Virtual Tourist

Art museums have always been a place of worship for me, a fortress of solitude, and an origin of awe. I spent many years as a young precocious child wandering around the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC with my aunt and grandfather who conveniently lived in New Jersey. During an extended trip abroad in my twenties I discovered the powerful sense of place at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, and in my early thirties, I discovered my love for Paul at the Annie Leibovitz show at the Detroit Institute of Arts. My life because of these experiences is like a Seurat painting; full of wonderfully individual colors up-close and a beautiful canvas, complete and full, from far away.

So when I saw the Google Art Project I made an audible gasp; right here at my desk is a glimpse into the premier museums of the world including incredible close-ups and gallery tours.  It's all here; visitor guides, history, floor plans, live cameras.  Curious about Versailles?  Check it out before your trip.  Always wanted to go to the Van Gogh Museum?  You can today.  Truly amazing if you think about it. Museums used to be a pilgrimage destination but now they are coming to us.

BUT...I cannot imagine how to replicate the goosebumps and chills that washed over me when I saw the beauty of the Birth of Venus hanging before me.  Or the timeless royalty of the halls of Versailles.  So, I'll let this site pique my interest, but I'll never, ever let it replace the real deal. - l.o.d.