Axe-throwing and archery - just two of the sights to see at St Pite's Viking Festival 2012.

Norwegian Legends in St Petersburg

This year’s St Petersburg Viking Festival is held in the Peter and Paul Fortress, next to the Neva River and offers a glimpse into the Legends of Norwegian Vikings, archery, cuisine, costumes, and all. Head over to the Kronverk area of the fortress for the three-day festival where a Norwegian Medieval settlement is established, complete with tents, a stadium, and stalls selling artisans’ wares, food, and merchandise. Kids will enjoy the opportunity to meet Prince Yaroslav the Wise and his wife, Ingegerd, as well as watching the arrival of the the King of Norwegian Vikings, and even experience simulated medieval Viking battles.

Viking Cuisine, Battles, and Artisans

For three days, St Petersburg’s Peter and Paul Fortress is invaded by the Vikings, historical costumes, military competitions, and Norwegian kitchens giving the festival all the noises, sights, and smells of living Viking history. Learn about traditional Norwegian crafts by attending workshops, and watch family-friendly minstrels and dancers performing Scandinavian music and sketches, all within sight of the famous Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Viking Festival Programme

This Ukrainian stamp commemorates Prince Yaroslav, who makes a guest appearance at the St Petersburg Viking Festival.

Scandinavian Minstrels, Performers, and Battles

A concert of Scandinavian music starts at 6pm on Friday with more battles, contests, and entertainment on Saturday and Sunday. A highlight from previous years has been the historical costume contest, which takes place this year on Saturday May 19th at 2pm. Things wrap up around 3pm on Sunday 20th May, so head down to the Peter and Paul Fortress before then for some medieval fun, educating the kids without them even realizing, and enjoying some traditional Norwegian food.

A Glorious Weekend in St Petersburg… with some Vikings

Once you’ve had your fill of Vikings you can always explore the rest of the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Peter and Paul Cathedral itself, popular highlights of any St Petersburg city tour with Ulko Tours. Those donning traditional Norwegian battle costumes might get a little warm as the forecast looks great for the weekend of the St Petersburg Viking Festival, with sunny days and temperatures hovering around 60F. Ask Ulko Tours about meeting some Vikings during your St Petersburg city tour; you won’t be disappointed.

This is not your usual family vacation! Do something adventurous this year, with Ulko Tours.

Another Russian cruise offers you the chance to extend your adventure and experience the magnificence of the landscape of northern Russia. Leaving Arkhangelsk on July 15th the sailing to Franz Joseph Land offers unrivalled opportunities to see local wildlife, including polar bears and walruses, and all while you follow in the footsteps of intrepid explorers. Traveling hundreds of nautical miles this cruise gives you the chance to send a postcard from the edge of the Earth. Ask Ulko Tours about these amazing trips to the great Russian North and turn a summer holiday into an unforgettable adventure.

St Petersburg Regatta

The first cruise commences on June 23rd, leaving St Petersburg after taking part in the shore stage of the St Petersburg Regatta, and seeing the awesome sight of the city’s bridges opening up as you sail beneath them. Sailing up the Neva River gives you a unique perspective on the city as you cruise towards Fortress Oreshek, founded in 1323 by Prince Yuri, and the first stop on the tour. Learn about the history of the island that houses the fortress, how it was won from the Swedes in the 18th Century, and its part in the Second World War.

Ladoga Lake, Monasteries, and Russian Bathhouses

Leaving the revolutionary stronghold, the ship will take you to Ladoga Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Europe and the site of incredible pine forests, granite cliffs, and quiet hidden archipelagos untouched by the modern world. Onwards to Konevetz Island and Valaam Island where orthodox monasteries founded in the 14th and 15th centuries still stand, providing a peaceful backdrop for your fourth night on board before leaving for Kizhi along with Valaam Island Passage and the Svir River. This river brings your to Onega Lake, with two locks to negotiate first, and several villages along the way, including Mandrogi Village, the site of the Museum of Wooden Architecture and some famous Russian bathhouses.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia

The Museum of Wooden Architecture in the beautiful north of Russia.

