Welcome to the Yekaterinburg ice city. The festivities began on their biggest celebration day -- New Year's Day, January 1st. This year the theme was 'Year of the Bull'. Each year the city hires a company to come to the city center to build an ice city. This year the walled encloser represented The Great Wall of China, and in the center the ice sculptures were displayed. Individual artists followed the theme as they carved their own sculptures. Plaques in front of each 'masterpiece' identified the individual artist. The creations out of ice were truly amazing.
We went twice to the city's ice sculptures. Ron and I went the first week in January and then we went with our missions senior couples towards the end of January. At night the lights highlight the sculptures and the tree lights pulsate to music. It is beautiful and festive, and adds a great deal to the holiday season.
Around the ice city are ice walls thick enough for people to walk on . We walked around atop the ice blocks and could look at all the activities taking place below. This is a picture of the Duma building across the street.
Lenin stands guard over the winged beasts. The day shots were taken a few weeks after the sculptures opened. Snow had dulled the crispness of the sculptures, but the temperatures were warmer.
It's important to dress warm -- tempteratures can dip to -20 Celcius. We were dressed warm, but our hands were freezing cold. Notice the guy with no gloves -- maybe he is suffering from a brain-freeze.
Inside the walls of the ice city are small amusements similar to what you might see at a carnival. (rings over bottles, knock the bottles over with a ball, shoot the basket, etc.) You could also have your picture taken with a Saint Banard, and since it's the 'Year of the Bull' maybe a nice shot with a bull??? I'm afraid we missed our opportunity on that one.
Many slides offered children of all ages an opportunity to whiz down an icy slope riding a small round sled, a sack, sliding with your shoes or your coat. It is important to pay attention to where you stand, because they come down those slopes quickly and the ice carries them a long way. I saw one lady knocked over by a tiny, but speedy little girl. Ouch!
The night Ron and I walked over to view the Ice Sculptures was so cold that my camera kept freezing. I could only take two shots, then had to put it in my coat to warm before I could take more. We are not as hearty as the Russian people and only lasted a couple of hours before heading home to our warm apartment and some hot chocolate.
So beautiful! And made with chainsaws -- pretty amazing!
The Far Eastern influence can be seen in all the sculptures. Of course that's the theme.
It's February 16th and the ice sculptures have been torn down, swept up and hauled off. The weather has warmed to just freezing and snow is melting. Spring is just around the corner. So until next year when the ice city returns....Snovem Godom! Have a wonderful New Year.
We went twice to the city's ice sculptures. Ron and I went the first week in January and then we went with our missions senior couples towards the end of January. At night the lights highlight the sculptures and the tree lights pulsate to music. It is beautiful and festive, and adds a great deal to the holiday season.
Around the ice city are ice walls thick enough for people to walk on . We walked around atop the ice blocks and could look at all the activities taking place below. This is a picture of the Duma building across the street.
Lenin stands guard over the winged beasts. The day shots were taken a few weeks after the sculptures opened. Snow had dulled the crispness of the sculptures, but the temperatures were warmer. 
It's important to dress warm -- tempteratures can dip to -20 Celcius. We were dressed warm, but our hands were freezing cold. Notice the guy with no gloves -- maybe he is suffering from a brain-freeze.
Inside the walls of the ice city are small amusements similar to what you might see at a carnival. (rings over bottles, knock the bottles over with a ball, shoot the basket, etc.) You could also have your picture taken with a Saint Banard, and since it's the 'Year of the Bull' maybe a nice shot with a bull??? I'm afraid we missed our opportunity on that one.
Many slides offered children of all ages an opportunity to whiz down an icy slope riding a small round sled, a sack, sliding with your shoes or your coat. It is important to pay attention to where you stand, because they come down those slopes quickly and the ice carries them a long way. I saw one lady knocked over by a tiny, but speedy little girl. Ouch!
The night Ron and I walked over to view the Ice Sculptures was so cold that my camera kept freezing. I could only take two shots, then had to put it in my coat to warm before I could take more. We are not as hearty as the Russian people and only lasted a couple of hours before heading home to our warm apartment and some hot chocolate.
So beautiful! And made with chainsaws -- pretty amazing!
The Far Eastern influence can be seen in all the sculptures. Of course that's the theme.
It's February 16th and the ice sculptures have been torn down, swept up and hauled off. The weather has warmed to just freezing and snow is melting. Spring is just around the corner. So until next year when the ice city returns....Snovem Godom! Have a wonderful New Year.
2 comments:
The ice sculptures are beautiful and so opposite from our mission. Every day we just melt whenever we go outside with the high heat and humidity. I am looking forward to a day to put our toes in the ocean to cool off a bit. "White sand beaches" are pretty far up the coast on rough roads. People are very friendly and members do their best, but we are also left to figure out what we need to do with CES. I guess it is a good thing we have two years to get it right.
WOW and BRRRRRR!!!!
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