RostadTravel Nov/01.qxd

M AY
2006
Europe with a Purpose
In August and September we have two distinctive tours travelling to
Europe that combine sites that were important in the life of Martin
Luther, with a myriad of musical and sightseeing experiences.These tours
give you the opportunity to learn about one of the great Reformers plus
enjoy visits to such well-known places as Prague,Vienna, Salzburg,
Innsbruck, Oberammergau and Heidelberg.
Here are some of the highlights of the trip:
Serenity at Saint Catherine’s Monastery
A visit to historic Saint Catherine’s
Monastery in the South Sinai is one of the
many highlights of our popular Bible Lands
Discovery itinerary. This remote monastery
has been the focus of religious life since it
was built in the sixth century by the
Emperor Justinian. It is situated at the base
of the mountain believed to be where
Moses received the Ten Commandments.
To enhance the Sinai experience we started
booking our groups at the guesthouse at
the monastery rather than have them stay at
one of the hotels several kilometres away.
One of the many benefits of doing this is
that tour members have several activity
options available to them during their stay.
Those that wish to make the climb to the
top of Mount Sinai to view the sunrise can
get up early in the morning to start the
climb. Others can sleep in and take in the
spectacular sights of the area during a
leisurely stroll later in the morning. The stay
at the monastery was a highlight for many
who were there earlier this year. Don
Rostad, who escorted the first Rostad
group to stay there, noticed how the
serenity of the place situated just outside
the fortified walls of the monastery, with
large mountains looming in the background
was almost overwhelming and enhanced
the feeling that this was indeed a very
special place.
continued on page 2
➣ Visit Wartburg Castle, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site (WHS) where
Luther hid under the name of Junker
Jorg for ten months and translated the
New Testament from Greek to German
in 1521.
➣ Tour the Augustinian Monastery in
Erfurt that Luther joined after attending
university there.
➣ Stop in Eisleben (WHS) to visit the
places where Luther was born, baptized,
preached his last sermon, and died.
➣ Stay two nights in Lutherstadt
Wittenberg (WHS), now a cozy, smallsized city that in Luther’s time used to
be the intellectual and cultural centre of
central Europe.Visit the Castle Church
where Luther nailed his 95 theses to
the door, attend Sunday service at the
City Church and tour Luther Hall - the
world’s largest Reformation museum.
➣ Visit the St.Thomas Church in Leipzig
where Johann Sebastien Bach was cantor
for 27 years and the nearby museum
commemorating his life.
continued on page 2
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Holy Land Reflections
continued from page 1
We sent over 150 people to the Holy Land
in February and March 2006 and the
comments we received were very heartwarming. Tour members found our
itineraries to be unique, all-inclusive and
spiritually meaningful. Obviously things
are not as bleak and miserable as the
television news would make us believe.
We have three departures to choose from
this fall and are currently working on dates
for February and March 2007.
Here is a sampling of the comments.
Great tour! Great guides! Great Hosts!
I learned so much and had so much fun.
Loved all the new experiences and learning.
Very special to be where Jesus lived.
▼
For me this was not a pilgrimage
but an opportunity to deepen my knowledge
of the Bible and thus draw closer to God.
I’m very thankful to God for giving us all
this enriching experience.
2
▼
You should be commended for the quality of
accommodation, guides, meals etc. you provide,
for what I consider to be a reasonable price!
I would recommend this trip to others.
▼
I now have a different knowledge
of this area of the world and will watch the
media with a more critical eye.
▼
I never imagined myself as the tour group
type – but we had a good sized group and
a fun group. I believe I got good value for
money and would travel with Rostad again.
▼
By far the best tour I’ve taken in all my
travel days.The bond of Christian unity adds
so much to travel. God bless your company.
▼
All inclusive as stated in the brochure – no
extras to pay. More was added – an extra day
and extra sites to see.Will certainly
recommend Rostad and will book again.
