In the middle of all the snow and cold I left quarantine for just 24 hours in Helsinki. Some potentially useful tips for getting through -20C or lower temperatures:
- Don’t buy fresh herbs or lettuce if you have to walk home. They freeze (and then wilt) within minutes.
- Don’t take your face mask off between shops, as the humidity condensed on your mask and face will freeze.
- Do put your smartphone and any other electronic device close to your skin. A handbag is out of the question, and even a jacket pocket most likely won’t do – the device will freeze and die very quickly.
- Four more words: technical wear, and long underwear (including long-johns and glove liners). Function before fashion, otherwise freezing is inevitable.
(Helsinki, Finland; January 2021)