European Russia
I arrived in the town of Poisevo. As usual I looked for a cafe
to have lunch.
I noticed a sign saying Stolovaya, meaning ‘restaurant’. I
didn’t mind if it was a cafe or a stolovaya. I just wanted food!
Rows of desks were lined up in the large, dim space and the
smell of freshly baked bread and warm air filled the room.
“May I have something to eat?”
“Rees (rice)?” a lady asked me, with a broad smile.
The meal that arrived consisted of rice, steamed
vegetables, beef soup (smelled like mutton), mashed potato,
beef, bread and tea. They must have thought I looked
starving and prepared the special menu for me. When I asked
them the price, they told me it came to only 9 roubles.
“Wow!”
“Daa.”
One of the ladies came over to me whilst I was eating,
“Would you like some more?”
She had a warm, amiable expression. I asked for more
bread and tea.
“This bread is really delicious.”
“I baked it here.”
“Could I have a loaf to take back to my palatka (tent)?”
“Daa.”
About 5 minutes later, a second woman came over and
handed me a warm loaf wrapped in paper. (Opening it up
later, I found that the loaf had actually been sliced up for me.
This explained why it had taken the woman some time to
come back with it. How thoughtful!)
I asked how much all the food and bread came to.
‘No problem.’
‘Really.’
It wasn’t so much the issue of the money but that I was
simply overwhelmed by the amazing generosity of these
women.
Spasiva. Bolshoi!
We took a group photo and then I set off on my bike,
cheered on by the voices of the women shouting “Schastlivo
(Good luck)!”
(from "Against the Wind" - Poolbeg Press)