Europe continued from page 1
➣ Stay two nights in Prague (WHS),
where the tour of the city includes
Prague Castle, the Charles
Bridge, the Old Town, a
luncheon cruise and an
entertaining folklore
show in the
evening.
➣ Visit Telc (WHS),
a remarkable
Renaissance
town that will give you the
impression that you’ve been transported
back into the 16th century.
➣ Stay two nights in Vienna to admire the
marvellous buildings that line the Ring
Strasse (WHS), visit Hofburg Palace and
enjoy an extraordinary night at
Schonbrunn Palace (WHS) that features
a private tour and a scrumptious dinner
followed by a Mozart and Strauss concert.
➣ Cruise along the Danube River through
the picturesque Wachau Valley (WHS).
➣ Visit the Melk Abbey, one of finest
baroque buildings in the world.
➣ Stay two nights in Salzburg (WHS), this
year celebrating the 250th anniversary of
Mozart’s birth. Another concert included
here of course.
➣ Stay two nights in Oberammergau, site
of the famous Passion Play that takes
place every ten years, and visit nearby
Linderhof, the opulent palace built
by “Mad” Ludwig.
➣ Visit Worms, where Luther appeared
before the Diet of Worms in 1521.
➣ Tour Heidelberg Castle, one of the finest
Gothic-Renaissance castles in Germany.
➣ Enjoy an organ concert at the Abbey
church in Amorbach.The organ dates
back to 1782 and has over 5000 pipes.
All in all a fascinating
and meaningful experience!
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3
South Africa
For the second year in a row our November group
returned from South Africa with extremely high praise –
every tour member’s comment form said that it
surpassed expectations! The quality accommodations,
friendly guides, delicious meals, varied sightseeing,
fantastic weather and of course the wildlife safaris
make this a truly unforgettable adventure. Fortunately
this year we have three departures in November to
choose from, so hopefully we will not have to turn
people away.
Stroke Awareness
Stroke is the LEADING cause of adult disability in Canada and third
leading cause of death. Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to
identify.A stroke victim may suffer permanent brain damage when people
fail to recognize what’s happening. Now, doctors say any bystander can
recognize a stroke, simply by asking three questions:
1. Ask the individual to smile
2. Ask him or her to raise both arms.
3. Ask the person to speak a simple sentence.
If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 911 immediately, and
describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. Researchers are urging the
general public to learn to ask these three questions quickly to someone
they suspect of having a stroke. Widespread use of this test could result
in prompt diagnosis and treatment of a stroke, and prevent permanent
brain damage.
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4
Britain & Ireland
We only have two more opportunities for
you to visit Britain and Ireland this year.
The first is Ireland’s Charm and Heritage,
an enchanting two-week tour of the
Emerald Isle leaving September 15. A few
of the highlights include:
• A three-night stay in the vibrant city
of Dublin, which includes a visit to
Trinity College to see the remarkable
Book of Kells.
• A tour of the Dunbrody Emigrant Ship
and a chance to kiss the Blarney Stone.
• A three-night stay on the Ring of Kerry,
Ireland’s most popular tourist destination
with a wide range of attractions.
• Admiring the dramatic Cliffs of Moher,
visiting a working farm and strolling the
lively streets of Galway.
• Enjoying a day in wild and rugged
Connemara followed by dinner in a castle.
• In Northern Ireland you will take a cruise
to Devenish Island, visit Ulster Folk Park,
stay in the walled city of Derry and walk
along the famous Giant’s Causeway.
• Shopping for Irish crafts at Waterford
Crystal, Blarney Woollen Mills, Connemara
Marble Factory and Belleek Pottery.
Or you can join our tour of Leisurely
Britain leaving September 18 to immerse
yourself in the enchantment and traditions
of Scotland and England. Some of the
highlights for you to enjoy:
• Stay three nights in Edinburgh, including
visits to the imposing castle, St. Giles
Cathedral and a Scottish Folklore show.
