Astrakhan - Moscow, 24 Sep 2012 - 07 Oct 2012

Welcome to Russia! After you board your ship, you have the evening free to relax, enjoy dinner onboard, and meet your fellow travelers on this extraordinary adventure across Russia.

Astrakhan is located where the mighty the Volga meets the Caspian Sea, on the trade route from India to Persia. Astrakhan was the capital of Khazaria and then of the Golden Horde (the Mongols). Moscow took Astrakhan in 1556 and has ruled it ever since. As Russia's gate to the Orient, this city features a unique mixture of East and West.

The Volga is often mentioned in Russian literature. In ancient times this river was used as a trade route by the Vikings who traveled to Greece. It was along this route that the first Russian settlements were formed and even today, more than half of the population of Russia lives along the banks of this ancient trade route. We will spend this day sailing and enjoying fun entertainment on board.

Volgograd (former Stalingrad) is famous for the battle that unfolded here during the World War II. German forces attempted to cut off the Russian armies and their industrial production from their fuel supplies. To that end, they needed to take Stalingrad, situated on the western bank of the Volga River. Hitler sent his best armies and generals, including famous marshal Von Paulus to command the siege. The Battle of Stalingrad lasted for almost one year. The heroic defense of the city enabled the Russian army to prepare a counter attack and to surround the invading forces. This was a serious loss from which Hitler forces were never able to fully recover. This was not the victory for the allies yet, but it was in Stalingrad that the tide of war turned against the Germans. Volgograd has a giant memorial Rodina Mat (Motherland) commemorating those who fought and died here.

Saratov was the northernmost colony of Greek Empire. In 512 BC it was completely annihilated by Persia and one millennium later, Ivan the Terrible established a colony on the ruins of the ancient city. Saratov used to have a large population of Germans, who migrated here during 19th century. When World War II erupted, they were relocated to Siberia and Kazakhstan. During the Cold War Saratov became the center of aircraft production and not surprisingly, Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, came from here.

Samara has long been Russia's link to the East. The growing bread trade in 19th-20th centuries turned this city into an important economic center and during World War II many of military factories were moved from western parts of the country to Samara. The soviet leaders even had a contingency plan to move Russia's capital to Samara had Moscow fallen to the German hands. Today, Samara is the third largest metropolitan area in Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg and an important industrial center.

Kazan was the capital of Tatars, the allies of Mongols, who frequently pillaged Russian lands. Ivan the Terrible conquered Kazan in 1552 and forced its Muslim ruler to convert to Christianity. Ivan remodeled Kazan's castle to the Russian style and built St. Basil's Cathedral on the Red Square of Moscow in the celebration of his victory.

Cheboksary is a vibrant commercial hub located on the Volga River which, similarly to Astrakhan, was first conquered by the Mongols and then by the Russians. There is nothing particularly special about Cheboksary, except that it is famous for the church bells produced here which are used by many Russian churches.

Nizhny Novgorod was one of the newly founded towns that escaped Mongol devastation on account of its insignificance. Nizhny Novgorod, similarly to Moscow and Tver, attracted refugees from other cities pillaged by the Mongols and expanded rapidly during the period of the "Mongol yoke" that lasted for a little over 100 years. Moscovy incorporated the city in 1392 and soon thereafter the Tatars of Kazan burnt it down (1408). It took over one century to construct an enormous redbrick castle here which was soon of use when the Tatars tried to burn it again in 1520 and 1536. Today, just like 500 years ago, Nizhniy is one of the main commercial centers of Russia.

Kostroma used to be a vibrant commercial hub in early 13th century. Its location that made it wealthy also predetermined its fall. It lay on the route of the Mongol invaders who were heading towards Yaroslavl, which was Russia's de facto capital, at the time. The Mongols burnt Kostoma in 1238 and it has never recovered since then. Survivors moved north, many to a small town on the banks of the Moskva River, which would soon become the capital of Russia. For today, we have scheduled a visit to Ipatiev Monastery and Tirinity Cathedral.

By today standards Yaroslavl is small, but its place in Russia's history and culture cannot be underestimated. Before it was annihilated by the Mongols it was Russia's largest city and its economic, political and cultural center, at least before the city was completely annihilated by the Mongols, twice. The Mongols were so obsessed with defeating Yaroslavl that they did not notice the gradual rise of Moscow.

Uglich is a small town on the Volga River. The best-defended fortress of Moscovy Kingdom, it was frequently attacked by the Lithuanians, the Tatars, and even the grand prince of Tver city-state that rivaled the Moscovy. In 1951 a 10-year old prince Dimitry, the last heir to the throne of the ancient Ruyrik dynasty, was murdered here in Uglich by Boris Godunov. Godunov proclaimed himself as the tsar of Russia, but was soon murdered himself. These events plunged Russia into three decades of political turmoil known as "Time of Trouble" that left the lands devastated and opened up a way for the new dynasty - the Romanovs. We will visit a small, but historically significant church of St. Dmitry-on-Blood, which is standing on the spot where Dimitry had been murdered.

Today, we will explore Moscow - the famous capital of Russia. We will start with the bus tour of the city visiting Vorobievy Hills, Moscow University, Tverskaya and Arbat streets and Novodevichiy Convent. We will then have lunch in one of the Moscow's fine restaurants, after which we will proceed to the heart of the city, to the Red Square.

This day we will go inside of the Kremlin. This ancient citadel of Russian tsars was originally built fend of the Mongol hordes. Ever since, the Kremlin has been the center of political power in Russia and it continues to play such role today. Russian presidents do not actually live there, but they do conduct their official ceremonies in Kremlin's palaces.

The Kremlin, the living museum of Russian history, of every dynasty and ruler that Russia has had in the course of last 400 years. This UNESCO treasure has been so well preserved that it will seem to you that you are traveling in time as you follow the same corridors as Ivan the Terrible and the Napoleon, as Nikolai II and Lenin, Stalin and Eltsin.

Your voyage is coming to an end. It is time to say goodbye to this beautiful country, the crew and your fellow passengers. It is time to pack up and to go home bringing unforgettable memories with you.