Arctic Explorers in the Great Russian North

Those intrepid explorers keen to head northwards will be rewarded with the sight of icebergs and huge glaciers, walruses, vast seabird rookeries, and the possibility of glimpsing a polar bear and snapping a picture of this giant ‘King of the Arctic.’ Setting sail from Arkhangelsk on the 15th July, this trip takes you to Cape Flora, Northbrook Island, and Bell Island, where all polar explorers set out from and where the historic meeting of the expeditions of Frederick Jackson and Fridtjof Nansen took place. Bell Island is the site where Scottish Explorer Benjamin Lee Smith built a house in which to leave provisions on his second trip to the region. Alas, the plan to return was not successful as his ship was crushed by ice as he headed north and he had to overwinter instead on Northbrook Island. Eira House, named after Lee Smith’s ship, still stands and the trip included a visit to the well-maintained monument to the courageous arctic explorer.

Polar Bears, and Explorers’ Cabins

Heading to Hooker Island and Tikhaya Bay, you and your fellow travelers will take in the scenery as seen by the 1913 expedition of Sedov, sailing on the schooner Holy Martyr Focka Tikhaya (quiet) Bay is named for this ship as it was the calm waters that allowed the schooner to stay during winter without suffering damage. Hooker Island is also where the first Soviet Polar Station on the Franz Joseph Land was opened, and the arctic air has preserved old explorers’ wooden buildings well for all to see. That is, when you are not staring up at the giant rookery on cliff Roubini nearby, or watching for polar bears.

Walrus Rookeries and Spherulites

The third day of the sailing brings you to Champ Island and Hayes Island, where spherical rocks (spherulites) are the main attraction. These unique natural forms are almost perfectly spherical and some are two meters in diameter, presenting quite a strange sight. A huge glacir to the left of the point of disembarkation and a steep cliff and rookery to the right add to the excitement of the place. A rookery of walruses can be seen on Hayes Island and you can send a postcard from the northenmost post office in Russia, before setting sail the next day to Jackson Island and Cape Norway.

Fredrik Hjalmar Johansen - visit his preserved cabin on your own (more comfortable!) arctic exploration.

Cruising to Cape Norway

Testing your mettle as an arctic explorer, the trip to Cape Norway puts you right where the renowned adventurers Fridtjof Nansen and Fredrik Hjalmar Johansen made camp in the winter of 1895-96. Remnants of their trip include the stone dugout, walrus skins, and other signs of their stay in the harsh winter of that year. The last legs of the trip include excursions to Stoliczka Island, Apollonov Island and Ziegler Island on the sixth day of the sailing, then onto Wilczek Land, Hall Island, and Cape Tegetthoff before heading to Murmansk for August 4th.

A Cruise to Remember in the Great Russian North

No sailing experience is required for these incredible adventures, meaning that you can concentrate on taking in the scenery, learning about the history of arctic exploration, and marvelling at the magnificence of polar bears, walruses, and vast glaciers and icebergs. This is not your usual summer vacation, so why not do something different this year and head far into the north of Russia on an expedition with Ulko Tours.

Russia's winning bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup is just one of the reasons for the expected increase in Russian tourism in the next few years.

Sports in Russia

Russia has a number of high profile sporting events lined up for the next four years, including the 2013 World Athletic Championships, the 2013 Rugby Sevens World Cup, the Winter Olympics in 2014, and the football World Cup in 2018. Keen sports fans that they are, most of the new visits to Russia are expected from UK citizens, with a 17% increase forecast to swell visitor numbers to around 250,000 in 2016. Moscow will likely see more tourists next year as the Russian capital plays host to the World Athletic Championships and the Rugby Sevens World Cup, while Kazan hosts the University Games (Unversiade) next year too. Sochi is the site of the Winter Olympics but many travellers are expected to visit St Petersburg or Moscow at some point during their trip, rather than flying directly to the host cities.

Visa Restrictions for Russian Travel

While the forecast for increased tourism in Russia has many excited there are still concerns that the strict visa requirements will put others off and compromise potential investment in the country. Visa restrictions are a major barrier to inbound tourism to Russia, which is why many visitors choose to use experienced tour guides and operators such as Ulko Tours to navigate the paperwork needed to visit Moscow, St Petersburg, or other Russian tourist-hotpsots, with many of the frequently asked questions about visiting Russia dealing specifically with visa issues. Changes to travel within the European Union have been discussed but no clear resolution or alteration to Russian visa requirements has emerged from the talks. Finnish visitors are expected to increase some 16%, visitors from Poland by 25%, and even Turkish visitors rising 19% to bring nearly 1.6 million, 857,000, and 243,000 people, respectively, to Russia in 2016.

