Charity Cold Plunger

Every February the Australians organise a sponsored cold plunge to raise money for the homeless in Moscow. Basically you pay 2500 roubles for the privilege of diving into a frozen pond!! Colleagues from school have done it over the last few years, but I have always kept away from it. This year Jennifer, Louise and Sarah from church decided to do it. At the last minute Jennifer had to pull out as she had to represent the church at a funeral so I went along as official towel holder for Lou and Sarah. I didn't hold the towels, but I took some photos.

The event takes place on Serebryniy Bor or the Silver Forest. This is an exclusive island in the Moscow River with lots of dacha on. The American Embassy Dacha where Peter frequently goes for camps is here.

 Though the hole is used throughout the winter the ice has to be cleared from the surface every time you want to swim.

 If it's a bit thick take a saw to it!

Russian army chuck wagon powered by wood. I watched a guy fill the tray you can just see with water and three kilos of sugar. I didn't see the tea go in  but I expect that's what he was making!!

 Down the steps!

 Louise takes the plunge.

Sarah takes the plunge.

 They even took a quick swim!

Wrap up warm!

Kieran posed for pictures before he jumped in!!

 

Then it was off for lunch at a café. Being the photographer was quite enough for me!!

 

Winter lights

Moscow is always full of light in winter. They appear as early as anything in the UK, certainly they are put up during the first week of December and stay way into the New Year, usually until the start of Lent, sometime in February. They are winter lights designed to brighten the long, dark evening and have no religious significance at all. New Year's Eve is important, but it is purely secular.

Moscow is always twinkly, but this winter more so. Whether it was coincidence or whether it was a 'we're fine and will show everyone we're fine' I don't know but the decorations were particularly pretty this year. Starting at Ploshad Rovolutsi and continuing up Tverskaya to Tverskoy Bulvar Moscow put on a good show, so here are the photos.

 A giant hollow decoration which you could go inside - I didn't. Too many people.

 Entrance to Tverkoy Bulvar

 Tinsel animals without lights

 

Tinsel animals with lights

 

The ice sculptures in Pushinskaya Ploschad were on an underwater theme.  Sadly we had a very warm spell just  before I came home and they were beginning to melt. How much was left for New Year I don't know.

 

The Pushkin Cafe is always magnificently adorned with lights.

 

 Likewise Gum is also lit up

 

 

This year the usual decorated trees sponsored by the different shops took second place to this exhibition of stage costumes by a famous designer (sorry don't know which one). They were magnificent. I'm not sure when they were made, but I have a feeling they were made during the Soviet Times.

The central water fountain became a fountain of light.

 

Most of the lights have gone but the lights on the trees along Tverskoy Bulvar are still there, though the nights are drawing out now.