Winter in Saint Petersburg
This is my second winter here and I think I'm getting used to it. Well, almost. Like Saint Petersburg, Britain has a maritime climate which make winters rather damp, so I am rather used to that. And we do have snow, from time to time. But compared to this region of Russia, it's but a mild sprinkle, and when it snows (in England), it sends the country into a kind of befuddlement. Transport goes into a tizz after only a few millimetres of snow and people become anxious at the very thought of venturing out onto the roads. Not so in Russia. The infrastructure and its users are made of tougher stuff and life carries on as normal. It's not the snow or ice that bothers me, nor the cold temperatures; what is a pain in the arse is the lack of sunlight, the slush on the pavements when it thaws and the wind that comes whipping across the Gulf of Finland. There are two main ways you can deal with a Russian winter - either you embrace the bracing, or go and stay under your blankets and pray for spring! For those who wish to live and work here, or for those who want to visit this great city between November and April (now that the rouble is considerably weaker compared to this time last year), here are my top ten tips to stay alive and thrive in wintry Saint Petersburg:-
1. Wear warm clothes: Russia is cold, very cold. If you don't wear warm clothes, you will freeze, guaranteed! And ladies, particularly British women, be careful when going out at the weekend, because as far as the winter is concerned here, stilettos are NOT deemed sensible footwear for icy pavements; although I have seen Russian women walk quite eloquently on ice - but they are experienced and professional Russians! Wearing a belt for a dress also won't keep you warm. Yes, I know I'm stereotyping British women, but it's mostly true...mostly. The order of the day, or rather the long winter, is thus clothing like a suitable warm and windproof coat, scarf, snood perhaps, and a warm hat (with bobble or ears if you can pull it off). Hipster men have thick beards to protect their faces (and hide their shame of being hipsters), but that might get you stopped by the local fuzz because they just might mistake you for being either a terrorist or a vagrant; that is, of course, if you are a hipster. Beards aren't clothing, but I thought it would be cool to take a pop at them anyway. And for your information, my beard wasn't hipster-thick, it was adequate.
2. Protect your shoes/boots/stilletos: with a magic spray! Chemicals actually. Buy yourself a little aerosol can of the obnoxious-smelling stuff and spray away onto the surface of your footwear. Once you've arisen from being knocked-out by the fumes, you will marvel at how water just bounces off the surface of your Jimmy Choos. Sweet!
3. Be careful walking on snow and ice: I learnt the hard way in Vyborg! If you see a lot of fresh, powdery snow, don't run on it like a wazzock! The chances are, there is a sheet of compacted snow or ice underneath and you will go arse-over-tit. Common sense must prevail in such occasions so to avoid looking like a complete narna. And don't walk on ice that has been rained on. That's just silly!
4. Enjoy the beauty of the snow: If you don't like snow, then Russia is not for you! I have to admit, when it snows, I get excited. I don't know why, I just do. I think it must be something from my childhood. As an adult I can appreciate the aesthetic qualities of the snow and wonder...
5. Enjoy Maslenitsa: The week-long festival of Maslenitsa begins at the end of February. Imagine Pancake Day multiplied by seven and there you have it. One big blini fest!
6. Regular bedtimes: As the nights are very long your body clock will become somewhat confused. The best way to ensure that you get proper sleep at night is to have a regular bedtime. I wish I followed my own advice sometimes.
7. Get out into the sunlight when you can: Daytime in the winter can be dull and grey. Even so, when there's a glimmer of sunshine, take a walk. It works wonders for your mood!
8. Don't drink too much caffeine: Especially at night time. This will only have adverse effects on your sleep patterns, resulting in winter insomnia. It really isn't pleasant going to work with only two hours of sleep. Trust me, been there and seen the unicorns!
9. Drink vodka: If tips 6, 7 and 8 don't work, then you can always try the best Russian medicine - vodka! It's cheap and readily available (before 10 PM) and gets the job done. Be warned! This medicine has some side-effects; so if you don't want to wake up with a tongue like Gandhi's flip-flop, go easy on the stuff.
Vodka is wicked!
10. Dream of spring: Winter doesn't last forever and spring is round the corner. Once you reach February you will notice the days are getting longer and the temperature will sometimes bounce back up to zero! And you know, once spring is here, then it won't be long before it's summer; all six weeks of it!
Today (23rd February) is Defender of the Fatherland Day / День защитника Отечества
