Banya

While in Novgorod, I went to the Russian banya. The banya is very similar to the Finnish sauna.

First you go in, buy your viihta and your banya time and if you want a toga. You go and undress, then soak your viihta, and go into the sauna. This sauna had a high set of stairs and only one bench. Most of the woman stood on the stairs or at the very top. Then to the side there seemed to be a stove that a woman came in and was making it hotter. I couldn't see what she was doing because I didn't have my glasses on!

Afterwards you run into the river, shower, sauna, river, shower, sauna, then cold and hot shower.

When we showed up, there were a bunch of naked old Russian women staring at us and laughing at us. Once I took off my glasses, it was a lot easier to be comfortable because I really couldn't see anything at all.

The women were very nice and showed us what to do. When in the sauna, the babyshki made me bend over and they hit me vigorously with the vihta. Two vihtas simultaneously; it felt pretty good. Then I knew I had to run into the river. But instead of having a private entrance, you had to exit the banya complex, run across the road, and then run down a hill. Once I got to the street I realized there was a group of 5 Russian men who were very curious and stared at us the whole time! How embarrassing.

Back inside the banya, a babyshka told me to throw an ice cold bucket of water over my friend's head. Then the babyshka made this screaming noise and threw her arms up in the air, telling us that it was good for the soul to scream.

It was a nice, cleansing time and I am going to try to find a banya near my apartment in St. Petersburg. I recommend all people try the Russian banya!