  |
|||
|
|
|
||
|
Posted by Amanda Kendle Feb 3, 2007 |
Our stereotype of Russia - particularly in winter, and especially the further east we travel - is a cold, harsh land, and sometimes that's true. Take the example in the news this week of fishermen at Sakhalin Island, the eastern-most part of Russia.
There they were, out on the ice, drilling holes and ice-fishing their hearts out, warmed by (we can only presume) large amounts of vodka. Apparently, authorities have been warning this year in particular that the ice is dangerous - a mild winter makes the risks higher. And they were right, when large chunks of ice, holding up 200 fishermen, broke off and started floating around the Sea of Okhotsk. Rescue helicopters and boats rushed to start picking them up; obviously some of the fishermen didn't get too anxious about the whole drama as the authorities described that they were "in a state of heavy alcoholic intoxication". Part of the everyday drama of life in Russia ...