Short Breaks

Russia

We have recently returned from a most memorable week in Russia, firstly in Moscow and then in St. Petersburg. 32 intrepid travellers formed the party and a marvellous, but as always exhausting time was had by all. Our flight landed at Moscow airport in the dark and the coach transfer into the heart of the city was breathtaking. One didn’t know where to look first, the lit-up, gilded domes, the churches and fountains were everywhere.

Our upgraded hotel, the 5-star Hyatt was also sumptuous, with nothing too much trouble for the staff. In Moscow we visited Sergiev Posad, the Kremlin with some of it’s glorious treasures and buildings and the Tretyakov Museum. Many of the group also enjoyed a Russian National Dance Show.

Our overnight train journey, in couchettes of four, between Moscow and St Petersburg is best glossed over, but it was an experience after the fabulous 5-star! The hotel Moskva in St Petersburg was huge, but clean, quite adequate and pretty conveniently positioned. Many were lucky enough to have a great view over the Neva River from their rooms. Our guide, Anna was lovely and she quickly gelled with the group as did our driver who was most solicitous, especially on the evening we went to the ballet. The following evening a small group enjoyed a real Russian military song and cossack dance show.

In St Petersburg we toured the Russian Museum, we experienced the Hermitage and just a small part of its vast collection, and we further improved our knowledge of the surroundings with a boat trip. We went down to Peterhof on a hydrofoil and, as at the Catherine Palace the following day, we were dazzled by the size, the glitz and the history of these amazing places. Every corner one turned presented yet another photo opportunity and we learned so much about the lives of the people who had lived there.

This was a big undertaking but one which was well worth taking and richly rewarding.

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Short Breaks 2010

Our home visit goes at exactly the same time as this year, 26th to 29th April, but 2010. We will visit East Anglia by way of Cambridge and be based in Norwich, in a hotel just opposite the cathedral. Other places of interest range from Holkham Hall, Blickling Hall and Houghton Hall and gardens, to Sandringham, Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery and Wicken Fen. At each place we have a guided tour or a free flow tour of house and gardens. The hotel provides us with a meal each evening, which is usually a great time to get to know other members of the society, and we shall have one free evening to dine out in Norwich.

Our away visit takes us to Northern Ireland with a flight to Belfast. This trip is going from 13th to 17th September 2010, but the itinerary has to be finalised. We will visit The Giant's Causeway of course, Castle Coole near Enniskillen followed by a subterranean boat trip, Mount Stewart House and gardens, The Argory in Armagh City, and places of interest in Belfast itself. As with all our away trips the hotel will provide a supper on the first evening, but folks then generally get into smaller groups to eat out in any number of local restaurants. Never having visited Ireland the short breaks organiser is excited by the prospect.

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Each visit usually begins and ends on a coach in Warwick with all coaches, airline tickets (where appropriate), transfers, cost of guides and entries included in the overall price.

For further information on buying tickets for events see Home Page.

For more information on Short Breaks and the availability of tickets please contact shortbreaks@rlsdfas.org.uk