake Rica in GEORGIA in its autonomous part Abchasia. We crossed Chosta a favorite place for Stalin’s vacations and Gagra place which favored Khruscev both in Abchasia. Late on July 30 we got on a train for a 1.5 day journey to Kiev in UKRAINE. We got there early on Aug 1. Until Aug 3 we were sightseeing the city. Very late that last day we left Kiev on train on our return via Ruthenia and Slovakia for Prague (Czechoslovakia), where early in the morning on Aug 5.

Travel office: I traveled with a youth group, but there were people with us into their 40tieth.
Who took part: 35 members in the group incl. our Czech leader Vladimir T., my childhood friend Frank Z. (Aramis), a Russian leader and local guides.

ITINERARY:
On Jul 26 by train 2,544 km from Prague to Moscow, RUSSIA where on Jul 28. Total of 2.5 days sightseeing of the city.
Late on Jul 30 flight from Moscow to Alma Ata (now Almati) that time the capital of KAZAKHSTAN. Two days sightseeing the city and the mountains in the vicinity.
Late at night Aug 1 flight from Alma Ata to Tashkent the capital of UZBEKISTAN. Then 6 days in this country sightseeing Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand.
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ITINERARY:
In the morning on July 3, 2019 I take a plane from Prague, Czech Republic to St. Petersburg, RUSSIA. Though I paid to Vantage for transportation from the airport to my hotel, nobody expected me at the airport. I took a taxi, who charged me quite a lot of money. In the hotel I have joined the 22 people strong Vantage group of tourists from USA.
Next four days we have been sightseeing St. Petersburg including the famous Hermitage, the Peter and Pall s Fortress, the Katherine Palace and the Petershof Palace.
In the evening on July 7 our ship MS Rostropovich leaves St. Petersburg to sail east on Neva River and Lake Lagoda (the larges European lake). The following day we sail on Svir River connecting Lake Lagoda and Lake Onega and accounted several locks. After noon we land at a village Mandrogi still on the Svir River with its wooden houses. Over night our ship entered Lake Onega and early in the morning it landed on its larges island Kizhi. In rainy weather we admire local churches. From here our ship turns south and the next day after going on Kovzha River and crossing Lake White we land at town of Goritsi and have a sightseeing tour. On July 11 we are sailing across Rybinsk Reservoir, get on the River Volga and make a stop at the town of Uglich. We visit a house of some local people and have a tour of Uglich Kremlin (fort).
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