• Sightseeing tours of Glasgow, Stirling, the
Trossachs, “Robbie Burns Country” and
the Borders.
• Ride a boat on the Falkirk Wheel, visit
Culzean Castle and see Hadrian’s Wall.
• Stay three nights in Yorkshire, including
visits to the famous York Minster and Jorvik
Viking Centre plus admiring the wonderful
flower arrangements during the Church of
England’s Flower Arrangers Festival.
• Spend a day in the Yorkshire Dales
including a boat trip along Britain’s
longest inland waterway.
• Visit the contrasting ruins of the old
Coventry Cathedral and then the splendour
of the new one.
• Tour Warwick Castle, the finest medieval
castle in England, including Madam
Tussaud’s wax exhibition - “A Royal
Weekend Party - 1898”.
• Stay three nights in Stratford upon Avon,
including a tour of the city and a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
• Spend a day in the Cotswolds, see
Oxford University and visit magnificent
Windsor Castle.
• Stay three nights in London, with touring
that includes Westminster Abbey, the Tower
of London, a cruise on the Thames, a
breathtaking ride on the “London Eye”
and one of the West End’s hit musicals.
Travel Light
Hand Luggage
Due to recent changes to airline baggage allowances,
we recommend using a 25”-26” suitcase as you will
be less likely to exceed the 50-pound limit.This will
force you to take fewer clothes on the trip but you
will be glad you did.You may need to
arrange to have some clothes
washed during the trip but
this can be done at almost
any hotel where you are
staying two or more nights.
The cost to have your
clothes laundered will be
much less than the excess
baggage fee of $35 + tax
(each way).
You are responsible for carrying your
hand luggage at all times so please
keep this in mind when deciding what
to bring. Although small cases with
wheels may seem like a good idea,
they usually become very heavy and
typically do not fit under airline seats
or in the overhead compartments on
the coach. They are not practical when
boarding a motorcoach, navigating
stairs or going on walking tours. Take
something lightweight that you can
manage in any situation and you will
be glad you did.
Save Save Save
Book your 2007 river cruise by
August 31, 2006 to save $300
per person. You will receive an
additional $400 discount if
you pay for your cruise by
September 30, 2006. That’s a
$700 discount per person,
more than enough to pay for
your onboard beverages and a
few souvenirs along the way.
We’ll even throw in another
$100 discount if you have
cruised with Viking River
Cruises previously.
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5
Eastern Europe Adventure
Join our September 17 tour
through Czech Republic,
Austria, Slovakia, Hungary
and Romania. You’ll visit
famous old cities, see
spectacular scenery,
and have the
opportunity
to meet
wonderful,
friendly people
along the way.
This journey starts in
Prague and then travels all the way to the Black
Sea, passing through Vienna, Bratislava,
Budapest, Brasov, Bran, Constanta and Bucharest.
On route you will enjoy
the food and folklore of
each region, especially
with five evening
musical events included.
The tour
even
travels
through
Transylvania, where you’ll learn
much about its legendary history
and people. This is not the kind of
itinerary that we operate very often so
consider registering for this distinctive
and unforgettable adventure.
We have two great choices for you to consider if you want to
travel “downunder” next winter. First is a 35-day “trip-of-a-lifetime” that takes you to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Hawaii.
This is a very comprehensive tour and it is close to becoming
full! For example, in Australia you will visit Sydney, Cairns, the
Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Adelaide,
Melbourne,Tasmania and even overnight on the world famous
Ghan Train.We also have two departures of our popular 21-day
tour that visits Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia; one
in November and one in March. There are far too many
highlights to list here, but if you call our office we’ll be happy
to send you a detailed brochure.
DINING IN THE SKIES
In case you haven’t noticed, Air Canada no longer offers
complimentary meals during flights within North America. You can
purchase a selection of light meals onboard or you may want to
consider bringing your own meal or sandwich along. Fortunately
you still receive complimentary meals on international flights.
