Shot of Moscow: Unox dan is het goed?

The Dutch did it again: a dip in an icy cold lake in Moscow to celebrate the New Year.

It was around 15 degrees below zero when around 15 Dutch – men and women - decided to jump in the winter water. The dip was organized by the Netherlands Club Moscow (NCM), the organization almost all Dutch expats living in the Russian capital are member of.

Everything went well; the ambulance was not needed. Unfortunately, the Unox sausages and the Dutch pea soup did not arrive in time due to logistic reasons. The famous sausages did not cross the Russian border and are still at the Unilever factory in Rotterdam.

A Russian woman, who loves ice swimming 2 per week (picture), was very enthusiast about the Dutch dip. ‘They should do it more often. It is good for your health. Hope to see you next year.’





wwww.mijnrusland.com

A shot of Russia: Karaoke at -20

This weekend St. Petersburg celebrates the end of the terrible Siege of Leningrad, 1941-1943, with concerts and festivities for blockade survivors. Even karaoke and free tea outside on Nevsky Prospekt with temperatures 20 degrees below zero.

The city was encircled by German Nazi troops for 900 days, more than 1 million people died from cold and starvation. "Let no one forget, let no one be forgotten", wrote Russian poet Olga Berggolts, who immortalizes all those who died during the Blockade.

A Shot of Russia: Tatiana Celebration

Tatiana Day (25 January) is Russia’s national students day. It also is the birthday of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU or MGU).

First, university staff and students are going to the Saint Tatiana church in the morning. In the afternoon there are speeches, dances and music in the Ceremony Hall with portraits of Karl Marx and Lenin. The impressive hall located in the main building of the university still looks the same as in 1953 when it was opened.

See the pictures – and short movies of a Vienna walz, Dagestan dance and the Kalinka song by the university choir – below.