A Canadian Winter

The first significant snowfall came down a couple of days ago, for me marking the beginning of winter. Walking home from Kropotkinskaya that night was truly amazing - I love snow! One of the greatest pleasures of living in this city is walking around snowy streets and squares, especially Red Square. While the old bones and joints don't like the cold, I can bear the discomfort - for I am Canadian! So for all of you British and Australian types, and those of you from the slightly warmer climates in the States, here is some advice to keep yourselves warm and safe over the seemingly eternal Russian winter.

My family has always been characterized by contradictions, particularly about the wisdom the elders pass on to the youth. For example, when I was a child I loved Coca-Cola, so much in fact that Coke was the only liquid I wanted to drink. My grandfather nicknamed me 'Michael Joe Coke.' I screamed and screamed when my folks said no to my requests. Eventually, they threw caution to the wind, "let the kid have his Coke, for crying out loud!" Obviously, my teeth were in horrific condition as a child. On the other hand, my family had always lived in country areas, quite chilly in the winter - often reaching below 30 degrees in January. My grandparents were instructors for hunting and winter survival courses, and my father was a carpenter, always making sure the house was well insulated from the cold. The advice passed down has always kept me warm in the winter. First of all is clothing. Make sure to get a warm winter coat, something with fur or down inside. You can find reasonably cheap coats at several markets in Moscow, including - Dinamo (Metro Dinamo) [a little expensive, but it's an indoor market]; Konkovo (Metro Konkovo); Luzhniki (metro Sportivnaya) [cheaper but be careful of pie-pockets, cause it's a big and busy place]; and Youshino (metro Toushinskaya). A set of good boots is a must, along with a toque (hat) [they say that 90% of your body heat is lost through your head and feet], gloves, long Johns, and facial hair, if you can grow it.

At home make sure you buy some insulated tape or some foam and packing tape to seal the windows of your flat - you will be much warmer without that horrible draught sneaking in. And wear slippers to keep your feet warm! Definitely watch what you eat and drink - eat less MacDonald's and more home cooking, take plenty of vitamins, and don't smoke inside the flat! It's good to put on a couple of kilos for the winter, but make sure they are not just "beer kilos." The flu season will start in January, so it might be an idea to get a flu shot, or eat heaps of garlic!

The streets of Moscow can be terrible in winter. When you are walking around narrow streets, watch for falling snow and ice from buildings, cars racing past spraying slush everywhere, and be very careful crossing streets where there is no 'ïåðåõîä' (underpass), as it is much more difficult for rude Russian drivers to slow down in emergency situations. Keep your ears covered from strong winds, and check your buddies for frostbite - it will look white on your face and ears. If you notice it, put your hand over the affected area and hold it there - DO NOT RUB VIOLENTLY! And if you are out on the town drinking, and it's colder than a witch's tit, consider taking a taxi home. Walking on the streets totally pissed in winter can be dangerous - never walk alone, because if you fall, there's no one to help you up! People have died in Russian and Canada because they decided to walk home after heavy drinking. And final advice when walking outside of the city or in a park, always keep a bunch of candy in your pocket - it will give you energy if necessary - just don't eat it all at once like I did as a child. Grandma would give me so much candy for emergencies, but I'd eat it all within an hour, which again contributed to the rotting of my teeth!

Finally, the best advice I can give is find yourself a lover to huddle up with at night - it will make those dark December days go by much faster!

Mike