On Monday evening we had planned to meet up as a big group,
but it soon became obvious that such a big crowd of English students wasn’t
going to get into any of the small bars in Yaroslavl. We ended up splitting
into our usual groups, which meant we got to try the much talked-about Your Бар. On entry we had to show our IDs
for the first time since being here, and were patted down by the security
guard, who inspected my bag suspiciously. Once we were in, the prices were good
and we were quite impressed until a brusque waitress approached us and told us
we weren’t allowed to sit at a table unless we ordered food, despite the fact
that there were several tables in sight where no one was eating. We hoped that
she would just forget, but when we came to ask for the bill, she told us
angrily that we had to order something to eat first. I explained we had looked
at the menu but hadn’t found anything we wanted, and eventually she reluctantly
gave us the bill. On Ben’s advice we gave a generous tip so we wouldn’t be
barred from going there for the next four months.
After lunch on Tuesday afternoon we went on another futile
search for a decent gym, finding that one of them no longer existed and the
other charged 7000 roubles a month. On my way home I went down a couple of
deceptively long side streets, and by the time I had given up it was past five
o’clock and, tired from walking all afternoon, I didn’t think it a good idea to
put any more pressure on my knees by going for a run. I planned to catch up on
my work and have a relaxing night in.
As ever, my plans were changed when I started getting texts
asking me to come out. Two groups were going; one was going to Mojito in a big group; another couple of
people going to meet the Russians Yana and Arkob. I decided to take the
opportunity to meet with the Russians again, and I’m glad I did. We stayed out
till around midnight, when they walked us home again, speaking only in Russian
the whole evening. If it’s possible I think my Russian might have improved – if
only very slightly – in the week I’ve been here, as I could feel myself gaining
confidence and becoming more fluent. Yana and Arkob, who are our age and living
in a student house in Yaroslavl, seem down to earth and generous people who are
keen to help us out even after the short time we’ve known them.
Today the weather was so nice I was able to brave the
outdoors in my shorts and vest-top and go for a run along the Volga. The warmth
from the late-afternoon sun was gorgeous and it felt amazing and somehow
surreal to be out running in such a place, the sunshine shimmering on the
surface of the Volga. It was liberating to be able to go wherever I liked, lost
in my thoughts and my surroundings. I only hope there will be more days like
this before the snow begins to fall. I have a feeling that things will become
very different when the world is covered in snow. That will be when the real
challenge begins, but for now I’ll just try and enjoy the here and now.
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