PAGE
Not surprisingly, river cruising
is quickly becoming one of
the most popular forms of
transportation for experienced
travellers. It gives you the
opportunity to experience the
sights and culture of countries
without changing hotels
every couple of days in order
to see something new. We’ve
developed a great relationship with Viking River Cruises and our
customers appreciate that shore excursions are included in the price.
We anticipate sending over 250 people on river cruises in 2006 and
our increased buying power allows us to offer great prices to you.
Here is a list of 2006 cruises that still have space and also the 2007
dates where we have group space blocked.
6
2006 River Cruises
GLORIES OF IMPERIAL R USSIA
MOSCOW TO ST. PETERSBURG
Sep 19 - Oct 1, Sep 22 - Oct 4
EASTERN EUROPEAN ODYSSEY
BUDAPEST · BLACK SEA · VIENNA
GLORIES OF IMPERIAL R USSIA
ST. PETERSBURG TO MOSCOW
May 8 - 19, May 12 - 23,
May 29 - Jun 9, Sep 15 - 26
EUROPEAN ADVENTURE
AMSTERDAM TO VIENNA
Apr 29 - May 12
Oct 14 - 29
MISTY MOUNTAINS OF THE YANGTZE
BEIJING, XIAN, SHANGHAI
PLUS A 7-NIGHT
YANGZTE RIVER CRUISE
GRAND EUROPEAN
AMSTERDAM TO BUDAPEST
Apr 28 - May 13, Oct 13 - 28
Oct 4 - 18
EASTERN EUROPEAN ODYSSEY
BUDAPEST - BLACK SEA - VIENNA
2007 River Cruises
May 12 - 27, Sep 29 - Oct 14
GLORIES OF IMPERIAL R USSIA
MOSCOW TO ST. PETERSBURG
CHINA’S CULTURAL DELIGHTS
BEIJING, XIAN, SHANGHAI
May 15 - 27, May 18 - 30,
Sep 18 - 30, Sep 21 - Oct 3
PLUS A 9-NIGHT
YANGZTE RIVER CRUISE
Apr 10 - 27, Oct 18 - Nov 3
Costa Rica Discovery
Holy Land Discovery
TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
SAN JOSÉ · ARENAL VOLCANO
TABACON HOT SPRINGS
MONTE VERDE CLOUD FOREST
OCOTAL BEACH RESORT
ISRAEL WITH OPTIONAL EXTENSION
TO JORDAN
February 8 - 22, 2007
Luther and Musical
Europe
Tour Host: Rostad Tour Host
Ecuador Orchid Safari
November 10 -19, 2006
Tour Host: Rev. Dr. Robin Wilkie
Ireland’s Charm &
Heritage
DUBLIN · WATERFORD · KERRY
DINGLE PENINSULA
CLIFFS OF MOHER · GALWAY
CONNEMARA · BUNDORAN
ENNISKILLEN · DERRY
ANTRIM COAST · BELFAST
September 15 - 29, 2006
Magnificent South Pacific
FIJI, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA
& HAWAII
FIJI · AUCKLAND · ROTORUA
CHRISTCHURCH · MOUNT COOK
QUEENSTOWN · MILFORD SOUND
CARINS · GREAT BARRIER REEF
AYERS ROCK · ALICE SPRINGS
THE GHAN · ADELAIDE · MELBOURNE
TASMANIA · SYDNEY · HAWAII
GERMANY, CZECH REPUBLIC,
& AUSTRIA
Tour Hosts: Rev. Bud & Beulah Penner
August 9 - 24, 2006
Leisurely Britain
Tour Hosts: Rev. Bob & Fay Jackson
SCOTLAND & ENGLAND
March 8 - 29, 2007
Tour Hosts:
Rev. Dr. Glenn & Sandra Schaeffer
September 27 - October 12, 2006
Bible Lands Discovery
Tour Hosts:
Rev. Richard & Judi Williams
GLASGOW · EDINBURGH · AYR
YORKSHIRE · STRATFORD · OXFORD
WINDSOR · LONDON
South Pacific Adventure
Tour Hosts: Merv Lutes & Lynne Cassidy
Ecuagenera Orchids and Rostad Tours
team up to show off the biodiversity and
rich culture of Ecuador.
