In this final copy of the tour you will find sections
in Italics usually at the beginning of the itinerary for
each new country prepared by Dr. Saker. This is intended
to help you with your visit and includes currency and
conversion data (as of 1 May 2006), information about
individuals who you will meet, some sight seeing
suggestions, meal, and free time suggestions, and misc.
information that hopefully will help you plan your time
wisely
Friday, 5 May 2006
NOTE: Please be sure you bring with you your tour
music, your instrument, a music stand and your passport
plus one other photo ID!
We will begin our journey by boarding on a United
Airlines flight from Eppley Airfield headed for Chicago
O'Hare International Airport. Here are the flights that
will take our group to Chicago:
Group #1: United flight 1108, arrive at the airport by
11:35 to get your airline ticket and check in. Flight
leaves Omaha at 1:35pm; arrives at O'Hare at 2:59pm
Groups 2 & 3 arrive at the airport by 3:30 to get
your airline ticket and check in.Group #2 and Group 3:
United flight 6914, leaves Omaha at 5:31pm; arrives at
O'Hare at 7:00pm
From Chicago, we will all travel overseas on the same
plane which is SAS Airlines Flight 944 to Copenhagen,
Denmark. Here are the details:
SAS Airlines flight 944; leave O'Hare at 10:05pm;
arrive in Copenhagen at 1:20pm
Our flight to Vilnius will be:
Meal service will be provided en-route.
Air Baltic flight 164; leave Copenhagen at 3:25pm,
arrive in Vilnius at 6:30pm
Saturday, 6 May
Arrival in Copenhagen at 1:20 PM. Then, we will depart
for Lithuania on Baltic Air at 3:25 PM. Our flight to
Vilnius Lithuania arrives at 6:30 PM (18:30). We will
arrive safe and sound in the capital city of Lithuania,
Vilnius. After clearing customs we will be met by friends
and colleagues from our sister university and sister city
in Siauliai, Lithuania.
We will have a 52 passenger coach and a trailer. All
larger musical instruments that will not fit up above on
the coach should be loaded under the coach. The luggage
all should go in the trailer. Carry-on luggage probably
should go up above on the coach unless it is particularly
large. The following SWE members have volunteered to
assist with loading. However, you should stay until you
see that your bag and/or instrument is handed to the
loading crew.
PLEASE PUT YOUR AIRLINE TICKET AND PASSPORT IN A
SECURE LOCATION!
Coach Instrument Loading: Percussionists, Tubas
Trailer Instrument Loading: April and Bob
After loading the coach we will depart for dinner in
Vilnius. Overnight in Vilnius.
Dinner: Provided
Lodging: Everyone will stay at the Student dormitory
in Vilnius
Tel. +370 5 2130704
Although Lithuania has been
admitted to the European Union and will soon be using the
Euro, the currency now in use is still the Litia.
Exchange rate 1 Litai = 0.36 USD or 1 USD = 2.73 Litai.
(For example, something that you pay 3 Litia to purchase
will cost just over a dollar.)You will have a walking
tour of the old town area and can ID some places to
explore during that tour. However, there is a network of
streets in the old town that runs roughly from the
Cathedral at the bottom of the hill to the "Gate of Dawn
Ostrabrama" near the top of the hill. There are numerous
stores, lots of neat shops (including one owned by Ruta's
relatives)t, cafes, etc. There are several internet cafes
just off the street including one near the town hall
&endash; ask for directions at any of the merchants.
There also are a number of wonderful churches and
synagogues, the Town Hall, etc. to explore. Be sure you
check out the web sites for Vilnius before departure for
more detailed information!
You will be meeting Zenonas
Ripinskis who is the tour manager for the music groups at
Siauliai University and manages many special projects
there. He has been the person primarily responsible for
our tour arrangements in the Baltic States. You have met
Gediminas Ramanauskas in Omaha. He is the conductor of
the Studium Choir from Siauliai University and also the
professional chorus in Lithuania and also assisted with
arrangements for our tour. Stephen D. Mull is the US
Ambassador to Lithuania and has been very helpful with
the arrangements for our tour, especially the concert in
Vilnius.