US Visitors to Russia

Grand palaces such as Peterhof are a major draw for tourists to Russia.

An Increased Awareness of Russia as A Holiday Destination

Russia may still be viewed, erroneously, by some as a strange choice for a holiday, but many others have discovered the beauty of Russia, its heritage, landscape, and culture. As more online offers for flights to Russia, and bargain hotels in Russia become available, and more visitors have the chance to visit St Petersburg or Moscow on shore excursions during a cruise-ship tour, the secret of Russia as a great vacation destination is gradually getting out. It should be no surprise that Russia’s tourism sector is booming, with royal palaces, majestic parks, sculptures, museums full of historical artefacts, and a vibrant art scene, contemporary music, classical music, ballet, and opera all popular with visitors to Moscow and St Petersburg. With fun things to do with kids of any age, excellent cultural offerings for adults, a much-improved transport infrastructure, and experienced local guides such as those at Ulko Tours, it’s a great time to visit Russia, and beat the crowds before all of these sporting events get going.

Russia will be showcased as a vibrant and modern tourist destination for families travelling to the country for the FIFA World Cup, Rugby Sevens, World Athletic Championships, or the Winter Olympics. Make sure to talk to Ulko Tours and turn your trip into a Russian vacation to remember.

Visiting Stockholm in spring, particularly in late April or early May, means that you might be lucky enough to see the beautiful bloom of the cherry trees in Kungsträdgården. This central Stockholm park offers a stunning display of cherry blossom for about a week each year with an explosion of fluffy pink flowers making the news across Sweden as a sign of spring’s arrival. The park is filled with visitors, Swedes and tourists alike, and a trip to Kungsträdgården is a must for anyone on a Stockholm city trip with Ulko Tours.

Stockholm Spring Weather

The Swedish spring offers around ten hours of sunlight during early May days, and temperatures between 6-16C (43-61F), with a bloom of color spreading across Stockholm as flowers start to open, the street cafes set out their tables, and park picnics and games commence with enthusiasm. The key to enjoying a springtime trip to Stockholm is to dress in layers as there can be storms and downpours amid the glorious days of sunshine and cherry blossoms.

Cherry Blossom and Stockholm’s Spring

Kungsträdgården itself (known as Kungsan by locals), translates to ‘King’s Garden’, and the sight of the trees in full bloom makes it easy to see why. The park is central to Stockholm and is a popular place for locals to meet for coffee, enjoy an open-air concert, and even skate during winter. The first of May sees the left-wing political parties in Sweden holding their annual demonstrations, and the nearby galleries and restaurants give the area a liberal and artistic feel.

Kungsträdgården’s Geography

The park is separated into four zones running north to south, with the most northerly zone known only by the presence of the Fountain of Wolodarski, and the other zones commemorating Charles XIII, Molin, and Charles XII. To the south of the park is the quay with a bridge over to the Old Town and the Royal Palace, two major Stockholm landmarks. North of Kungsträdgården is a shopping area (Hamngatan) comprising department stores and other outlets. There is also a Kungsträdgården Metro station to the east of the park, making it easy to while away hours in the park on your Stockholm city tour and be back in time for dinner, or even head over the Royal Swedish Opera on the west side of the park.

The History of Kungsträdgården

Stockholm's Kungsträdgården (King's Garden) offers the opportunity for street chess under the beautiful cherry blossom in Spring.

Beautiful Stockholm

Acquisition by the city in 1970 has allowed Kungsträdgården to stay a public park, negating worries over the park being replaced in part by various buildings. The building of the metro station in the 1970s caused considerable protest due to the planned removal of old elms, with people actually chaining themselves to the trees to save them. Plans altered and the mindset of preservation and conservation set in, allowing the elms to remain, the station to be relocated, and even many other buildings in Stockholm to be conserved instead of being demolished as had been planned.

Picnic in the Park in Stockholm

Kungsträdgården is a fine example of how cities can plan and restructure their environment to make it a happy and safe place to visit and live. Some troubles in the 1980s led to alterations to the park’s layout, with the effect of dispersing problematic groups and reducing crime. Running through the cherry blossom on a spring day in Stockholm is almost magical and anyone visiting the city should remember to bring their camera here to capture the beauty of this springtime snow. Adding a welcome break to the usual museums, galleries, and shopping trips on many a Stockholm city tour itinerary, ask Ulko Tours about scheduling a visit, with a picnic perhaps, to Kungsträdgården, a beautiful central Stockholm park that is simply stunning in Spring, but beautiful all year round.

