One of the pleasures of winter is going to a Russian баня (Banya – Baths). The Bani is a large Russian spa here in Tashkent. I usually go with friends on Friday evening to kick-off the weekend. Oliver, my friend Aaron, and I went to the The Bani last night. It was Oliver’s first time as the place is only a couple of years old. It is located inside Central Park and features a restaurant, sauna, snow room, various cold temperature pools, and massage rooms. It felt good to warm up after my bicycle ride. Oliver loved the top-of-the-hour group sauna session where the banya master fans the hot air on the patrons. 50 guys in a huge sauna playing Russian rock music is hilarious!
A Russian banya differs from the Finnish sauna in that it has lower temperatures (140-176°F) and higher humidity levels. The Russians also use a веник (broom) of birch leaves. Banyas are also more social than the saunas, with multiple rounds of heating, cooling, eating, and drinking. The Russians also use a шапка, or felt hat to keep the head cool while in the sauna.
It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day yesterday! The air quality was also good, making for a great day for outdoor exercise. As I write this on Sunday morning, the air quality is back up to AQI 158 (Unhealthy). Nadia and I went shopping in the morning after working out in the TIS gymnasium. I always laugh that it is allowed for private vendors to sell goods out from of the super market. There are makeshift mini-markets all of the city. Almost any sidewalk is city has vendors.
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