Russia: Moscow Is Empty or "Yes of course, it is the Russian way!"
As I was drinking my morning cup of coffee yesterday. I watched the cars lined up for 6 to seven hours trying to leave the city. Besides being May Day in Russia it is also traditionally the weekend to go to your Dacha and plant flowers & gardens.
{Dacha (Russian: да́ча) is a Russian word for seasonal or year-round second homes located in the exurbs of Soviet and Russian cities. It is usually occupied part of the year by its owner or rented out to urban residents as a summer retreat. Dachas are very common in Russia, and are also widespread in some former republics of the Soviet Union.}
So my wife & I decided to travel to the center of Moscow. What a pleasant day it was. I knew that Moscow was empty by the fact that the Metro train was only half full. I have never seen it like that.
We arrived downtown Moscow & found a tranquil city & lots, I mean lots of Chinese tourists! We found the Downtown Sabarro Italian Restaurant and enjoyed the best meal we have had there in a year. The place was empty and the food was great. Normally the place is packed & the food is great. :)
We walked toward the Kremlin but I decided that it would be best to stay away from that area yesterday. I had heard (and was correct) that there would be some unapproved rallies going on. Not approved means getting in trouble and going to jail. Seems that 35 people were arrested. When will people ever learn to follow the rules?
We had decided earlier in the week to go to the Village ourselves this weekend, but after seeing the whole city leaving I knew that the roads would be jam packed. We are glad we stayed home.
I myself have learned something interesting about Russians. Russians do things in mass. Examples:
1. Time to put winter tires on. The whole city seems to try to put their studded Winter tires on in the same week. That is a week of chaos in Moscow. The same when they put on summer tires. The tire places run 24 hours & it is not uncommon to have a 3-4 hour wait if you are lucky.
2. You drive through a town and you see a fruit stand that sells pears. Then you look around and see that there are 20 stands that sell pears. Nothing but pears and lots of pears. Then you travel to the next town & they sell potatoes. Then the next town sells home canned goods. The next town sells mushrooms. The next town sells stuffed animals. The next town sells kites..... (I think you get my point!)
3. Everyone leaves Moscow the same weekend and goes to their Dacha! Everyone quits going to their Dacha on the same week at the end of the summer. (Not sure what week that is?)
4. I point these things out to my wife & she says: "Yes of Course, it is the Russian way!"
So as my American mentality keeps asking what seems to be a silly question,"Why do 6 Babushkas sit in a row near a Metro station entrance & all sell home made sauerkraut?" I know the answer....
Yes of course, it is the Russian way!
Kyle & Svet
comments always welcome.
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Ir will take a while for Russia to catch on in the ways of capitalism. You could make a fortune as a business consultant, Kyle. Get those street vendors to mix it up a little and everyones sales would quadruple. Suggest that a tire shop hold a sale on winter tires a week early. What an opportunity!
We will all be going to the beach on Memorial Day, so that's not much different.
Hey Clark,
Yes capitalism is a very new concept here. I tell Svet, "Well welcome to capitalism" and I get a very BAD look. Then I hear,"I do not like capitalism."
Svet has the feelings of what I hear a lot in Moscow.
The people still do not understand nor embrace capitalism.
Interesting world here, I am never bored.
Kyle
ps: I have thought how can I get some points across to the business men. Tough crowd to sell though......
Kyle and Svet- Hey there friends! Sorry I have not been here the last few days. My dog (4.4 pound mini- yorkie) is having knee surgery on Tuesday. So I have been running around like a mad man trying to prepare the house for when she gets home. I also QUIT smoking on May Day. I am using the patch and so far SO good! Today will be my third day completely smoke free. After 10 years of smoking it was MORE than time. So things have been a bot hectic, but I like hectic.
Great post! I like the Russian way. I really like the idea of the Dacha. Maybe someday I will be able to afford a second home. I certainly love my gardening and have immersed myself in that as we have had such beautiful weather.
I think it is interesting that everyone seems to do everything in mass. There should be a study conducted to figure out why the "russian way is the russian way!"
I hope this finds my two favorite russians well! Best wishes friends!
I quit after 30 years and more of smoking. When I came to Russia I quit and never lit up again. Svet gave me the incentive.
I have gained weight from stopping but I think that I am starting to level out on that and I am walking allot so I hope that helps shed the pounds.
Hope the doggy does good and makes you wait on her hand and foot. :)))
Kyle & Svet
Svet says tell your little doggy to make you get her gourmet food....
Hi Svet & Kyle, It's funny how different countries have different traditions and ways of doing things. You wouldn't think several street sellers selling the same things would do a lot of business but it must work for them. I've heard about the big May Day holiday they have in Russia and the parades too. Sounds interesting. We celebrate May Day here in England and this weekend is the big Bank Holiday weekend so today I'm home from work!
Hi, Naomi!
Thank you for your comment, so you celebrate May Day in England too! Big weekend sounds really good especially when the weather is good! :)))
As for Russian way to do things - yes, Russians like to do things together... sometimes it's really looks funny ;).
Svet and Kyle
OK, here is a counter question. Why do American's eat ham that tastes nothing like ham?
Hey Russian Travel Whiz,
Not sure, Why?
Kyle