Nuku Theater has shows for those 2+, offering families great entertainment in Tallinn.

Step Into a Tallinn Fairytale

The Medieval Old Town will have little ones thinking of fairytale princesses, knights, and wizardry as the meandering cobbled streets inside the old town walls lead you past castle gates, turrets, Medieval-style markets, and charming little artisan workshops. Pick up some Tallinn souvenirs, handcrafted by the artists in Catherine’s Passage, and watch the fascination on your kids’ faces as they see a glassblower, jewellery-maker, wood carver, and other artisans using traditional techniques. Tallinn’s Medieval Old Town is central, easily walkable, self-contained, and you don’t have to worry about cars rushing by. Read up on your history beforehand, or take an Ulko Tour guide so it won’t matter if a little hand comes to drag you away from the plaques giving an insight into the area’s history.

Tallinn’s Parks and Islands

Families visiting Tallinn can spend a day at the beach in Pirita, or even rent a rowboat for a lakeside picnic. Kadriorig is another great family location with the rambling park, ponds, fountains, and children’s play areas to keep the little ones occupied and wistful teenagers preoccupied. It’s not just these destination parks and gardens that are great for families visiting Tallinn however, with Estonia having something of a reputation as a child-friendly vacation spot. There are plenty of parks, playgrounds, interesting monuments, family-friendly restaurants, and shops and museums catering for kids and adults alike. Visiting Tallinn in Spring means that you and your family get to enjoy all that Tallinn has to offer in terms of natural beauty, with the option of heading indoors to museums or letting the kids run off some energy in the open air museum or parks. Toompark is a wonderful place to head with the kids as you can stroll the many paths, look out for occasional art exhibitions, and enjoy feeding the birds near the lake; there are also snow sculptures here in the winter.

Children’s Theater

Looking to add a little culture to your kids’ holiday itinterary? Try the Nuku Theater, a children’s theater putting on wonderful puppet shows for high-quality family entertainment. They also produce plays aimed at adult audiences but the short shows for kids make sure even the worst fidgets remain transfixed for the duration. Free coat-check, a cafe and bathroom on site, and online advance ticket purchasing available make a trip to Nuku Theater even easier. Added to that the fact that the shop next door sells Estonian Kalev chocolates and you’re sure to please everyone in the party. Take note that the theater can get a little dark so make sure your kids understand they’re seeing puppets to avoid any frights. Shows are in Estonian but those geared towards the younger children are fairly universal and enjoyable for all. There’s a chance to meet the performers and the puppets after each show.

Museums for Kids in Tallinn

Tallinn's Open Air Museum providesa glimpse into 18th Century Estonian life.

Getting Around Tallinn with Kids

Many places in Tallinn are stroller-friendly, with ramps into shops, restaurants, and other buildings. However, some of the streets and sidewalks, particularly those with cobbles (!), are a little bump so consider alternative ways to get around with kids, such as hiring a private driver for when little legs get tired. Ulko Tours are on hand to make your Tallinn family adventure memorable for all the right reasons, with water, snacks, coloring books, and miscellaneous necessities ready at a moment’s notice to stop a tantrum in its tracks. Ask Ulko Tours about visiting Tallinn with kids and find out how Estonia got its reputation for being child-friendly.

The Moscow skyline is set to change as the Federation Tower, and eleven other towers are planned for construction.

The City Center Complex

The Moscow building that caught fire on Monday 9th April is just one of twelve towers that are included in plans for a reinvention of the city’s center. The Federation Tower will be the tallest and will house residents and businesses alike. Eleven other towers will also be included in the City Center Complex plans hoped to improve the image of Moscow around the world. The fire, which started amid some construction materials at the building site, was put out by helicopters using hundreds of tons of water. Luckily no one was hurt and the construction efforts are set to continue forthwith. Federation Tower and its counterparts will add some dazzling glass and steel structure to the current set of Moscow buildings and government officials hope it will boost Moscow’s reputation as a financial center.

With Moscow's city center set to change further, you're even more likely to need a good local guide like Ulko Tours!

How Moscow is Changing

Moscow may still have a reputation amongst some as a soviet-era gray and utilitarian city with little in the way of modern architecture or excitement but the Russian capital has experienced something of a design boom in the last decade and the City Center Complex itself is set to transform Moscow’s center into a place where more than a quarter of a million people live, work, and play. Those wary of such changes to the Moscow skyline might be happy to hear however that the city’s Architectural Committee just announced a new set of rules to regulate construction in Moscow, including height restrictions for each district.

