Two weeks ago (082010)...

On Friday, August 20th, we actually woke up in the same room that we would go to sleep in the same night. That was a nice thought.

Since we would be around long enough for our clothes to air dry we would need to do some handwashing, but we put that off until the evening. (I have to admit that I have rarely loaded a batch of laundry in the last 12 years without being conscientiously grateful for washing machines!)

The Hermitage Museum was within walking distance and so that was our first destination. I can't even begin to describe or explain the Hermitage. You really need to just take a glance at this link to see the panoramic view of the building(s) that house the museum. The primary building itself is a palace constructed under the direction of Catherine the Great and was home to several Russian Tsars. It is said that if you were to look at each piece for 1 minute you would be there for over three years.

We saw originals of Michelangelo, da Vinci, Rafael, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Van Dyke, and many more amazing artists. It was ballroom after ballroom after hall
after hall

after hall


of paintings
(THE Leonardo da Vinci held the brush that made these strokes)

and sculptures
(THE Michelangelo held the tools that sculpted this piece.)

and coats of armor


and mummies, vases, and all sorts of artifacts (including skeletons).

Then there were throne rooms,


and libraries,


and staircases.


And all the while, I thought we were walking on some of the most amazing art, all inlaid woodwork!


Needless to say, after our 6 hours, my mind was on overload! I wanted real food.

So, we walked several blocks in one direction to a bank, and several blocks the other way to find a McDonald's. Standing room only, but I had my cheeseburger, fries, and an airy milkshake.

That evening we went to walk around the gardens featured on the cover of the July Ensign:

This was the place where Russia was dedicated for the preaching of the gospel. Unfortunately, it was under construction so we only got to see it over the fence. Instead we just walked the cobblestone roads along the canals out to the bridges as the sun went down. We inadvertently passed plaques, one of which read, "Pushkin, the great Russian poet lived here."

Then we walked back to our hotel to do our hand-washed laundry.