Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
The activity is now considered part of the national folk sports heritage
While most of us are having a hard time adjusting to the idea that summer is gone, others can’t wait for winter to get here already. Case in point, the Latvian Winter Swimming Association is inviting all municipal clubs that are its members to officially open the season for that activity today, 3 October at noon.
Apparently, this is already the 46th such official season, but who is counting, winter happens every year and this kind of sport has likely been happening for much longer than that. Many may wonder if this really is a sport but now it is official. Last year, the Latvian Winter Swimming Federation was admitted to the Latvian Folk Sports Association affirming its status as part of the national cultural pantheon.
The winter swimming season will be opened in winter swimming clubs in Riga, Ventspils, Jelgava, Liepaja, Ozolnieki, Kuldiga, Ragana, Jurmala and Saldus. People who partake in this activity are commonly known as ronis in the country, which means ‘seals’.
Although competitions and other traditional winter swimming events were cancelled last season, subject to national assembly restrictions, many ‘seals’ did not stop to harden and practice their favourite sport in the winter. The new winter swimming season is much expected without losing the optimism and vitality that a healthy lifestyle helps to maintain.
Health is the main purported reason for dipping in ice-cold waters. The main benefit that is often cited if you talk to the ‘seals’ is that it boosts the immune system. And what could be more current these days than talk of boosting one’s immune system?
According to the swimmers, getting into the cold water isn’t as bad as it looks on a frosty winter day because the water itself is always warmer than the air.
Plus, it is a social activity that allows you to bond with others in appreciation of winter. Sunday baths, which is the day for such gatherings, are an opportunity to meet other winter swimmers while sipping tea (sometimes also in the sauna), as well as to exchange experiences and future plans.
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU, national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality.
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital