Sunlight

This time of the year in Minsk we don’t see the sun very often. Although I believe it rises above the horizon before I start class at 9:45, I’ve never seen it that early in the morning because weather conditions don’t allow it. The sky is almost perpetually blocked with clouds, and the dynamic range of our weather generally starts at “could snow at any time” and ends at “light snow.”


That’s why we were so excited on Thursday when the sun came out. Alla and I decided to spend the afternoon outdoors, though I managed to squander an hour before we got outside and the sun already touched the tree-tops when we went out at 3:30. Still, we enjoyed the bright light for almost the duration of our hour-long ramble along the river near our apartment.

I also enjoyed especially nice weather on Sunday, when I took my skis to the 5 Km groomed track at the edge of the city. The buildings near the track are decorated with Olympic rings, and I have the clear impression that serious skiers work out here. At least that’s my favorite explanation for the fact that a lot of people passed me and I passed only a handful of other skiers during my two laps on the track.

It turns out that I probably didn’t need to bring my own skis either because rental is little more than $2 for skis, poles and boots. And since folks on rental skis kept passing me, I assume (hope) that the rental equipment is reasonably good.

Today we have more typical weather, so we will compensate by going to Philharmony to hear Brahms’ German Requiem. And tomorrow Alla is going early evening to receive a “prize” which she “won” from some German company that sells kitchen equipment here. They promised her that they would not try to sell her anything, but I have grave doubts about that claim. They also promised that they’d only keep her about 40 minutes, but I don’t believe that either. If they try to sell her a sunlamp, however, I think she will be a pushover.