The vignettes of the human interactions was heart warming, and much needed here this morning. Thank you.
I get the feeling about the grey skies. We've got the Lake Ontario weather effect, but at least it's the better side where it's only Moscow Gray Skies with a bit of snow a lot of the time. Poor Buffalo on the other side of the lake gets hammered with meters of snow. Sometimes though we get a strong artic blast and the skies turn Parrish Blue (but we have to wear 4 or 5 layers and special boots to stay out side for long). Are there these sorts of days in Moscow, and do the parks get crowded like a penguin flock with all the faces tracking the sun? Here is most of the people live in stand-alone houses, and most put Christmas lights up in November and leave them till Early April, just to get more colour. In Tokyo (and Hong Kong, though it isn't gloomy) people like to stroll in the commercial centers to appreciate the light shows. Is there a similar effort in Moscow? Other cities?
Thank the god(s) though for the snow we do get. My American friends don't get my love for it, but to have the snow amplify the sunlight on those gray days makes all the difference.
These sorts of days do happen, as far as I can remember, mosly towards the end of January and February. The lowest in my experience was -35C (-31F), clear blue sky and I have a lamb skin coat for this type of weather, which I haven't put on in years. The best thing about low temperatures in Moscow is its low humidity, which makes it feel not that extremely cold. If it's a wekend, yes, parks get crowded and everyone is enjoying the sun, strolling or skiing, as such days are rare and pure bliss. As for Christmas lights, since most Russians live in apartments, some families decorate their windows with lights on the inside, so passers can see it, but it's very simple lights and not every apartment puts them on. Those who live in detached houses rarely put up any decorations and if they do it's nothing massive like folks in the US do, a string of colorful bulbs at best. There is no competition on house decorations like some streets in the US run. As for cities in general, shopping malls, streets and public places, they are being decorated all over and those decorations stay for the entire January. I think all cities do it, it's just Moscow can afford more of it and it looks more posh and sophisticated, while smaller places make it simpler.
Dmitry - Very nice.
Thank you for reading my posts.
The vignettes of the human interactions was heart warming, and much needed here this morning. Thank you.
I get the feeling about the grey skies. We've got the Lake Ontario weather effect, but at least it's the better side where it's only Moscow Gray Skies with a bit of snow a lot of the time. Poor Buffalo on the other side of the lake gets hammered with meters of snow. Sometimes though we get a strong artic blast and the skies turn Parrish Blue (but we have to wear 4 or 5 layers and special boots to stay out side for long). Are there these sorts of days in Moscow, and do the parks get crowded like a penguin flock with all the faces tracking the sun? Here is most of the people live in stand-alone houses, and most put Christmas lights up in November and leave them till Early April, just to get more colour. In Tokyo (and Hong Kong, though it isn't gloomy) people like to stroll in the commercial centers to appreciate the light shows. Is there a similar effort in Moscow? Other cities?
Thank the god(s) though for the snow we do get. My American friends don't get my love for it, but to have the snow amplify the sunlight on those gray days makes all the difference.
These sorts of days do happen, as far as I can remember, mosly towards the end of January and February. The lowest in my experience was -35C (-31F), clear blue sky and I have a lamb skin coat for this type of weather, which I haven't put on in years. The best thing about low temperatures in Moscow is its low humidity, which makes it feel not that extremely cold. If it's a wekend, yes, parks get crowded and everyone is enjoying the sun, strolling or skiing, as such days are rare and pure bliss. As for Christmas lights, since most Russians live in apartments, some families decorate their windows with lights on the inside, so passers can see it, but it's very simple lights and not every apartment puts them on. Those who live in detached houses rarely put up any decorations and if they do it's nothing massive like folks in the US do, a string of colorful bulbs at best. There is no competition on house decorations like some streets in the US run. As for cities in general, shopping malls, streets and public places, they are being decorated all over and those decorations stay for the entire January. I think all cities do it, it's just Moscow can afford more of it and it looks more posh and sophisticated, while smaller places make it simpler.