Our last day in StP – saved the Hermitage for the end. Coincidentally, today is the first Thursday of the month = free entry to the museum. And let me tell you, we weren’t the only ones to know it! There seemed to be a huge line of people waiting but 30 minutes before the doors opened we were let into the inner courtyard where the line only filled about half the square. Later in the day I took this shot of the Hermitage from the Impressionist section across the way and the line was around the block (left)!

Not only does the square now have staging and bleacher seats set up, it was closed off again in the morning for parade practice. Military precision going on today versus the slightly haphazard trial on Tuesday.

Tried to stretch arms up over 3 rows of bystanders!

So it was a hectic entrance to the museum as hundreds of people were funneling through the ticket area, cloak room, and security but all stopped and gasped as we started up the grand staircase. The actual Winter Palace is part of the museum so there are several grand function rooms such as Great Hall, the Concert Hall, and the Armorial Hall that showcase the glory of the tsars. But even the rooms set up as a museum to display art are still gorgeous. It really is overwhelming, and what with the pushing and bumping of all the tour groups, it was a bit easier to just admire the general splendor than try too hard to get close to some of the masterpieces. At one point I dumped mom off in a chair to venture forth to tackle the Da Vincis and Van Dykes alone, but picked her up again for a few Brueghels and Ruebens. 🙂

Getting a sore case of the Museum Shuffle, we were glad to exit the Palace for a breath of fresh air and a leisurely stroll across the square. Mum luckily remembered she still had her breakfast pastry in her backpack so we sat on the curb and ate that for sustenance before tackling the General Staff Building and the Impressionists.

Newly renovated and very very large!

I have no idea what’s on the other floors but the 3rd had several rooms of Late 19th Century French art- 2 rooms of Gauguins, 2 of Cezanne, one of each Monet & Van Gogh & Renoir, and others.

For our last night in Russia we dined at a classic ‘russian’ place – the Literaturnoe Kafe. Perfect choice: famous restaurant (Pushkin ate his last meal here in 1837), historic (open since 1816), cozy, and, importantly, convenient (right across the street!). I ordered borscht and beef stroganoff- can’t get any more classic Russian than that! Delish, btw.

A wax Pushkin greets every diner as they enter downstairs!

All in all it was a fabulous trip. Mom was already asking tonight where our next trip was to be!