Interesting note: You will not be
the only Americans in Vilnius Lithuania in early May:
Vice President Dick Cheney will deliver a major address
there on May 5. You also will be meeting the Rector
VINCAS LAURUTIS and the mayor of Siauliai, VYTAUTAS
JUSKUS.
Sunday, 7 May
We will spend the day in the Vilnius "Old Town" and
have a chance to stretch our legs in this picturesque
city. Your morning will be free to explore, go to church,
catch up on sleep, etc. In the afternoon we will have an
exciting walking guided tour to explore this wonderful
capital of Lithuania. In the afternoon we will present a
concert. The United States Ambassador to Lithuania,
invited guests, and other dignitaries will attend. The
concert will be followed by a reception hosted by the
Ambassador.
Concert Information:
16:00 Rehearsal with the Lithuanian National Chorus
and Studium Choir
18:00 **Concert at Saint Johns Cathedral sponsored by
the American Center and by the US Embassy in Vilnius,
Lithuania.
Monday, 8 May
After breakfast we will depart for sightseeing with
our first stop the Trakai Castle. We will then go to the
Kernave Historical Site
http://viduramziu.lietuvos.net/pilys/kernave-en.htm
http://www.tourism.lt/nature/reserv/kernave.html
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1137
after which we will travel to Siauliai, situated three
hours north of Vilnius. The city of Siauliai is one of
Omaha's five sister cities and home of Siauliai
University, which maintains one of UNO's most active
exchange programs.
Dinner: Provided
Lodging: YOUTH HOSTEL IN SIAULIAI (for students)
Tilz’es st. 159
Siauliai, Lithuania
Tel. +370 41 52 37 64
S’IAULIAI Hotel (for adults)
Draugystes pr. 25
Siauliai, Lithuania
tel. +370 41 437333
fax. +370 41 438339
Tuesday, 9 May
You will have a leisurely day touring the city and
campus of the university. During the day the SWE All
Stars will face the Studium Chorus Team in the
traditional game of basketball. Following dinner, we will
have a dress rehearsal with the Choirs in preparation for
our concert this evening. The Wind Ensemble will present
approximately 60 minutes of music during the performance
this evening after which we will be joined by the choirs
as a part of the Siauliai University International Music
Festival.
Dinner: Provided
**Concert: Siaulia University Drama Theatre
20:00
Reception to follow.
Wednesday, 10 May
Today we will travel from Siauliai to the beautiful
resort city of Palanga located on the Baltic Sea. We will
have a chance to explore this beautiful historic city as
well as other sites in the area. Then if weather permits,
we will go to the sea resort of Nida. Dinner will be
provided.
Thursday, 11 May
Today you will have some free time in Siauliai and
will be taken to the famous "Hill of Crosses" just
outside of the city. Here the SWE members will be able to
place a cross honoring their visit and seek out those put
there by other Omaha visiting groups including the Jazz
Ensemble and Wind Ensemble from their 2000 and 2003 tours
as well as other famous delegations and people. We MAY
(weather permitting) perform a brief concert in the town
square along with other musical groups participating in
the music festival. That evening we will perform a short
concert along with other groups for the closing event of
the Music Festival. After the concert there will be a
party with other students and you will have the
opportunity to spend time with all of our new friends
from Siauliai.
Dinner: Provided
Friday, 12 May
After breakfast we will say goodbye to our Lithuanian
friends as we depart for Riga, Latvia. We will stop along
the way to enjoy some wonderful sights including the
Rundale Palace. What's an 18th century Italian palace
doing on an open Baltic plain? It's worth coming here to
find out. The palace, 60 km south of Riga and 12 km west
of Bauska, was designed by Francesco Bartolomeo
Rastrelli-who did the Winter Palace in St.
Petersburg.
