Mar 7th, 2016: Beach Day

[xoxoxoBruce]

Beach day? Already? I haven't even started my crash diet yet?
The sun is shining, the shore is bright white, the air is calm, the water is frozen, the ... wait, frozen?
Yeah, it's February at Lake Baikal, the temperature is minus 20C (minus 4F), and no worries about Jaws.

Dressed in sturdy boots and not much else, these ten intrepid Siberians spent five hours on Baikal's thick
frozen surface, warmed mainly by cocktails, tea, dancing, and an inevitable bear.

I was pretty sure there was alcohol involved.

These images highlight something often misunderstood about the Siberian winter.
Bright sunny days are frequent even - in fact especially - when the thermometer plunges.
And this is a dry cold, with no wind, conditions which help locals enjoy nature even in the fiercest chill.
Mikhail Gubal, the organiser of this event, said: 'Winter vacations can be much brighter than in the summer.
Dazzling white sand, beautiful blue waves to the horizon - such amazing views that you will hardly find in summer.

OK, so they probably are pro models getting paid to do this, along with the alcohol.
Hmm, frostbitten pointy bits, crystal balls, and world class shrinkage.
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