Maintaining Moscow’s Image

Moscow has a number of distinctive buildings easily spotted on the skyline, including the iconic Christ the Savior Cathedral, and so Moscow’s Architecture Committee has composed these news rules to preserve the Moscow skyline. New buildings are barred from blocking the view of historic buildings in the city, included churches, cathedrals, and the North River Terminal, as well as existing Stalin-era skyscrapers. Whilst this might appear to be great news for fans of Moscow’s current vista it might also worry them that such rules have been imposed before, back in March 2011 as Moscow’s Cultural Committee recommended banning further modern-style construction in the city center. Lots of high-tech buildings have been erected since and so the Architecture Committee is looking to outline strict rules in order to maintain Moscow’s heritage. They have also explicitly advised using classicist, constructivist, and modernist design, principles which have been followed in the plans for Moscow’s kiosks’ redevelopment.

Moscow’s Tallest Buildings

Currently, the tallest building in Moscow is the City of Capitals Tower at 302m high (989 ft.), although the city’s tallest structure, also the largest non-building structure in Europe, is Ostankino Tower at 540m (1772 ft.). Naberezhnaya Tower stands at 881 ft. and Triumph Palace at 866 ft., all of which were built within the last ten years. Five more buildings over a thousand feet are planned for construction however, including the Federation Tower and a new Moscow City Hall so contact Ulko Tours soon to get a glimpse of the old Moscow, then schedule another visit further down the line to see how it’s changed!

The Tchaikovsky Street mansion had treasure hidden beneath the floorboards for almost a hundred years.

A 19th Century Russian Treasure-Trove

Ironically, despite the mansion’s history, the building has housed a cheap restaurant for a number of years, its patrons unaware of the wealth of antiques secreted in-between the floors just feet away. The Intarsia construction company carrying out renovations at the mansion in St Petersburg released pictures of the silverware, jewellery, and precious porcelain uncovered by the workers late in March. Photographs of the find are now on display and have aroused significant curiosity, especially as relatives of the nobility previously living in the mansion are proving difficult to locate.

Who Owns the St Petersburg Artefacts?

More than a thousand items were found in a secret compartment, many of which were wrapped in newspapers dating back to 1917. Silver dinner sets, and porcelain are amongst the finds which may make it into one of the St Petersburg museums if they are not able to be returned to living relatives. Some of the items are stamped with the names of Russian nobility, but it does not, as yet, appear that any decisions have been made over who has ownership of the valuables. The head of a regional Communist organization, Sergei Malinkovich, has stated that the items ceased to belong to the Naryshkin’s when they were hidden and so all rights to the antiques should be given to them as successors to those who nationalized the property. The closest living relative of the Naryshkins appears to live in France but it is not known if they will be making any claims on the valuables.

The mansion belonged to the Naryshkin's, Russian nobility connected to Peter the Great.

Peter the Great and Pushkin

The discovery at the house on Tchaikovsky Street may lead others to consider what lies beneath their floorboards, hidden from prying eyes for almost a hundred years. As the find is so recent, most of the pieces remain unexamined by experts but it is thought that the collection will prove highly valuable due to the connection between the mansion in St Petersburg and the family of Peter the Great, as well as with Alexander Pushkin. This unassuming mansion which has spent many years in a run-down state has some considerable significance in Russian history as it was bought by Duke Vasily Naryshkin in 1875, bringing it into the family of Nataliya Naryshkin, the second wife of Czar Alexis, and the mother of Peter the Great. Originally existing as two separate houses, the mansion was constructed from two connecting eighteenth-century properties, one of which was owned by Alexander Pushkin’s grandfather, Abram Gannibal.

The St Petersburg Mansion in the Bolshevik Era

Visitors on a tour of St Petersburg, Russia, are often drawn to the museums, mansions, and palaces which exemplify Russian nobility and the grand history of the country and its rulers. Under Soviet Rule, the ownership of private property was outlawed and so mansions, such as this one at the center of current interest in St Pite’s, became nationalized and turned into a utilitarian canteen. Known as a stolovaya, the cheap and charmless restaurant served residents of St Petersburg with basic food during the soviet era. Afterwards, the building became private apartments until Intarsia bought it to convert it into a conference and cultural center. The extent of the cultural history of this mansion in St. Pite’s could hardly have been guessed at by the new owners who have expressed a desire to put the artefacts on public display in the cultural center once completed. Visitors to St Petersburg may be able to see the artefacts on display once they are released from the custody of the city’s committee for historical preservation. In the meantime, many items with a connection to both Peter the Great and Pushkin can be seen at the State Hermitage, as well as other popular St Petersburg tourist attractions – just contact Ulko Tours!

