This year, we embarked on the maiden voyage of what is sure to become one of our most popular tour experiences – our Walking Tour of St. Petersburg Jewelers. During our remarkable journey guests retraced the steps of the renowned Jewelers to the Romanov Court, including Bolin, Friedrich Koechli, Carl August Hahn and Carl Fabergé, to name but a few.
Needless to say it was quite an adventure. In fact, our guest and my good friend Judy Knepper was so taken by the experience that she felt inspired to pen the following poem – I can’t thank her enough for allowing me to share it with you here:
TEA IN ST. PETERSBURG
By Judy Knepper
Tea and savories in St. Petersburg,
the late afternoon sun spreads
a sudden shimmering blessing.
Fabergé curators, collectors
confide what they know, all
to show their bona fides.
Knowing glances as they pore over
royal receipts
rubles paid
dates and data
gum pots and bell pushes.
We inhale Georgian fare
pomegranates and walnuts
lobio and kinza and baklazhan
Dmitry whispers in my ear as
beautiful Margaret tells of
buying airline seats for precious eggs.
This glorious March afternoon
we sup buckthorn seed tea
high above the frozen Neva.
© Judy Knepper (3.27.17)
