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....

Travelling to St Petersburg - best time to holiday in Russia

I know you all thought we were mad to visit St Petersburg in the winter. And maybe, after reading this, you may still think so. However, I still recommend travelling to St Petersberg at this time, especially when there is snow about.

Sure, when you visit the Summer Palace of Katherine and other museums in winter you won't see the beautiful marble statues outside, because they will be covered up by wooden casings, to protect them from the cold. But there are plenty of photos of them about. And you won't see the gardens and parks either because they will be blanketet with pristine white snow, and trees will be black, and outlined with white. The fountains will not be going either. There will be no blue skies or much colour outside, apart from various shades of grey, white, light brown or black, which gives everything a dramatic, winter look. And colours of the beautiful old buildings will feature in pale pastels in the winter palette.


But there will be no queueing for 2 hours outside anywhere, no shuffling along in huge crowds and no noisy tour groups. Instead you will be able to gaze at all the beautiful areas inside the palace and other St Petersburg museums and palaces at your leisure,with no interruptions. You will be scrutinised by security guards in every room, disguised as short square bodied, middle aged women, plainly dressed, except for the ones at the Hermitage Museum and Russian Art Galleries. They are better áttired, as apparently these are the places where one can 'catch' a man. Inside all the buildings it is very warm, perhaps a bit too warm for those of us who are not used to the extremes of freezing outdoors and hot indoors.

I strongly believe that the cathedrals, museums and palaces in St Peters burg are best visited in winter. The beautiful buildings are warm and stunning inside. Outside the colours are dramatic and the magic rather surreal. In addition the snow, cold and dramatic colours gives you a better sense of Russia, and the tumultuous journeys its people have been through until today.

Winter magic in St Petersburg

Every day I discover another magical feature about St Petersberg in winter, and I am going to share this one with you.

Outside our window on the 9th Floor of Novotel, we look down on to a park area, which we understand is part of a school. It is always covered with white snow, and is lit up with round lights (Balls) on top of posts in neat lines. There are also black trees covered with white snow. Not matter what time of day of night I look out, there are always black figures there, sometimes with children, sometimes alone, sometimes with dogs.

Last evening at about 10pm. after dining at a local Russian Restaurant,I decided to check the park out. On the slightly crunchy, but powdery white snow, there were several foot prints, many of which led to the middle of the park.

In the middle of the park stood about 15 people, in a large circle, each with a dog. Each dog was different - an alsation, a small dark terrier with black pointy ears, oblong face with moustache to describe a couple. Two of the larger dogs appeared to be playing soccer, under the instructions of their owners. A couple of other dogs spotted me and rushed over in the snow, but were quickly called over by their owners. It looked to me, to be dog school!

The night was black, the smally white snowflakes had stopped swirling, and the surrealness of this winter scene made me want to pinch myself, was this winter magic in St Petersburg acutally real?

Wait til I find out how to post photos......