May 26, 2000
Dear Fellow Festival Travelers to Estonia!
Plans for the Fall Feast are proceeding well and we are looking forward to fellowship with you. The ministry who plan to come to Estonia are once again Vic and Bev Kubik and John and Hazel Lambert. We are also happy to add Bob and Evelyn Fahey from Chicago.
Each year we have had a theme for the Feast. This year it will be "Prepare for the Kingdom." This will be reflected in our messages. We will hold two public lectures. One will be on Sunday and the other on Wednesday evening. The Estonian brethren will assist us with promoting these two lectures, both of which will be given by pastor Bob Fahey.
Estonia is one of three Baltic republics nestled in between Russia and Latvia and just across a narrow strait on the Baltic Sea from Finland. The setting will be in historic and charming Tartu. Tours are planned into the countryside in the midst of colorful fall foliage and one day will be devoted totally to touring Tallinn, the capital city.
The national currency is the Estonian Kroon (EEK) that has been fluctuating between 14- 17 EEK per dollar. A good Internet site to visit regarding the value of the EEK versus the dollar is http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/wcv2.html.
Average temperature will be between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius (50 to 59 Fahrenheit).
Services will be conducted in the English language with translation provided for those who do not understand English. There will also be two sermonettes in Russian that will be translated into English.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to communicate with us through the following means:
web site www.kubik.org [click on the ESTONIA button]
email: estonia2000@kubik.org
phone: 317 216-0802
fax: 707 202-3313
TRAVEL
Each of you is responsible for making your own travel arrangements. The nearest airport to the Tartu Festival location is the Estonian capital of Tallinn (TLL). From here there is a comfortable two and a half hour bus ride to Tartu with buses leaving almost hourly from Tallinn to Tartu.
If you have any questions regarding air travel, please do not hesitate to call us.
Please let use know of your exact arrival and departure times when you have them.
There are no travel visas required for visitors from the United States. All others please consult the Estonian embassy or consulate in your country about visa requirements. Everyone must have a valid passport.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN TALLINN
At the airport you should exchange some money into Estonian Kroons (EEKs). You will need about $5.00 for the taxi and about $7-$8 for the bus ticket to Tartu. There are taxis available at the airport. Please ask them to take you to the bus station. At the bus station board the bus to TARTU. Buses leave about every hour. You will be able to purchase your ticket on the bus. Tickets must be paid for with Estonian Kroons.
When you arrive in Tartu, you are only one block from the Pallas Hotel. Taxis are plentiful at the bus station and can take you there.
GROUND TRANSPORTATION
It is not necessary to rent a car. Once there, the ground transportation is very economical. Taxis rides are $3-$4 for short trips around town.
ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE PALLAS HOTEL
Most of us will be staying at the Pallas Hotel. Our meetings will be held a ten-minute walk away at the Atlantis Conference Center. The Pallas and Atlantis are both close to many historic sites and restaurants in Tartu.
The Pallas is a new hotel in the center of Tartu. The rooms are small, but very nice. We need to know what accommodations you will need so that we can reserve them for you. There are single rooms at $50 a night. Twin rooms (two single beds) at $60 per night and double rooms (1 bed) at $60. There are also double deluxe rooms at $75 a night. The double deluxe rooms are one room, but they are somewhat larger than the regular double.
The two suites at the Pallas are already spoken for, therefore, if anyone would like a suite, we can arrange for them at a new hotel next to the Town Hall in the center of the city. It is an excellent location. Information is enclosed in the reservation form.
Breakfast is included in the hotel price and restaurant meals are very reasonable (by U.S. standards).
One half the cost of your hotel accommodations will be required prior to departure. This is due September 10. That should be sent to us at:
Victor Kubik
United Church of God
3707 Turfway Court
Indianapolis, IN 46228-2095
Please make checks out to Victor Kubik.
We will then wire that amount to the Pallas Hotel before we arrive so that we avoid paying the 18% Value Added Tax. We must receive one half of your hotel charges by September 10 in order to confirm your reservation.
The balance should be given to us at the close of the Feast. This can be in the form of a personal check. We are able to save a considerable amount by paying the balance in a lump sum.
MEALS, TOURS and ENTERTAINMENT
We are planning three group tours within Estonia. One will be a bus tour to the countryside with an afternoon picnic and hike.
We also plan an all day bus tour to the capital city of Tallinn. There should be plenty of free time to explore and shop.
For those interested, there will be a guided walking tour of Tartu, one of the oldest cities in the Baltics.
Three group dinners are being arranged, one of which will be followed by an Estonian folklore singing and dancing ensemble.
THE PACKAGE -- $160 Per Person
We will include:
·
all group tours and bus transportation· snacks and beverages before and after church services
· three group dinners
· Estonian folklore entertainment
· box lunch for the picnic
This package price will also help us to defray the cost of the meeting room, translators and allow us to provide the group meals for the Estonian brethren. The package price will be $160 per person. This should be sent to us by September 10 along with ½ the cost of hotel accommodations. All other meals and expenses will be on your own.
THE SCHEDULE
October 13, Friday evening, opening night
We will have a short meeting and refreshments beginning at 7:30 pm at the Atlantis Conference Center
October 14, Sabbath - Holy Day Services
We will hold one service on this day at 2:30 pm at the Atlantis Conference Center. A group dinner will follow.
The rest of the itinerary will follow in a later letter.
Due to Victor Kubik by June 20th:
1. Hotel reservation request
2. Serving at the Feast form
3. One night non-refundable deposit
Due to Victor Kubik by September 10th:
1. One half of the total hotel reservation cost less deposit2. Package price of $160 per person
3. Flight itinerary information
Make checks payable to:
Victor Kubik
3707 Turfway Court
Indianapolis, IN 46228-2095
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM NO LATER THAN JUNE 20, 2000
Please include one night’s NON-refundable deposit with reservation request
Pallas Hotel
YOUR NAMES:
Number of people in your party _________
Number of rooms x days. Example: 1 double room x 10 days
|
Number of rooms |
Number of days |
Total |
Arrival |
Departure from Tartu |
|
|
Single $50 |
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|
Double $60 |
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Twin (2 beds) $60 |
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Deluxe (only 3 available) $75 |
Hotel Dragon
For those of you who would like a suite (only individual rooms are available at the Pallas Hotel) I am told that there is a new hotel in the town square, Hotel Dragon (very convenient to our conference—they are requesting a four star rating by this winter). The first two categories are suites. Their prices are:
|
Number of rooms |
Number of days |
Total |
Arrival |
Departure from Tartu |
|
|
Junior Suite $160 |
|
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2 bedroom suite w/sauna $200 |
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Double Deluxe rooms $115 |
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Double rooms with sauna $150 |
Hotel Barclay (older hotel, but very nice)
|
Number of rooms |
Number of days |
Total |
Arrival |
Departure from Tartu |
|
|
Suite with sauna $155 |
|
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|
Junior suite with bath ($115) |
Check for one night’s accommodation included $ _______________________
NAME: ______________________________________
Your Flight Information Due by September 10, 2000
Airline and Flight #’s Date Time