Tourism 2011 Highlights

Capital Region Travelers Enjoy Russian Riverboat Tour in 2011

Thanks to the hard work of Alliance founder Charlotte Buchanan, a group of Capital Region travelers traveled to Tula in July 2011. On a grand excursion replete with handsome accommodations and delicious four-course meals, we spent the first two weeks of the trip sailing the waterways of northern Russia on the riverboat, the Tikhi Don. Then we boarded a minivan and journeyed to Tula for four days of visits with friends.

We began the excursion in the enchanted city of St. Petersburg, where we toured St. Isaac’s Cathedral, The Hermitage, Catherine’s Palace, Peterhof, and the canals, and took in a lovely performance of Swan Lake. For the next five days, we sailed up through the northern Volga-Baltic waterways and on to Moscow. Experienced travelers by now, some of us struck out on our own through the Moscow subways to enjoy a day at the water park, and we strolled through the upscale boutiques of GUM and the historic riches of the Kremlin and Tetryakov Gallery.

On our way to Tula, we stopped at the country estate of artist Polenov, and then a camp outside of Tula, where the young campers regaled us with their performances of international songs before asking us to give one of our own!

Coming into Tula was like coming home, even for those of us who’d never been before. We were welcomed by old and new friends, who treated us to a banya experience and lovely meals. We visited the Kremlin and its historic Armory, stopped at the samovar factory, and purchased Pryaniki to bring home. Viktor Sinkovsky and his Yasnaya Polyana Chamber Orchestra performed a full concert. And we were welcomed at the Tula State University on their graduation day!