Moscow may have long been

Moscow may have long been known for its traditional Russian spas, but these days the city is "moving beyond the banya" and now has a number of modern spas. Turns out the Russian spa phenomenon isn't just beneficial for appearance and general health; it may have actually helped prevent the plague. As the Moscow Times puts it, "unlike Catholic Europe, where taking care of the body was taboo, Russians paid great attention to their physical as well as their spiritual health. That's why the plague never had a chance to spread in Russia." [Moscow Times]