Every December an ice city appears in the central park of Irkutsk. The theme is different every year, but it generally features various animals made out of ice. This time, as it is the year of the Dragon according to the lunar calendar, a jolly looking fellow welcomes everyone at the entrance to the park:
The center piece of any ice city in Russia is, of course, the Yolka – a Christmas Tree. They used to have an actual fur tree back in the day. Now it’s just a metal construction covered with plastic fur tree branches. But it still brings cheer to the young and old alike.
The most important attraction of any ice city is an ice slide. The bigger, the better, of course!
Queuing up in the back of the ice slide.
Down we go!
The icey animals were a little crude this year. I hear the real masterpieces of ice sculpture are up for display in Listvyanka, which is a small town right on the shore of Lake Baikal, about an hour away from Irkutsk. But for us, city folk, these were still fun:
The ice was harvested right here in Irkutsk. You can see pieces of lake plants in some of the sculptures.
We even had a maze this year! Here’s something for Bozeman to consider for next year, provided it gets cold enough in Montana:
I personally like seeing families out and about in the ice city taking photographs and having a good time:
Of course, there should be ponies and horses all dressed up to lure young kids and set their parents back a pretty ruble for a short ride around the park:
A word to one of the sponsors of the whole affair:
This pugnacious squirrel with a cell phone from the 1990's is advertising Baikal West Com, a cell phone service provider in Irkutsk. Many thanks, BWC!
And last, but not least, a shot with the symbols of the New Year’s Holidays – Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter, Snegurochka, or Snow Maiden:
My friendettes, Tanya and Vica, posed for me in this -8 F weather.
I hope you enjoyed this taste of winter in Siberia!
Love, YN.
Transform Siberia 
Beautiful!
Thanks Kara!