Greetings from sunny Efremov!

[Fab Foodie]

Yes, it's a new destination for me, several hours drive south of Moscow to a small industrial city. It's chuffin' cold! -25C last night and about -20 during the day. It was so cold that it's affected the freezing plant at the factory and our trials were postponed today until tomorrow .... meaning 24hrs later getting home

Otherwise it's pretty interesting, we were woken at around 5am this morning by gunshots in the street.

Breakfast at the hotel was a pork schnitzel with egg batter, pancakes, bread cheese and jam.

We cook our own dinner with the French guys from the factory washed down with some excellent Russian beer and slightly less wonderful Ukranian red wine.

The skies are clear blue, but it's soooo cold, I thought my cheeks had frostbite after 20 minutes. They're hard people the Russians.

 

[snorri]

Is there a bike hire scheme there to get you out for a wee run around at lunchtime?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Is there a bike hire scheme there to get you out for a wee run around at lunchtime?

Funnily enough, there's a Dutch contractor working here and he bought a bike to cycle around! Since he started several locals have started to join him. Those Dutch eh, and not a helmet in site .... except on-site that is ....

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Don't get dragged off by the Bolsheviks!

 

[snorri]

The distances people will go to start another helmet thread.

Enjoy

 

[dan_bo]

Breakfast at the hotel was a pork schnitzel with egg batter, pancakes, bread cheese and jam.

Problem?

 

[Fnaar]

Don't get dragged off by the Bolsheviks!

Be careful of splashback in the Urals

 

[Pat "5mph"]

It was so cold that it's affected the freezing plant at the factory

Warmer inside the freezers?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Breakfast at the hotel was a pork schnitzel with egg batter, pancakes, bread cheese and jam.

Problem?

None!

 

[biggs682]

@Fab Foodie sounds like you are enjoying it

 

[Fab Foodie]

@Fab Foodie sounds like you are enjoying it

It's an experience, that's for sure!
It's 'real Russia' for certain. I'll get some pictures up later but need to concentrate on getting some work done in amongst the fun :-)

 

[dan_bo]

Never been to Russia ans I'd jump at the chance. I suppose the closest I've been is Golm to the east of Berlin- lots of pig and potatoes involved. And lashings of cheap top quality lager..

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Never been to Russia and I'd jump at the chance. I suppose the closest I've been is Hamina in Finland near the border - lots of elk and more elk involved. And lashings of expensive mediocre lager..

 

[Fab Foodie]

Lager here surprisingly good, unfiltered and unpasteurised. We also had an 8% beer last night. My new Dutch friend even rated it. There's a micro-brewery in town so we might give that a bash if time permits, otherwise another trip.

Lots of the old Fiat 124 Ladas around including modern Dacias branded as Lada and Renauts. The old Lada's remind one of how 3 box saloons used to be, in fact they're surprisingly spacious with low waistlines and thus have a large amount of glass and lightness to them, Quite refreshing simplicity of design compared to over-fuss modern 'styled' cars all aggressive stance and small windows. The fact that these old beasts of burden are happily trundling around in -25C with surprisingly rust-free bodywork considering the road salt, pays testament to basic engineering too.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Pictures!
From my hotel room:


Main street:








Frozen Foodie