Rising to the occasion

St. Petersburg, Russia

It was with skepticism that we journeyed to the supermarket in search of a loaf of bread.

Visions from the ‘80s clouded my mind. All I could think of was massive queues in the snow and row after row of empty shelves. I feared that this was to be a brutal Russian rite of passage.

My fears proved to be unfounded: a wide selection of bread provided for a fine lunch.

One word: Fed.

Nice day for a swim

St. Petersburg, Russia

As the temperature nudged 20 degrees Celsius, hundreds of people stripped off on the banks of St. Petersburg’s canals outside the walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress. An insane few were even enjoying a dip in the water.

It is with great relief that I can report that all swimmers and sunbathers survived the filth of the water and the ever so modest temperatures.

One word: Darwin.