Winter 2007- Spring 2008 ~ My dacha ~ Summer 2007 Part 2 ~ 2007, mostly Staritsa, horses, and trips between St. Petersburg & Staritsa ~ Spring & Summer 06 ~ Winter '06 ~ October to Dec. '05 ~ August & Sept. '05 ~ Typical residential Moscow ~ From Vovchik's camera ~ Staritsa, Summer 2005 ~ Zamoskvorechye district of Moscow, May 2005 ~ Ryazan to Krainka, Tula region, Summer 2005

Winter 2006
A few photos to illustrate Russian footwear for mud & snow.  
  Country bureaucrat's choice from the 50s & 60s. Quality replicas cost $300-500. Recommended but you need to buy them in person to make sure they fit well.  
  Hand-rolled valenkies from Vyshni Volochek.  See Vyshny Volochek of my www.staritsa.info and [Valenki Museum in Moscow]. My criteria were warmth, comfort, ease of use, and ability to keep warmth when wet, low maintenance, and especially their ability to keep snow out when it is above your knees. Outperformed all other types of footwear, including Canadian winter boots. Note the thickening at the top to protect leg from the stirrup belt when riding. This particular variation, with folded top, is called "Gypsy valenki".  
  Normally worn with "galoshes".  
  Easy to dry with no need to remove the inner boot and zero maintenance, no shoestrings - key factors for a lazy sob like me.

Wool gradually and gently shrinks around your foot. Thus no need to be present in person - proper valenkis will, with time and use, form themselves neatly around your foot. Recommended as a practical gift to your Canadian/North European friends. [link to gift buying & shipping]

 
  "Hunter's boots", available at most country stores for $10-15/pair.  
       
     
     
     

Winter 2007- Spring 2008 ~ My dacha ~  Summer 2007 Part 2 ~ 2007, mostly Staritsa, horses, and trips between St. Petersburg & Staritsa ~ Spring & Summer 06 ~ Winter '06 ~ October to Dec. '05 ~ August & Sept. '05 ~ Typical residential Moscow ~ From Vovchik's camera ~ Staritsa, Summer 2005 ~ Zamoskvorechye district of Moscow, May 2005 ~ Ryazan to Krainka, Tula region, Summer 2005

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