The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
This is just the main building--the Winter Palace.
The museum owns over 3 million pieces of art and less than 1/3 of it is on display.
From floor
to ceiling
this place drips with opulence.
and a LOT of gold too!
We were warned to pick one floor, or one period of art
and just focus on that part of the museum.
Did we listen?
NO.
Did we attempt to see almost every one of the 1 million items on display?
YES.
Did we succeed?
NO.
Did we almost die trying?
YES.
We did heed the advice to eat before entering!
Unfortunately, on this lovely summer day in St. Petersburg, we were not the only ones to have the idea to visit the largest museum in the world.
I don't know if you can get a feel for that line, but it is LONG. Like 1 1/2 hours waiting in line long. My kids were troopers.
See those people breezing by on the left side of the photo? They purchased their tickets on-line. (Smart.) I tried to do that before we left Helsinki, but I couldn't purchase youth tickets and I didn't want to pay more than I had to--foreigners already have to pay 4 TIMES what Russian Nationals pay to enter the museum!
Guess what?
Kids are FREE.
ACCCCKKK!!!
My advice (should you find yourself at the Hermitage Museum in the near future)?
1. Buy your tickets on-line before you go.
2. Eat before you go in.
3. Don't try to see it all.
4. Hold your childrens' hands.
Apparently, it is NOT cool to touch centuries old artifacts or artwork.
It is also NOT cool to use a flash.
Also, if you are going to hand over your camera to your eldest child because you are on sensory overload and not feeling well, make sure you give him the sticker that indicates you paid to take photos inside, or said camera might possibly get confiscated.
The General Staff Building sits in front of the Winter Palace. Together, the buuildings of the Hermitage complex form a large central plaza.
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