Lunch: Provided at the Lido Center Buffet in Riga
Riga is one of my favorite places
to visit. It has a beautiful old town area called the
"Centrum" with a wonderful museum, several beautiful
churches, some wonderful shops and restaurants, and the
Lilze Jazz Club where the Jazz Ensemble performed in
2003. There is another jazz club where the Jazz Combo
comprised of SWE members performed in 2000 called the (no
kidding) Dizzi Jazz Club. Not to be missed is the
beautiful city park just across from the Centrum with a
canal that runs through it and a great place to walk. On
the Northeast corner of the park is the Music Academy of
Riga and directly South East of the park is the recently
renovated Opera house. Both are worthy of your time to
visit. If you walk further North East behind the Opera
house there is a large shopping mall with some relatively
inexpensive food options and other shopping. The one
"DON"T MISS" item on my list of recommendations is the
market place South East of the shopping mall &endash;
walk under the railway viaduct and you will come to it.
The open air markets are something common to all of
Europe, and particularly to Eastern Europe. You will not
believe all of the fruit, flower, vegetable, flea market,
clothing, etc. shopping options available to you. There
is, in fact one shop that sells only sauerkraut! I am
told this is the largest market place of its type in the
world!
Latvia also will be joining the EU
but the currency in Latvia is still the Lati. Exchange
rates are 1 Lati = 1.79 USD or 1 USD = 0.55 Lati. (So
something that costs 1 Lati is slightly more than $2. Our
host in Latvia is Janis Purins, conductor of the
professional wind band "Riga" and also the conductor of
the community wind band in Jurmala City. Janis is the
head of the Wind Studies division of the music academy.
He was a guest conductor with the SWE and with the
Brigham Young University Band in 2002 and helped with the
2000 SWE and 2003 Jazz Ensemble tours to Latvia. You also
will meet Inga Grinvalde who is a flutist and music
teacher in Riga. I know that she is arranging a special
meeting for our flute students with some of hers while we
are in Riga. We also hope you will meet the US Ambassador
to Latvia, Mrs. Catherine Todd Bailey who has been
invited to join us for one or more of the concerts in
Latvia including an invitation from the Jurmala City
officials for the concert there.
Riga is the capital of Latvia and the geographical
center of the Baltic countries. For this reason it is an
important transport junction. The city is well known for
its architectural and cultural values. This afternoon we
will have the opportunity to explore this beautiful city
of over 800,000 people with a walking, guided tour.
**Concert: 16:30 at the Pavula Jurjana Music
School.
Concerts in Latvia have been arranged by our host,
Janis Purins, conductor of the professional Wind
Orchestra "Riga." Mr. Purins will be a guest conductor
for the program that will be attended by students from
the Music Academy, students from the Fine Arts High
School, and members of the professional Wind Orchestra,
Opera Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra as well as
members of the community. Following the concert, you will
have the evening free.
Dinner: On your own
Latvia Lodging Information -
Students: Youth Hostel
Contact Info: BIZNESA AUGSKOLA "TURIBA"
fax: +371 7619152
Tel. +371 7617543
Adults: Hotel Riga
22, Aspazijas Boulevard,
Riga, LV-1050, Latvia
Tel: +371 7044222
Fax: +371 7044223
email: info@hotelriga.lv
Saturday, May 13
Today you will have an opportunity to relax, shop and
experience a springtime Saturday in this picturesque
city. You will have the morning and early afternoon with
free time to shop and explore. You will be given a
handout which includes a map of Riga and a list of the
numerous options available to you.
Lunch: On your own.
Later in the day we will prepare
for a concert that will be presented in Jurmala City
which is about 30 Kilometers from Riga on the bay and is
the largest beach resort in the Baltic States.
Jurmala's unique, white sand beach
is 32 km long. Jurmala's uniqueness not only lies in the
length of its beach, but also in its shallow coastal
waters, where one can not only swim, but also walk,
stand, sit and lie. The beach is surrounded by dunes and
tall pine-trees, giving off a wonderful, relaxing, and
healing scent.
*Jurmala's attractions extend
beyond the beach. Jurmala is also a township situated in
a park-like landscape, where two-storey, intricately
carved wooden housing predominates. The architecture
consists of an eclectic combination of modern mansions
and original wooden homes dating from the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. Jurmala is quiet, calm, and
relaxed with its clean paved paths, narrow streets, and
houses hidden among the trees. The
Symphonic Band in Jurmala also is conducted by Mr. Purins
will host and perform on the concert. The concert will
take place at the Horna Garden (Near the Mojori Cultural
House) at 17:00. A reception will follow the concert. We
will return to Riga following the reception.
