Boise Pilgrimage July 2010

Transylvania & Budapest

The UU churches in Olympia and Boise are planning a pilgrimage to Transylvania and Budapest for the summer of 2010 to experience the historic roots of Unitarianism, and reconnect with our partner church in Eastern Europe. We will discuss the origin of our faith with Unitarian ministers; visit the Headquarters of the Transylvanian Church, and other historical Unitarian sites, (as well as some tourist destinations) including:

  • Torda - where the first act of religious tolerance was signed in 1568
  • The rock in Kolozsvár that Francis David spoke from when he "converted the whole town's population to Unitarianism."
  • Szekelyderzs – the frescoed Unitarian church which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Segesvar – the 13th century walled city which is the purported birthplace of Vlad Tepes.
  • Bran Castle – aka "Dracula's Castle" which inspired Bram Stoker to pen his classic novel.
  • Peles Castle – the summer palace of the Romanian Royal family.
  • Kissolymos/Mészkõ – our partner villages in the pastoral rural Transylvania.

    • The base trip will begin and end in Bucharest, Romania. There is also an optional 3 day/night extension being offered that will end in the lovely Hungarian capital city of Budapest. The trip will include four days & five nights in our partner village where we will discover the warmth and loving hospitality of Transylvanian Unitarian families, attending church, and experiencing rural village.

    The trip is open to young and old alike. Through this trip we hope to foster new understandings of our faith and build deeper relationships with our co-religionists. The tour logistics will be coordinated by the UU Partner Church Council (UUPCC) Pilgrimage Service which has more than a decade of experience facilitating the visits of North American UUs to Eastern & Central Europe.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION

    Contact Mary Schwartzman at , 208 853-3313 (H) or 208 841-9323 (C).

    Proposed Itinerary

    (Hotels may change based on availability at time of booking)

    Optional 3 day/night Budapest Extension

    Offered for $400/person double occupancy (add $80 single supplement). Trip fee includes transportation from Kolozsvar/Cluj to Budapest, accommodations, 6 meals, & tour director. Does not include airfare from Budapest, gratuities, alcoholic beverages, or airport transfer at departure:

    TRIP COST DETAILS

    11 days/10 nights Base package $1,200/person double occupancy (Add $90 single supplement for single rooms during hotel nights. Single rooms cannot be guaranteed during village stay or at UCSP**) plus $150/person registration fee. (Registration fee covers the cost of processing your application, a one-year membership in the UU Partner Church Council, and a $30/person impact fee which is paid to the Transylvanian Unitarian Church HQ.)

    A deluxe upgrade which substitutes a 3-star hotel for the UCSP for the night in Kolozsvar/Cluj is available for $40/person.

    The trip fee includes ground transportation, meals (as indicated in daily itinerary), lodging, guides, interpreters, and fees. Cost does not include airfare to/from Bucharest, Budapest departure airport transfer, gratuities, alcoholic beverages, or expenses incurred during free periods.

    **Unitarian Center for Students & Pilgrims is a modern dormitory style facility. Most rooms have private bathrooms and AC. There are no elevators at the UCSP. It requires a climb of 4 flights of stairs to reach your room. Travelers with mobility issues or desiring a standard hotel room should select the 3-star hotel upgrade for the 2 nights in Kolozsvar/Cluj.

    BUUF's Trollhaven bridge

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