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Friday the snow flutters started and the temperature dropped to -2 C. I walked to the bus stop as I wanted to go shopping and waited in the freezing cold for ages for the bus that never came! I finally took a taxi to the shops and managed to get a bus back. This is the second time it's happened to me where a taxi has actually stopped to tell me there is no bus. There is a bus time table but at every stop it's different so I'm not really sure which one is correct and there are only two busses that come out my way and they both have the same time tables which clearly appears to be totally incorrect. The only annoying thing about being out in the middle of nowhere is the lack of regular busses. To get anywhere is a nightmare. When there is a bus, it's normally filled literally to the brim and people are pushed up against one another with absolutely no space to move. Today, the temperature dropped even more; to -7 C!! Definitely a day for staying in bed, drinking hot chocolate and watching movies.
I haven't really spoken about life in Russia since I arrived so here goes... The people are really friendly and it's clear to see who lives in the city and who's out in the country. The city people definitely dress up and high heels and mini skirts in freezing weather is totally normal for them. Out in the country, the people prefer to dress for comfort and can be seen wearing tracksuits and jeans and dressed warmly. The local shops are right next door to the train station and the area is dirty and muddy, very much like the shuk. The streets are lined with street vendors selling anything and everything. I don't think there is much bargaining here. There seems to be a set price for everything.
The shops inside the small centre each have small lockers at the entrance. No packages are allowed in the shops and need to be locked away in the lockers. Each locker has a key, so it's just a matter of locking up your packages and taking your key with you into the shop and coolecting your packages once you've completed your shopping in that particular store. We also have a "dollar" store in the centre. Everything in the store costs 40 Russian Roubles. (4.50 NIS)
Apples are seasonal now so walking around, there are many locals standing at the front of their property selling buckets of apples. It's mainly little old Russian ladies standing on the pavements selling their buckets of apples. We have a small convenience store within walking distance from home but they only have the absolute basics and only food items. Most of the apple sellers are along the way to this convenience store. Clothing or toiletries, we need to go to Nachabino which is about 35 minutes by bus. This is also where the train station is to go into Moscow.
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