Millesgården is a rather unique Stockholm tourist attraction created especially to exhibit the artwork of sculptor Carl Milles and his wife Olga. Set in beautiful grounds, the Milles’ residences, old and new, are also now permanent exhibition spaces as the couple donated Millesgården to the Swedish people in the 1930s. A perfect way to add into a Stockholm city tour with Ulko Tours, Millesgården plays host to temporary art exhibitions throughout the year as well as being a popular place for residents and tourists alike to while away a surreal afternoon.

The History of Millesgården

The newly wed artists, Carl and Olga Milles acquired property in 1906 on the cliffside of Lake Värtan with the intention of building a home that incorporated studio space. Perhaps not quite envisioning the huge undertaking of building the sculpture park that is now Millesgården, the couple hired architect Carl M. Bengtsson to design their home which was finished two years later. Carl Milles’ half-brother Evert, also an architect, spent the next half-century extending and developing Millesgården. Additions included an open-air studio for Carl to reduce his suffering from silicosis (caused by his inhalation of stone dust whilst carving), as well as expansion of the grounds and garden as adjoining property was purchased over the years.

Carl and Olga Milles, who donated the park to the Swedish people in 1936.

The Sculpture Gardens Expanded

Carl Milles enjoyed further success in the 1920s as he was commissioned for a number of sculptures and earnt sufficient funds to expand the gardens along the south slopes of the cliff. The middle terrace of Millesgården was created, the Studio was increased in size, and the outdoor working areas and exhibition spaces also grew.

Building Stops at Millesgården

During nearly twenty years’ absence from Millesgården, while Carl was working as a professor in Michigan, building and expansion of the property ceased. Carl’s half-brother, Evert, continued to work on future plans and designs however and when the Milles returned in 1950 they were ready to start building the lower terrace featuring free-standing replicas and fountain sculptures from Sweden and the US. The property had been turned into a foundation in 1936 however, and donated to the Swedish people, and the Milles had a new house designed, Anne’s House, so as to allow the main house to become a permanent exhibition space. Unfortunately, Carl Milles died as the new house was nearing completion in 1955 and Anne’s House is also now a place where his, and Olga’s sculptural work is shown.

Sculpture, Fountains, and Gardens Galore

Millesgården is a perfect union of sculpture and natural form with carefully designed garden terraces, fountains, stairways, and other man-made constructions nestling happily within the landscape and the backdrop of the waters of Lake Värtan. The garden is also home to a restaurant from where you can enjoy the view whilst sipping wine or coffee. Special events can also be catered for and the sculpture park is a popular venue for dinners, lunches, and both private and corporate events.

An exhibition of work by illustrator Ingrid Vang Nyman is on until May 20th at Millesgarden, including illustrations from Pippi Longstocking.

Current Exhibitions

In addition to the permanent exhibitions of the main house, Anne’s House, and the sculpture park itself, there are temporary exhibitions each year of other artists’ work such as Dick Beer, the British-born modernist painter who worked in France for most of his life; despite being looked after by relatives in Sweden after becoming an orphan, he remains little known in the country. The work of the impressionist and cubist, Dick Beer, can be seen from June 2nd to September 9th 2012, running after the current exhibition of work by Ingrid Vang Nyman, perhaps most famous for her work as illustrator of the Pippi Longstocking books. Born in Denmark, Vang Nyman is credited with introducing modernism into Swedish children’s book illustration and helped connect Denmark and Sweden during a difficult political era in the 1940s. Vang Nyman illustrated over thirty children’s books and, if you visit Millesgården before May 20th this year you could see some favorites from your own childhood amongst the exhibition’s works.

Millesgården is a great place for adults and children alike, perfect on a sunny spring day when you can wander the grounds, admire the sculptures, and then stop for a coffee as you gaze out across the water. Contact Ulko Tours and ask about visiting Millesgården during your Stockholm city tour.

Tallinn Music Week showcases nearly 200 bands and solo artists.