EGYPT, JORDAN & ISRAEL
CAIRO · GIZA · MOUNT SINAI · AQABA
WADI RUM · PETRA · MOUNT NEBO
AMMAN · JERASH · GALILEE
NAZARETH · MEGIDDO · CAESAREA
JERUSALEM · BETHLEHEM
MASADA · DEAD SEA
October 30 - November 16, 2006
Tour Hosts: Kelly & Irene Holt
October 30 - November 16, 2006
Tour Hosts: Bruce Power & Gary Watts
November 6 - 23, 2006
Tour Host: Pastor Doug Kramer
Journeys of the Apostles
ISTANBUL · CAPPADOCIA · KONYA
IZMIR · PERGAMUM · EPHESU
PATMOS · RHODES · CRETE
SANTORINI · CORINTH · ATHENS
October 11 - 28, 2006
Tour Hosts: Rostad Tour Host
Eastern European
Adventure
CZECH REPUBLIC, AUSTRIA,
SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY & ROMANIA
October 29 - December 2, 2006
September 18 - October 2, 2006
Tour Host: Rev. Harry Disher
South Africa Adventure
September 17 - October 4, 2006
CAPE TOWN · CAPE WINELANDS
GARDEN ROUTE · FEATHERBED
NATURE RESERVE · CANGO CAVES
ZULULAND · LAKE ST. LUCIA
HLUHLUWE GAME RESERVE
SWAZILAND · KRUGER NATIONAL
PARK · PRETORIA · SOWETO
Tour Hosts: Pastor Ted & Jean Heinze
November 7 - 25, 2006
A Musical Interlude
Tour Hosts:
Rev. Karl & Rev. Heidi Sievert
WALES & ENGLAND
November 11 - 29, 2006
CHESTER · LLANGOLLEN
INTERNATIONAL EISTEDDFOD
LLANDUDNO · STRATFORD
COTSWOLDS · LONDON
Tour Hosts:
Rev. George & Donna Davidson
PRAGUE · VIENNA · BRATISLAVA
BUDAPEST · BRASOV · BRAN
BLACK SEA · CONSTANTA · BUCHAREST
July 3 - 13, 2006
Tour Hosts:
Rev. David & Margaret Gilchrist
November 14 - December 2, 2006
Tour Hosts:
Rev. Dr. Merv & Barbara Lutes
Rev. Johan Olivier
COOK ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND,
& AUSTRALIA
RAROTONGA · AUCKLAND · ROTORUA
CHRISTCHURCH · MOUNT COOK
QUEENSTOWN · MILFORD SOUND
DUNEDIN · MELBOURNE · CANBERRA
SYDNEY
November 10 - 30, 2006
Tour Hosts: Rostad Tour Host
March 2 - 22, 2007
Tour Hosts:
Rev. Dr. Merv & Helen Saunders
Amazon River Cruise
12 DAY CR UISE WITH PRINCESS
CR UISES FEATURING:
MANAUS · BOCA DA VALERIA
SANTAREM · DEVIL’S ISLAND
PORT OF SPAIN · GRENADA
ST. VINCENT · DOMINICA · TORTOLA
SAN JUAN
January 27 - February 9, 2007
Ask your Tour Hosts about their next tour!
FOR ITINERARY DETAILS AND BROCHURE REQUESTS CHECK OUR WEBSITE OR CALL US
10, 3109 Palliser Drive SW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2V 4W5 Toll Free: 1-800-361-8687
Phone: 238-4090 (Calgary) · Fax: (403) 238-4063 · E-mail: tours@rostad.com · Website: www.rostad.com