Ode of Appreciation

THE RICHES OF RUSSIA

“The Riches of Russia”, fearless Rita proclaimed.
“The Nights will be White”, she further explained
As our Union Club group prepared to depart
On a trip that, for some, produced a false start
As Iceland’s volcanoes filled the sky with ash,
Forcing Lufthansa its schedules to trash.

But we finally arrived at Domodedovo.
“A White Night?” we asked. The Gray Day had snow!
Shivering, huddling, we thought, “Holy simoleon!
We’re no more welcome than Napoleon!”

Our bus managed to conquer the traffic mess,
And our Welcome Dinner was a huge success
As we gazed across to the Kremlin’s walls
And looked forward to exploring its historic halls.

The State Armory and Diamond Fund were
a genuine “Wow” –
What a way to start a visit to Moscow:
Imperial carriages and coronation gowns,
Orbs, scepters and bejeweled crowns,
Hundreds of all the most precious stones,
Fabergé eggs and silver thrones.
Then outside to Cathedral Square –
Onion domes and gold crosses maintained with care,
The white and blues shimmering with sun –
And the trip had only just begun!

Museums of art gave us tremendous pleasure –
The Tretyakov and Impressionist held many a treasure.

We drove out to the ’burbs, and passed a tall ship –
Great Peter’s navy the Swedes did whip.
On to the great mural of that 1812 day
When the Russians and French had their bloody fray
At Borodino, leaving Napoleon in such terrible shape
From Russia he finally chose to escape.

The Kremlin palaces were a sight to behold,
Lavishly appointed with mirrors and gold.
The Terem, The Faceted, St. George’s Hall,
Exquisite carvings on most every wall.
’Tis had to imagine how craftsmen could render
Such treasures of beauty and visual splendor!

Off to St. Sergius and Suzdal too –
The birthplace of Russia – onion domes still blue,
As we visited a museum with buildings of wood,
And had local meals – oh, the vodka was good!
At St. Euphymius, a concert of bell chimes,
And Vladimir’s church dating to olden times.

St. Petersburg beckoned on a high-speed train,
The splendor of the tsars now a familiar refrain.

The Hermitage – what can one really say
About a place so stunning that it takes a day
To get used to the building and its magnificence
Before seeing the artwork in its staggering munificence?
Inlaid wood floors crafted with skilled care,
Bas-reliefs and malachite – we could only stare.
But finally the Rembrandts and the Impressionist French
Gave our artistic thirst a satisfying quench.
Our Hemitage memories will last many a year –
We feel very lucky to have actually been here.

The Fortress of Peter and his buddy Paul,
With a church spire so graceful and elegantly tall,
St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Synagogue
Were all visits that kept our eyes agog.

But they were mere teasers for the really big league
Of country palaces – my God, what fatigue
As we walked through Catherine’s vacation home
With inlays and gold and a rotunda dome.
Paul’s Palace was surely not a second-rate sight –
Its scale was smaller, but equally lustrous and bright.
And Peterhof had waiting rooms by the score,
Gilt nymphs and silk walls and parquet galore;
Its numerous fountains and sights outdoor
Have sent us home with over-the-top awe.

Our last afternoon – we were ready to wilt –
The mosaics in the gaudy Church of Blood Spilt,
Another city tour and a canal trip by boat –
“We’ve seen it all”, we now can gloat.

Russian dance – the Bolshoi and Romeo.
The Mariinskiy – Karenina – how fortunate to go
To a performance of top-level light and sound,
With exquisite dancing and a tragedy profound,
After which great food and Georgian dances,
Aided by volunteers Kay and Frances.

For all of these memories we have two people to thank:
Rita and George, you’re of the very first rank.
With affection and gratitude for all you’ve done
To make our trip both educational and fun,
We raise our glasses and offer our toasts
To you, our generous and caring hosts!