HELSINKI, ST. PETERSBURG AND STOCKHOLM

Enjoy the short nights listening to operas in the elegant National Theaters of Finland, Sweden and the new Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg.

Opera Performances:
In Helsinki:
22 May – WOMAN without a SHADOW by R. Strauss in the Finnish National Opera.
In St. Petersburg:
Performances to be announced by the Mariinsky Theater.
In Stockholm:
28 May – QUEEN OF SPADE by Tschaikowskij in the Swedish Royal Opera
29 May – LA TRAVIATA by Verdi at the Swedish Royal Opera

Departure from U.S.A.: 20 May 2009 – 11 days. Return: 30 May 2009

LAND COST: (includes orchestra level seats in theaters listed above)
Double occupancy: $5,250 per person – Single supplement: $950
Deposit: $750 per person – Balance due ten (10) weeks prior to departure.

Day 1. – May 20. (D,B).* UNITED STATES – HELSINKI
Depart this evening aboard any airline of your choice from U.S.A. to Helsinki, Finland. Dinner and light breakfast served on the plane.

Day 2. – May 21. (B,D). HELSINKI
Independent arrival at the Helsinki airport. We meet you at the centrally located RADISSON PLAZA HOTEL where we stay three nights. Briefing and Gala Welcome Dinner.

Day 3. – May 22. (B). HELSINKI
Morning sightseeing of this small metropolis. Among the sights are the Senate Square, the Temppeliakio Church also known as the church in the “living rock,” and the Sibelius Monument. Afternoon at leisure.  This evening we will see the opera WOMAN without a SHADOW by R. Strauss at the Finnish National Opera.

HELSINKI owes its origin to the orders given to the Finnish citizens by their King 400 years ago, to build a new town on the Baltic to attract the trade of the Estonian city, Tallinn, thus challenging the powers of the Hanseatic League.  The town burned down in the early 19th century and the great German-born architect, Carl Engel, had an opportunity to design stunningly beautiful public buildings and private houses on its site.  Inspired by Engel, Finland has always had superb architects among whom were Alvar Alto, Eillo Saarinen and his son, Eero Saarinen, well known in the U.S.A.

Day 4. – May 23.  (B,L). HELSINKI
Morning drive to Hvittråsk to visit the combined home of three Finnish architects including the famous Eillo Saarinen. Lunch en route. Afternoon drive to Jåårvenpåå to visit the home of Finland’s national composer, Jean Sibelius, preserved as it was during his lifetime.

Day 5. – May 24. (B). ST. PETERSBURG
Today we fly to St. Petersburg, Russia, and we transfer you to the deluxe, centrally located HOTEL ASTORIA where we stay four nights. This evening or the next few evenings we will see two operas or ballets at the modern, state-of the-art Mariinsky Concert Hall.

ST. PETERSBURG was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as his “Window on the West.” The city was renamed Petrograd in 1914 but lost its status as capital of Russia in the 1917 revolution that began in this city.  In 1924, the city took the name of Leningrad after the death of the revolutionary leader, Lenin, and it remained thus until a referendum returned the city to its original name in 1991.  Thanks to Lenin's determination to prevent its destruction in 1917, the city survives today as an extraordinarily beautiful and perfectly preserved tribute to Peter's vision and the taste of his imperial successors.

Day 6. – May 25. (B,D). ST. PETERSBURG
Among the sights to see along the main thoroughfare, Nevsky Prospect, are many buildings and former palaces, modernized after the fall of the Soviet Union 17 years ago. This afternoon we drive to the outskirts of St. Petersburg to visit Petrodvorets begun by Peter the Great as his summer palace. We will visit the Grand Palace and take a brief walk through the breathtaking gardens. Dinner at a local restaurant.

PETRODVORETS (formerly called Peterhof) was founded in 1714 on plans personally drawn up by Peter the Great, which provided detailed instructions to eminent Russian and European architects and sculptors to create a total of 144 fountains, four cascades, beautiful gardens, dazzling gold-plated statues and the very impressive GRAND PALACE to rival Versailles in France.  During the Nazi occupation from September 1941 to January 1944, the beautiful palaces were destroyed and the grounds were totally ruined.  What we see today is a complete and thorough restoration of Peter the Great's dream.