Sunday, 14 May
After breakfast, we will board our coach for a sight
seeing tour of Latvia.
Lunch: On your own.
We will arrive in Smiltene City which is approximately
130 km from Riga where we present our final Latvian
Concert. Mr. Peteris Vilks, the conductor of the Wind
Orchestra there will be our host. United States
Ambassador Bailey also has been invited to the concert by
the city officials and may travel with us that day.
Tentative concert time is 18:00 in the Cultural House.
The citizens of Smiltene City will honor us with a
reception following the concert. We will return to Riga
for our final night in Latvia.
Monday, 15 May
The currency in Estonia is the Estonia Krooni. On
May 1 the exchange rate was 1 EEK = 0.08 USD or 1 USD =
12.3 EEK. Tallinn is one of the "picture post card"
settings on our tour. Unfortunately we will be in the
city only a day and a half, so plan your time wisely.
Although I have been to Tallin on three occasions, I have
only had two hours free to explore. There is a huge,
walled castle in the city that I have not visited so can
not tell you much about it. However, around the outsides
of the castle (actually in some cases up against the
castle walls) and in the castle area are lots of small
market shops, many selling handmade sewn and knitted
items, hand craftred jewelry, etc. The Opera and Symphony
Halls are next to each other and on my last trip in 2003
were nearing completion of a total renovation.
This morning we leave early to travel to Tallinn, the
capital of Estonia. Tallinn is a charming blend of
medieval tranquility and modern urban life. The medieval
Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many
shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés
and restaurants. You will have the opportunity to visit
the old medieval city walls that lead into the Old Town
where we see Toompea Castle, Dome Cathedral, the
Alexander Nevsky Church and the Niguliste Church. This
afternoon we will have a concert that will represent the
last of our Baltic performances. The city of Tallinn
hosts a special festival each May 15 with concerts and
special events occurring throughout the city. Ott Kask, a
music educator, composer and friend, has arranged for the
SWE concert to be one of the special events on the
program.
Concert: 16:00 Monday in Tallinn Old City (the Movies
"Soprus" Square)
A part of the "Day of Tallinn Festival"
Dinner: Provided
Lodging: Hotel Hermes in Tallinn
Contact Info: Sutiste tee 21
13419 Tallinn Estonia
Phone 6 71 80 71
Fax 6 71 80 70
Website: http://www.hermes.ee/
Tuesday, 16 May
Breakfast at the Hotel. Lunch and Dinner on your
own.
On this day we travel from Tallinn to Oslo, Norway's
capital and home to one half a million citizens. Here is
your flight information for the transfer to Oslo:
Group #1: SAS flight 749; leave Tallinn at
4:55pm, arrive at Stockholm at 4:35pm
SAS flight 875; leave Stockholm at 6:00pm; arrive at
Oslo at 6:55 pm
Group #2: SAS flight 749; leave Tallinn at
4:55pm, arrive at Stockholm at 4:35pm
SAS flight 875; leave Stockholm at 6:00pm; arrive at
Oslo at 6:55 pm
Group #3: SAS flight 749; leave Tallinn at
4:55pm, arrive at Stockholm at 4:35pm
SAS flight 875; leave Stockholm at 6:00pm; arrive at
Oslo at 6:55 pm
Meet our new coach and Driver:
Company: Sporveisbussenes turbiler AS
Contact: Jane Carlsson
Phone: +47 2208 4377
Driver: Øyvind Andersen
Cell Phone: +47 9305 0050
And now we are off to Norway, a first visit for me.
The currency in Norway is the Kroner. 1 NOK = 0.16 USD or
1 USD = 6.1 NOK. Things are more expensive in Norway so
this would be a good time to seek out less expensive meal
options when you are on your own. We have had a lot of
assistance from the US Embassy in Norway and especially
the Ambassador Benson Whitney who may accompany the group
to Skein for our concert there if his schedule permits.
Also James Ellickson-Brown who is the Counselor for
Public Affairs at the Embassy and Gunnar Knudsen with the
Suoni Wind Band in Skein helped with our concert
arrangements. Chancellor Nancy and Jack Belck & Mary
Ellen Turner from UNO's International Studies and
Programs will join us in Oslo for the remainder of the
tour. By the way, our hotel in Oslo is a Four Star
Hotel.
