Thirteen days in Russia - Part 4.5

The Brits have football, the Indians have their beloved cricket and the New Zealanders simply adore Rugby. For Russians however, the National Sport is quite obviously smoking, and they are masters of it. Now I fully realise that I’ve become accustomed to a world of smoke free pubs and restaurants, living as I do in the UK. As such, perhaps I’m a little over sensitive to a smokey atmosphere, however in Russia it is simply impossible to find a bubble of clean air to call one’s own. I’m typing away in my hotel room here in Siberia and I can actually see the cigarette smoke coming under my door. Why? Well there are three blokes smoking in the corridor outside. In fact they’re actively encouraged to do so by the placement of fancy ornamental ashtray that draws residents from all over to stand and puff away next to room 303. I suppose in a country where temperatures hit -30 and beyond for a good chunk the year, you can’t exactly kick the offenders outside (although goodness knows I’d love to watch) but all the same, surely a little clean air isn’t too much to ask.