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Original poster

To get bored in museums?

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justnotaballetmum · 11/07/2016 11:41

I have been away with DH and the children for a week and amongst other things we spent some time in museums.

I found it quite boring Blush Don't get me wrong - it wasn't as if I wasn't interested in anything but where I could have moved through an entire section in less than two minutes, DH could spend an age on it, up to fifteen minutes. It meant I was standing around a lot! I tried, genuinely, to 'see what he was seeing' and fervently read every section about every stone but I still couldn't manage it.

So - AIBU to get a bit bored and restless in museums, and AIBU to think I might be a bit of an uneducated fool?

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MNHQ

LisaMumsnet · 11/07/2016 11:58

Ah ha, I have been waiting for years to formally diagnose someone with the same affliction I suffer from... Museum Sickness! I virtually grew up in museums and art galleries (we went about once a week) and so I thought I'd have an endless fascination with them as an adult. However, I find that the more museums I have gone to, the less tolerance I have, and that I actually start to feel a bit odd once I've been there for too long (slight nausea, listlessness etc). So, here is the cure...

  1. Only go to museums you have an interest in.
  2. Set a time limit for how long you'll be in there - I find 90 minutes is a good amount of time to aim for. You can always stay on longer if you think it's utterly fab (my 90 minutes in the Prado turned out to be four hours).
  3. Never go round with anyone unless you have to (you obviously can't abandon young children but if you're with friends or your OH you can just arrange to meet them after 90 minutes at the entrance). I agree with BorpBorpBorp that nothing is as painful as going round at someone else's pace - it's like breathing at someone else's pace.
  4. Do a bit of research beforehand so you know what highlights to look out for and also feel more engaged/knowledgeable (impress your friends with your wise musings!) when you get there.
  5. Schedule in a break in the coffee shop and eat plenty of cake. Walking at museum speed is the most tiring kind of walking there is so you do need to get off your feet. Also sit down to read exhibition signs if you can. If the museum allows it carry a shooting chair to sit on!
  6. Visit the gift shop - I don't know why but these places always make me unreasonably happy!
  7. Don't visit museums if you don't feel like it - I once had to choose between the Miro Museum in Barcelona and eating tapas. The latter won and I don't regret it for one moment.
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