HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS Heart-warming

Clockwise, from this page: Traditional prayer flags fluttering in the breeze in central Tibet; a warm welcome in a home in Uglich, Russia

HOME HEART IS is where the

Home visits are a much-loved highlight of a Viking river and ocean journey. These experiences offer an encounter like no other, says Viking’s copywriter Cassie Wilcox

Nothing gives you a greater insight into the lives of other people than visiting them in their homes. Only by meeting them in their personal space, surrounded by their belongings and their family, can you begin to understand and appreciate their everyday lives, and their world.

So often, Viking guests say that one of the most memorable experiences on their trip is the home visit. Talking to someone, often through a translator, eating and drinking with them, and being shown around their home and garden is such a rare opportunity, and one that stays with you always. ese visits also remind us that for all our dierences, there is so much that we share in common. We all love, we all laugh, and we all experience good and not so good times. Perhaps the best thing about a home visit is that the privilege and pleasure of meeting people in their home works both ways.

We are curious beings by nature, and your home host is just as interested in your life as you are in theirs. Whether the conversation is about children and family, work, government and politics or simply

the type of food we enjoy, it is so rewarding to learn about each other.

UGLICH, RUSSIA e ancient town of Uglich on the Volga River is one of Russia’s Golden Ring cities (so named because they form a circular route from Moscow). Here, you will be warmly welcomed into a local home for a glimpse of the real Russia. In Russia, traditions remain strong, and that includes eating traditional homemade Russian foods. You are likely to be served cucumbers (often grown and pickled by your host), sour bread, sweet cake, tea and home-brewed vodka, sometimes infused with local cranberries. roughout your visit, your Viking guide will translate your questions, it’s a wonderful opportunity to nd out rst-hand what life is like in

Revani, a delicious moist semolina cake avoured with orange zest. You may even join in a toast with a glass of Assyrtiko, a local Santorini wine that’s as drinkable as the warm sun.

present – and past – Russia.

Where people have gardens in Russia, they are usually full to bursting with vegetables and fruits of all kinds, and are immaculately tended. It is a real joy to wander around a little slice of life in Uglich, and an experience you will look back on fondly.

LYNGEN ALPS, NORWAY Surrounded by majestic mountains, narrow valleys and dramatic glaciers, Norway’s Lyngen Alps are home to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. Here, in the small picturesque village of Svensby, nestled in the foothills of the soaring mountains, you will be welcomed by your hosts into their home, where you can experience for yourself how family life is lived in this remote region of northern Norway.

Join with your hosts in some of their daily activities, including making bread and pitching horseshoes for fun. Inside a traditional Sami tent, called a lavvu, you can listen to stories about life in the mountains, while enjoying a delicious lunch, served with coee, tea or fresh glacier water. All the while enjoying the most spectacular views.

impossibly blue sea, or the charm of island life. Whatever the reason, the legendary Greek hospitality never fails to make you smile. And a visit to a traditional island home on Santorini is guaranteed to give you a warm glow.

In this idyllic setting, among the narrow and winding medieval streets, close to the ruins of a Venetian fortress, you can relax in the home of your host and discover what it is like to live on this beautiful island.

Local Greek treats may include melt-in-your-mouth baklava, and

LHASA, TIBET In the mountain kingdom of Tibet in the Himalayas, ancient traditions infuse every aspect of life. Lhasa has been the centre of the Tibetan Buddhist world for over a millennium, and here you can spend time at a Tibetan family’s home, and discover what daily life is like in one of the world’s most fascinating countries.

Across Asia, tea drinking holds great social signicance, and in Tibet it is the epitome of local hospitality. is may be explained by the remoteness of Tibet; in a country so secluded from the rest of the world, strangers are especially welcome, and you will nd that the gentle spirituality of Tibetans infuses your visit with simple ceremony and gracious greetings. As you take in the modest surroundings of your host’s traditional home, you can share life’s simple pleasures. Perhaps you will drink your tea as the locals do, with yak butter. Remember, in Tibet, leaving tea in the bottom of your cup is an indication that you would like more!

Clockwise, from top left: A Tibetan woman welcomes Viking guests into her home in Lhasa for tea; Santorini in Greece is a magical spot to explore; Viking guests are able to visit a mountain community in Norway’s stunning Lyngen Alps