First, let’s talk about currency used in the market. Roobal, rubble, potayto, potarto, makes no difference. All shops take Rubles. The coin system is too much extra effort. There are five different types of notes and six different coins. It’s worth noting that most businesses in Russia pay in Rubles or Euros.
Theres’ the 10 and 50 kopek coins (which you can’t buy anything with.) Then there’s the 1, 2 and 5 Ruble coins (which you can’t buy anything with.) From 10 Rubles onwards it becomes interesting. There’s a 10 Ruble coin and note.
Russians love their loose change. They LOVE it. So much so that you are often asked by the person at the checkout counter for their loose change.
“Do you have 99 roubles?”
“No… why would I if I gave you a 100 Ruble note?”
Bizarre.
I’m rubbing my hands together as I type (if that’s physically possible) with gems to share with you from Russia’s depths.
Bizarre items... Fish being clubbed to death… ah, it’s a writer’s dream in there!
A live fish tank... Isles and isles of frozen food that isn't covered up... Birds in the isles ... Tellers who ask you for more loose change...The list goes on.
While it's great that majority of shops are 24 hrs, Alcohol is only available until 10pm. I'm told it's to stop the alcoholics. Surely, if you're an alcoholic, wouldn't you also be drinking during the day?
There are some exceptions that sell alcohol until 11pm on certain days (eg; Azbooka Vekoosa – kind of the M&S/Morrisons of Russia as at this store you find most foreign produce, but it is a tad pricier.)
The service can't really be discussed as there isn't any. Asking for help or paying with a large note can get you shouted at, or dirty looks, depends on what the person had for breakfast that morning.
The bakery isn't much to write home about; while they do have some tasty jam-tart like cookies, the baking seems more conservative and not as fat-filled as the European standard. That's to say if you want a good Victoria sponge or a scone you have a snowball's chance in hell.
Milk is called Moloko. For the life of me I can't figure out which one is full cream (as they have 0,1% up to 5%. Where's 100%?)
Dangerous to the sweet-toothed; condensed milk comes in a sealable sachet. Yum yum!
The salmon comes in cheap and plentiful. Caviar comes standard. It's decently priced and often served with pancakes or sushi.
Russians are consider the largest tea drinkers in the world (google it).
Coffee is expensive. Apparently it doesn't grow too amazingly in all these Russian forests. That's right, lads, beer is cheaper than coffee.
Book tickets now...
Check out my books at www.jamesbrough.com
lol first comment
ReplyDelete