Music Venues in Tallinn

The sheer number of musicians appearing at Tallinn’s Music Week means that some pretty unlikely places are providing a venue for the performances. The headquarters of Skype, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, and even museums are playing host to well known artists and those who remain a little more obscure.

Home-Grown Estonian Talent

The Baltics have produced a number of recognizable musicians over the years and this year Estonia’s very own singer-songwriter Iris will be presenting her debut album at the Rock Cafe in the city. Fans of the local talent will also be able to see much-heralded singer-songwriter Vaiko Eplik perform, the prodigious talents of pop idol Liis Lemsalue, and both folk and house music courtesy of Mari Kalkun and Rules of the Deep (as separate gigs, not some peculiar genre crossover!). Finland’s ever-poplar indie-rockers Rubik will also be performing and other gigs across the city include performances by Husky Rescue, Alina Orlova, Napoleon IIIrd (from the UK), and even Diver and Motorama from Austria and Russia respectively.

More than the Music

Tallinn’s Music Week may be pretty well respected for its wealth of talented artists but there is also the draw of web developers and music technology entrepreneurs who grace the city with their presence over the festival period. Garage48 is a Tallinn-based foundation which hosts a competition for developers of mobile- and web-based musical entertainment products so there will be plenty of buzz around the city both before and after the festival. Garage48’s event is held the weekend prior to the main music festival (the 23rd to 25th March) and so visitors have a nice excuse to stick around in Tallinn during the week to soak up the sights of the city and map out their schedule for Music Week itself. Ulko Tours are more than happy to help introduce you to the top Tallinn attractions such as Kadriorg Castle and gardens, St Catherine’s Passage, and Town Hall Square, amongst other sites.

Tickets to Tallinn Music Week

Tickets to the three day event are available online at Piletilevi and give festival-goers access to all the main music venues each night. At just €35 they are exceptional value for money and individual tickets for specific concerts are also available if you’re only in Tallinn for a day. Two floors of electronic club music can be found at Tallinn Creative Hub / Kultuurikatel with Estonian music labels Porridge Bullet and Emerald City taking center stage. DZA from St. Petersburg will also be there and details of other labels, artists, and events can be found at www.tallinnmusicweek.ee. Create the perfect European getaway with days spent meandering the medieval streets and shopping for cultural souvenirs with Ulko Tours and the evenings discovering the best that Europe has to offer in innovative music and technology at Tallinn Music Week.

St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow is one of the city's most famous landmarks.

Moscow and Christianity

The fall of Constantinople led to Moscow becoming the center of Christian civilization in the east and the architects of Russia flocked to the city for a chance to build ever greater and more ornate places of worship. The cathedrals of Byzantium inspired many, and the older orthodox Russian churches crafted from wood and bearing traditional designs sprang up all across the city throughout the years. International architects were also attracted to the city and many left their mark in grand fashion with neoclassical cathedrals such as the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour with distinctive onion domes and ornate interiors outdoing the simpler staid churches hewn from wood. Moscow’s skyline is suffuse with these onion domes, often golden or brightly colored and rising high above their surrounding buildings.

Moscow, Atheism, and Cathedrals

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and its distinctive onion domes rising above the Moscow skyline.

Moscow’s Churches as Tourist Attractions

It has taken a while for the leaders of Russia to acknowledge the fact that their plentiful churches and cathedrals are a draw for foreign tourists. In recent years however there has been much more in the way of restorative work afoot to get some of these older buildings in Moscow back to their former glory. Cathedrals add grandeur to the Moscow skyline and the plethora of churches allow Russians, and Muscovites in particular, to celebrate their history outside of the Soviet Era which often commands most attention. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, restored in a huge project in the 1990s, is, perhaps, the most obvious sign of this shift in focus after Soviet rule.

Moscow’s Most Notable Cathedrals and Churches

Aside from the splendid Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow boasts St Basil’s Cathedral (recently listed as the most recognizable Russian landmark), Kazan Cathedral, the fifteenth century Cathedral of the Annunciation (once the Tsar’s private family church and now a museum), the Cathedral of the Assumption and many more. In the grounds of these cathedrals there are the graves of tsars and their families, with the Rurik and Romanov dynasties found at the Cathedral of the Archangel. There is certainly no shortage of things to do on a Moscow city tour and Ulko Tours’ excellent local guides are happy to help you and your family explore the fascinating history of Moscow’s cathedrals and churches.