I guess I can die now...

I set a goal a few years ago to see 100 of the 1000 Places to See Before You Die (based on the book) - I honestly never thought I would make that goal...and now here it is...goal achieved on Wednesday May 18, 2011 @ the Hermitage in St. Petersburg Russia.

The day started out with a torrenchial down pour that Tricia accurately described as "worthy of an ark". Not wanting to spend the day huddled in our hostel bed, we set out to brace the city streets and made it as far as a coffee shop before realizing that there was a flaw in our plan. Drenched, despite rain gear, we decided to add an umbrella to the ensemble.

Well - St. Petersburg is a stupidly expensive place to shop on a good day...a day with torrential rains and a lady with an umbrella stand and three drenched tourists...let's just say - she did all right that day, may even retire early.

It will be of no surprise to any of you that the second we stepped out of the shops we were greeted by a dry sky that progessively evloved into a clear, blue, cloudless sky. I have decided to use the umbrella as a parasol.

Corrie, an Australian girl I met previously asked me an interesting question - "is there anything on the list that shouldn't be there"...and I have to tell you there several - but the Hermitage is not of them. The Hermitage is housed in the former winter home for the ruling Russian Monarchs, aptly named the Winter Palace. We wandered through room after room , there are 1500 of them, each one causing us to gasp as we entered...fantastic chandaliers, gold walls, elaborately carved columns and most impressive to me, original wood floors.

I think there should be an entire tour based on the floors. Hardwoods that have been cut out to form complex and intricate patterns have stood the test of time, and continue to do so, as thousands of tourists traipse across them. Of course on that
note their could also be individual tours based on the ceilings, chairs and clocks.

I was exposed to the Monarchial system while growing up...and like a good citizen, I respect the ruling family and their Palaces...but it's fairly easy to see why the people ultimately revolted against the ruling Monarchs when they needed to build not one, but two exentensions onto the Palace to handle their overflowing art. Today it remains one of the top collections in the world with artifacts from ancient Egypt to comissioned pieces from Picasso - even 2 original DaVinci works. I good go on and on, and on and on about the Hermitage/WinterPalce, but as my sister FREQUENTLY reminds me, less is more...so I'll sum it up by saying that it was the perfect "thing" to end my quest with.

I'm off to celebrate my personal victory with a pint or two of a beer I stand no chance of pronouncing correctly.