Day 7. – May 26. (B). ST. PETERSBURG
This morning we visit the Peter and Paul Fortress and its Cathedral where many Czars are buried. In the afternoon we visit the world-famous Hermitage Museum, founded by Catherine the Great, to see the magnificent collection of Old Masters’ paintings, acknowledged as one of the greatest treasures of art in the world.

Day 8. – May 27. (B,L). ST. PETERSBURG
This morning we drive to Pushkin to visit the luxurious Catherine Palace which has seen many restorations in the past 250 years, especially after the extensive damage done by the Nazis during the Second World War. See the newly completed Amber Room. Afternoon free to re-visit the Hermitage Museum or any of the Cathedrals within walking distance of our hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant.

PUSHKIN was a trading village one thousand years ago when the Swedish Vikings exerted their influence in the Baltic lands.  In 1709, the troops under Peter the Great occupied these territories.  The country estate in the town was presented by Peter to his wife, the future Empress Catherine I.  What began in 1718 as a modest, two-story, stone mansion for Empress Catherine was leveled to the ground and then expanded by every successive monarch. In 1752, Empress Elizabeth enlisted the services of Bartholomeo Rastrelli for the reconstruction of the mansion.  He built a magnificent rococo palace with a blue and white exterior with gilded decorations.  There were subsequent additions by various architects under Catherine the Great (1762-1796), with no heed paid to an integral composition.  Outside the palace gates is a statue of the famous Russian poet, ALEXANDER PUSHKIN, who went to school here.

Day 9. – May 28. (B). STOCKHOLM
Morning departure on your flight to Stockholm, where we transfer you to stay two nights at the centrally located SHERATON HOTEL. This evening we will see the opera QUEEN OF SPADES by Tschaikowskij at the Royal Swedish Opera.

STOCKHOLM grew from a small fortress town in Viking times to a modern beautiful city with a population of more than one million people today.  Often called the “Venice of the North,” Stockholm is an extremely graceful city built on fourteen islands.  It boasts many fine museums and parks, the most famous being Skansen.

Day 10. – May 29. (B,D). STOCKHOLM
Our sightseeing tour of the capital of Sweden will pass by the main historical buildings and the many canals and bridges of the city.  A visit is made to the unique City Hall, one of the great architectural works of the past century, where you will see the Golden Hall with brilliant mosaic tiles and where the Nobel Prize Dinner is held each December 10. Afternoon free to stroll in the Old Town or to take a boat ride on one of the lakes surrounding the city.  This evening we will see the opera LA TRAVIATA by Verdi at the Swedish Royal Opera. Gala Farewell Dinner at the hotel.

Day 11. – May 30. (B). STOCKHOLM - UNITED STATES 
This morning you fly back from Copenhagen to U.S.A. arriving the same afternoon. Farvel. See you on another H.A.T. Tour.

*B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner (including wine)

Airfare is not included. Individuals make their own flight arrangements. Please make sure your airline ticket includes flight coupons from U.S.A. to Helsinki, Helsinki to St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg to Stockholm and Stockholm – U.S.A.  We urge you to check airline cancellation penalties before purchasing airline tickets since international departure times and flights can change. Tours can be cancelled due to low enrollment. H.A.T. Tours does not accept liability for cancellation penalties related to domestic or international airline tickets purchased independently in conjunction with this tour.

The group is limited to fifteen persons maximum. The Managing Director Grethe Arani or Aspee Arani will personally escort this tour. Local English-speaking guides are provided in each of the cities visited.

H.A.T. Tours has been operating in Northern Europe for the past 27 years, and is very familiar with this part of the world. Therefore, we conduct a special tour with many "extras," which comes from our long-term knowledge of the area.

Please send your deposit to:
H.A.T. Tours
PO Box 46876, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33741
Phone toll free: (800) 472-4448 or Fax (727) 360-8459
gnahat@EuropeanOperaTours.com
www.EuropeanOperaTours.com