I lived in north-western Siberia for a year in a city of around 100,000 people. It’s an amazing place and not as cold as you would imagine. Well, winter average of around -30 which does sound bad, but it’s really not that bad somehow. It’s not the place for people who want fabulous architecture and tonnes of attractions because well, there aren’t many. But if you like amazingly friendly people, lots of vodka and snowy taiga, this is the place for you.