Often described as cheerful and cosmopolitan, Oslo is
the oldest of the Scandinavian capitals. Its location at
the head of an inlet known as the Oslofjord and at the
foot of some deep and enchanting woods connects this
modern and progressive city inextricably to its Viking
past. Oslo is home to some fascinating and enlightening
museums and architecture and boasts the title of the
gourmet capital of Scandinavia.
Lodging: Norlandia Karl Johan Hotel
Contact Info:
Telephone +47 23 16 17 00
Fax +47 22 42 05 19
Address:Karl Johansgate 33
0162 Oslo
Website: http://www.norlandia.no/karljohan/
This is a historic hotel with longstanding traditions
and a great atmosphere, situated on Oslo's main street,
Karl Johan. Most of the well-equipped rooms have been
renovated recently.
Wednesday, May 17
Today we will remain in Oslo and have the fortune to
be there on Constitution Day, a celebration similar to
the 4th of July in the United States marked with parades
and people dressed in traditional costumes. At 14:00 we
will depart for a guided sight seeing tour.
Dinner: Provided
Thursday, May 18
After a hearty Norwegian breakfast we travel to Skien,
Norway, home of the Suoni Wind Band (www.suoni.no
). Jim Ellickson-Brown from the American Embassy has
contacted them regarding a joint performance. The
following information was provided by the manager of the
Suoni Wind Band:
"The Suoni Wind Band is an amateur orchestra with 50
musicians age 18 - 60. They have during the last 3 years
presented several honorable performances for the US
Embassy in Oslo. The town Skien is located in region
Grenland approx 110 km - 2 hours coach drive inland
crossover - south west of Oslo. From there there is
another 190 km - 3 hours coach drive along the
Sørlandet coast to Kristiansand. Our members would
like to meet you for a short local arrangement / outdoor
concert on a Main Street stage. It should be possible to
arrange a light meal. If Suonis members also should play
a few songs during the arrangement it should take place
at about 4.30 - 5 pm. On behalf of Suoni Band I'm looking
forward to hearing from you. May be it coult lead to some
cooparation in the future?"
Following the concert and reception, we will depart
for Kristiansand, Norway. The main city of southern
Norway, Kristiansand is the transportation and trade
center of the region and a thoroughly charming city. The
renaissance style is readily apparent in the strict
street plan of the area called Kvadraten. "Posebyen", the
oldest section of town, boasts tiny, charming houses in
the traditional style of the area. The Norwegian concept
of the southern idyll conjures up islets and white houses
with lush gardens nestled along the rocky coastline. A
poet once claimed that people's close contact with the
sea gave them webbed feet and hospitable, good-natured
temperaments.
We will arrive at our final destination late
Thursday evening. The hotel is located in downtown
Kristiansand, a beautiful city that Zac Fowler described
to us. The itinerary and many of the arrangements for our
visit were made by Mette Hogbrat Pedersen who has really
been terrific. You also will be meeting some of the
students from the university, the Rector Ernst Jahr and
the Dean Jon Knudsen.
Lodging: Hotel Norge,
Web Site: http://www.hotel-norge.no/
Contact Information: HOTEL NORGE
DR.GATE 5 - 4666 KRISTIANSAND
TELEFON : 38 17 40 00 FAX : 38 17 40 01
Benedickte Rosland, Manager Email:
booking:benedikte.rosland@hotel-norge.no
Friday, May 19
Just outside of Kristiansand is located Agder
University College, one of UNO's newest sister
universities. With more than 8,000 students and 850
teaching and administrative staff, it is one of the
largest universities in Norway.
Here is the schedule provided by the International
Studies Office at Agder University:
Visit from University of Nebraska Omaha Symphonic Wind
Ensemble
Friday, May 19
Agder University College
1030-1100: Set up to concert.
1115-1130: Welcome
1130-1230: Lunch Concert, building 24. Clara Holst
Auditorium
1230-1330: Lunch, student cafeteria Provided.
