While most of the above posts do belong in the fashion thread,and that blue fluffy thing in my broom closet,
my domestic didn't know where to turn without it yesterday.
I would like to return to the actual event.
The Russian official visit is over,Medvedev left the building....
http://gpdhome.typepad.com/royalblo...06/romanov-opulence-on-show-in-amsterdam.html
courtesy hja
After occupying several floors of the dishy and top notch Okura hotel,the President and Mrs. Medvedeva left yesterday afternoon after extensive talks with members of his 80+ delegation,both governments as well as on CEO level representing the major companies/industries
at the Okura Hotel.
http://www.okura.nl/en/
The Hermitage meanwhile,is enjoying its first of White Nights,(open for 36 hours,non-stop,with concerts and story telling to performances as ballet,and breakfast from 05.00AM ,might go have a bite there later)while I enjoyed a sleepy one here at home after being on my sore feet all day again at the Hermitage,meeting friends from boards and forums alike,and showing them around as it was my second visit yesterday.Still,there are new discoveries each and every time you enter the same room,and I think that will be the case every time you visit this absolute gem of an exhibition,you discover more each time blinded and overwhelmed as one is the first time 'round,it is both too much and never enough,there's more and more and even more still and you don't want to miss out on anything.
The grand piano,a gift from Nicholas to Alexandra:
http://gpdhome.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c648253ef0115712f17c3970b-pi
It was busy but not too crowded as it is a very spacious building,everyone enjoying the sights and sounds.Sounds,concerts all day long,from Orthodox Choirs,beautifull,to Victoria Koblenko,actrice telling stories while Sergei and Maria Gortsevskaya played beautifull music,you hear Mussorgski,and then a tune on a balalaika somewhere in the Inner Court,to baeutifull church music in the room dedicated to the Russian Orthodox Church,with its array of golden bejeweled artifacts,its robes of Patriarchs,paintings and icons,to the music at the Imperial Balls in the grand Ball room while surrounded by moving plateaux with the most exquisite of Imperial ballgowns,the walls covered in wonderfull paintings of what was the "St.Petersburg society"at that time,the late 19th early 20th century,and,a especially beautifull painting stands out in that wall,Princess Zinaida Yusupova,what an incredibly beautifull Lady she was.
There are the treasure throves of museum shops,containing just everything you could imagine they would have,it is the Hermitage.
All books,each and every one on the Romanovs,and more specifically ofcourse Nicky's family,the milking cow and tuned up bank account of many an author or whom thinks go's by that discription....,it is all there.All.Yes Peter,....so are you....
The only thing that is awfully inefficient,and adding to the russian senses.....
is the way the restaurant/café is running!Or the lack of it!Unbelieveble,people had to wait up to 1 1/2 hour to have a cup of coffee while too young and too in-experienced personel was running around the block like hens without heads,I told them ofcourse,and got the drinks and delicious looking cake/taart for the four of us myself,put on your friendliest smile and tell 'm to go some place else at the nearest possible moment......Inconvenient,but you'll survive it,just go one hour before you get thirsty and you'll have whatever you asked for in just under the next hour.....
On the other hand,staff acted swiftly as one of us got migraine and I had several paracetamols for him in under a minute,and there's the wonderfull peacefull and spacious inner court to take a rest under the old trees that survived the restauration of both building and garden.
I know of people hesitating to visit the Hermitage so soon after the opening event,but really,no worry,it is never overcrowded because of its spacious plan and you can really take as long as you like to look at whatever it is that next grabs your attention,or gives you goosebumbs because of its delicate beauty .
Hermitage Amsterdam,if you were ever short of an excuse to visit Amsterdam,and ofcourse,the Royal Palace,another gem that just re-opened its doors.You definitely ran out of excuses not to come since last friday.
Feel welcome to come and tell any of us dutch living in the vicinity,and one of us,or,scary....,more of us will take you out on a tour,if you think you can handle that.
Part of the Imperial Ball Room,the vitrines on plateaux slowly turn to the music of walses:
http://www.amsterdam.nl/contents/users/weblog/171335/633809294885274630/1024Hermitage7.jpg
Not for blogs without my permission.thank you.
