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These scrawny chickens were for sale by a private vendor outside a
state store. The temperature was about 90. As bad as these look, they
were better than what was available inside, one of the benefits of
perestroika.
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While driving out in the countryside, Misha and I encountered
a market, including a large and very new truck with green grass in its
bed. Buried in the grass was newly-caught fish. The grass kept
the fish cool (sort of) in the ninety-degree heat. It also made a
nice handle. The fishermen had an exclusive deal with a nearby state
farm to fish a lake on its property. The legality of this very
profitable arrangement was highly questionable and the fishermen were very
nervous about me taking pictures until they found out I was just a
visiting American professor, whereupon they invited us out to their lake
for a picnic the next weekend. |
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A private market next to a pretty much empty state store.
Lots being sold here and the quality of most of it is pretty decent, much
better than in the state stores. The prices are higher, of course.
This was late in the perestroika period. |
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These are watermelons, which are very popular. |
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Peppers are very popular, too.
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All looks very fresh. |
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Flowers are an important part of the culture here. One would not
think of going to a friend's house for dinner without them.
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Kinda sad, huh?
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A butcher. I defy anyone to identify the cuts. |
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Home-made vegetable oil. |
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A private pet store.
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Russian for beer. Restaurants were still quite rare
in 1991. |
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A state store. It has all
you could possibly want -- as long as what you want is onions (or whatever
that other stuff is). |
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A state department store. |
