Tuesday, January 16, 12pm
Hotel Mision, Salida a Queretaro 1
Free

Saint Petersburg and the Russian Arctic, Rotary - talk

"Travel more" is the top new year's resolution for 2018, followed by volunteer, learn a new skill, be kind to the environment, conquer fear, deepen a friendship, get fit, and become a global citizen, according to Travel Agent Central. Fortunate for us in San Miguel, we can learn about traveling more just by attending Rotary Tuesday, January 16, when Certified Travel Counselor Rex Fritschi will take us on an insightful armchair journey through Saint Petersburg, Russia, where you can accomplish all of these resolutions at once!

Saint Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city after Moscow, with about five million inhabitants. An important Russian port on the Baltic Sea, it has been known as Petrograd and Leningrad. It is one of the modern cities of Russia, as well as its cultural capital. Like San Miguel, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home of The Hermitage, one of the largest art museums in the world.

"Fabulous St. Petersburg has splendid architecture and a bloody history that dates from the time Peter the Great dug it out of a swamp. It suffered revolutions that brought on the Soviet era," said Fritschi, who will take the audience to the remotest part of Russia just below the Arctic Circle to such infamous cities as Murmansk, a dark memory of WW2, and Archangel, also founded by Peter the Great.

Virtually on the Arctic Circle in the White Sea are the remote Soloveksky Islands crowned by an immense fortified monastery founded in the 15th century. During is heydays it housed 350 monks and around 700 artisans, peasants and servants, and became the economic and political center of the White Sea region. After the Bolshevik Revolution and the Russian Civil War the Soviets looted it and closed it down until, "Uncle Joe re-opened it as a the founding labor camp of the horrific Gulag chain," continued Fritschi.

Fritschi has served on various industry advisory boards, including those for Four Seasons/Regent Hotels, Cunard/Seabourn Cruises, and Travel & Leisure Magazine (American Express Publishing Corp.). He has visited more than 175 countries. His specialty is actively assisting small, select groups to visit all corners of the world.
Rotary is where neighbors, friends and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders and take action to create lasing change. For more information, contact President Fred Collins at presidentmidday@berkleyline.com and see RotarySMAMidday.org.