The best thing about visiting Museums in Winter part one

You may have noticed that we have been writing a lot about shopping in winter, which s a great thing to do as the winter sales are on, and also that they are warm, as are the streets outside, as compared to open spaces. But we have been visiting museums as well! Not only because they are warm, but is it seems to be what one does when visiting the northern part of the world from New Zealand.

After our St Petersburg visit, we did feel a little museumed out,but upon reflection, each museum had its own uniqueness, and even though one may not be interested in museums as such, they are certainly well worth a visit when passing by.

For example, walking to the St Petersburg War Memorial on a snowy blizzardy day gave us a vivid dramatic experience on what it was like for Russian soldiers during the wars.

The Grandeur of Catherine the Greats Summer Palace, situated just ourside St Petersburg, which displayed the golden and now completed replica of the Amber Room, the opulent decor and table settings, wall hangings and other items, even though the gardens were snow covered, showed us the luxuries of the royalty. And the Pushkin Palace next door was a more down to earth, homely contrast of how royalty used to live.

The Hermitage, with its 2 million plus exhibits had many interesting displays.We saw only a few of the most significant, thanks to our guide. Catherine the great, thanks to her art advisors collected a huge number of arts from all over Europe and further afield. There was room after room of original artworks by many famous artists over the centuries including several halls of works by the french impressionalists. The Crouching Boy Sculputure by Michaalango is beautiful. Treausures, artefacts, tapestries.... all housed in a beautiful building in which each room is being restored to its original condition. Going outside into the bleak snowy square where the infamous Bloody Sunday incident happened all those years ago, it is hard to imagine that only a few weeks ago, a concert was performed by Elton John!!

A notable contrast to the European Art at L'Hermitage was the Museum of Russian Art. Here we saw many works which were more 'down to earth' than those of teh European Artists. The most interesting exhibition there was one of the 'Old believers' - Artists that kept alive styles of art of 'traditional Christianity,' a movement which for many years was kept underground. Artists seldom signed their work. The artworks and other treasures on display here, seemed to me, to represent the 'real' Russia. As in other palaces, all the rooms were being restored to thier original luxurious condition.

Not far away was the Church of Spilled Blood. It was decided by, I am not sure whom now, that a memorial be erected on the spot where a king was slain. This huge St Petersburg monument was constructed at the beginning og the 20th century, to be used once a year. In the 1930's becuase of the politics of the time it was shut down and used as a warerhouse. Recently after 15 years of refurbishment back to its stunning original condition The Church of Spilled Blood was opened to the public and today is on the must see list for visitors to St Petersberg.

Winter is definately the best time to visit museums in Russia

On to the Museums of London. We found out, in the Time Magazine, about the Bhuzantine Exhibition at the Royal Academy, and booked in. Very worthwhile - representing all facets of art from everywhere even on loan from museums we had previously visited. It was interesting to note that there was not contraversial subject displayed - I suppose this is meant to be a family exhibition - whereas I would suspect that some people might be shocked at seeing certain subject matter at other European and St Petersburg Museums.

No, we did not, but should have, visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as well as the Charles Darwin London Commerative one, and maybe, or maybe not, Madam Toussards, but we did not. Our main purpose in London was to spend time with family and friends.

Oh, and the best reason for visiting museums in winter?? Part 2 to come....