1330-1430: Campus &endash;tour
1600-1700: Concert in the park,"Henrik Wergelands
parken", downtown Kristiansand
Evening: Dinner on your own.
Saturday, May 20
1000-1200: Guided walk of Kristiansand, meet Hotel
Norge
1300-1500: Boatrip
When you arise on Saturday, you will want to check you
airline ticket and passport so that you will be ready for
departure tomorrow. Also, those in group 3 will want to
be sure you are packed this evening for your early
departure tomorrow. Tonight we will celebrate our
European tour with a traditional Norwegian banquet at the
Hotel Norge "Olavstua" Dining Room which means the living
room of Olav in Norwegian at 19:00. I have invited the
student hosts and Mette to join us for our "banquet" to
conclude our tour.
Sunday, May 21
After breakfast we will have time to spend saying
farewell to our new friends in Kristiansand before
boarding the plane for our return to Omaha which will
have us arriving back home by late that evening. Here is
the flight information for our return home:
Group #1: SAS flight 2881; leave Kristiansand at
12:40pm, arrive in Copenhagen at 1:35pm
SAS flight 943; leave Copehagen at 3:35pm, arrive in
Chicago-O'Hare at 5:30pm
United flight 343; leave Chicago-O'Hare at 8:00pm,
arrive in Omaha at 9:28pm
Group #2: SAS flight 2881; leave Kristiansand at
12:40pm, arrive in Copenhagen at 1:35pm
SAS flight 943; leave Copehagen at 3:35pm, arrive in
Chicago-O'Hare at 5:30pm
United flight 343; leave Chicago-O'Hare at 8:00pm,
arrive in Omaha at 9:28pm
Group #3: SAS flight 210; leave Kristiansand at
8:50am, arrive in Oslo at 9:30am
SAS flight 1455; leave Oslo at 10:25am, arrive at
Copenhagen at 11:35am
SAS flight 943: leave Copehagen at 3:35pm, arrive in
Chicago-O'Hare at 5:30pm
United flight 343; leave Chicago-O'Hare at 8:00pm,
arrive in Omaha at 9:28pm
*
Lithuania
http://www.inyourpocket.com/lithuania/en/
http://www.travel-lithuania.com/home
http://www.iexplore.com/dmap/Lithuania/Do's+and+Don'ts
http://www.world66.com/europe/lithuania
http://www.scantours.com/sightseeing_tours_lithuania.htm
Vilnius, Lituania
http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/00-08/european-travelogue-1-vilnius-lithuania.html
Siauliai, Lithuania
http://www.world66.com/europe/lithuania/siauliai
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Lithuania/Siauliu_Apskritis/Siauliai-445598/TravelGuide-Siauliai.html
Klaipeda, Lithuania
http://www.mytravelguide.com/global/touristinfo-17718102-Lithuania_Klaipeda_travelguide.html
Latvia
http://www.inyourpocket.com/latvia/en/
Riga, Latvia
http://www.virtualriga.com/
http://www.travelpost.com/EU/Latvia/Riga/Riga/7313427
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-486703-riga_vacations-i
Estonia
http://www.google.com/search?q=Tallin,+Estonia+Travel&hl=en&lr=&start=10&sa=N
http://www.world66.com/europe/estonia
Tallin, Estonia
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-482920-tallinn_vacations-i
http://www.tallinn.info/
Oslo, Norway
http://www.virtualoslo.com/
http://www.alltravelnorway.com/Norway/Destination_Guides/Cities/Oslo.htm
http://www.bootsnall.com/europetravelguides/oslo/
Kristiansand, Norway
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-487525-kristiansand_vacations-i
http://www.virtualkristiansand.com/
http://www.10best.com/Kristiansand/locationDetails.html
Embassies
Vilnius, Lithuania: http://vilnius.usembassy.gov/
Riga, Latvia: http://riga.usembassy.gov/
Tallin, Estonia:
http://estonia.usembassy.gov/
Oslo, Norway: http://norway.usembassy.gov/
Maps
Vilius, Lithuania: http://www.biega.com/vilnius.html
Siauliai, Lithuania: http://www.travel-lithuania.com/map/Siauliai/All
http://www.Mapquest.com
or
http://earth.google.com
for all other locations.