Tour1

The Lira Ensemble

The Board of Directors of the Lira Ensemble invites you to join

Lira's Extraordinary

Tour of Northern Poland

and Lithuania

Departing Thursday, June 26 – 2008 for approximately 2 weeks

See Warsaw, Vilnius, Gdansk, Poznan, Gniezno, Torun, Malbork Castle & more

Tour package includes airfare, first class hotels, most meals, all sightseeing and transportation.

PLUS concerts, folklore, and many surprises you must experience to believe!

LIRA WILL SHOW YOU THE POLAND OF YOUR DREAMS!

This tour is personally escorted by

Lucyna Migala, artistic director and general manager of the Lira Ensemble and a recognized expert on Polish culture.

Tour information follows below and is also available by calling 773-508-7040.

January 28, 2008

Dear Friend of the Lira Ensemble:

In the name of the Board of Directors of the Lira Ensemble, I invite you to join Lira's tour of Poland, this year – for the first time in three years – to Northern Poland and Lithuania. We plan a tour Southern Poland in both 2009 and 2010, then a tour Northern Poland again in 2011.

The Lira Ensemble is an unusual not-for-profit organization. We are the only professional performing arts company outside of Poland specializing in Polish music, song, and dance. We have been organizing tours of Poland since 1993. I was trained by my parents, who were both travel agents specializing in Poland, so I am a second generation Poland tour director.

I have been told by past tour members that Lira runs the absolutely best tours of Poland. Our tours stress personal service. They are more a group of friends visiting Poland than a usual tour. I am certain you will enjoy seeing Poland with the interesting, like-minded people Lira tours attract. We spotlight the arts, both folk and high culture, and history. We are experts on Poland. We show you the important attractions, but also go to places and do things unavailable to most tourists.

My job consists of explaining why you should see what we are showing you. I lead discussions about Poland and Polish life. We sing on the bus, we learn a bit of the Polish language, sample all kinds of delicious Polish cuisine, attend concerts and shows. And we have lots of fun.

Ours is a first class tour, organized by the best tour company in Poland, with a state-of-the-art tour bus and the finest hotels. Our price includes everything except four lunches, so you will have an opportunity to choose your menu, or a chance to diet, because Poles usually give us lots to eat – too good to leave on the plate.

This year, we are faced with a dollar that has fallen sharply in relation to the euro. In addition, prices have risen steadily because Poland is trying to bring its economy in line with the rest of the European Union. So, the price of our tour rises each year. Yet, this year's price is just about the same as last year. We did this by flying, instead of driving, to Lithuania and saving an entire day. So this is a 13-day tour from departure to return to the US.

Please read all the financial information closely. Our prices are based on 31 people. If fewer register, we can still go, but the price will be $280 higher. The taxes are terribly high, but they pay for the airport and in-air security measures, which are so important in today’s reality.

At any price, Lira Ensemble tours are a great value because we do not print fancy, full-color brochures and our advertising is mostly word-of-mouth from family and friends. We put your money into showing you a great time. Whatever is left we use for our work of bringing the best of Polish culture into American life. Since we are a charity, any excess income to us is considered a donation by you. After the tour, you will receive a tax receipt showing how much you can deduct, which is usually about 8% of the tour price.

If you have any questions, do call me at 773-508-7040 or 1-800-547-LIRA (1-800-547-5472).

I look forward to showing you Poland this summer!

Lucyna Migala, Artistic Director/General Manager - and Tour Director

CLICK HERE FOR THE DETAILED TOUR ITINERARY

The Lira Ensemble is a not-for-profit corporation of the state of Illinois and has received tax exempt status from the federal government at a 501(c)(3) charity. Donations to the Lira Ensemble are tax deductible as provided in the Federal Tax Code.