Today I had to break my self-imposed quarantine to buy some essentials, namely dog food for Laima and Cayenne pepper and Corona beer for myself, and had a chance to assess the situation in my part of the city. To quote Marvin Kalb, my old friend and teacher, who reported for the CBS from Russia in the 1960s, “there’s a deceptive quiet in Moscow tonight…”
It really is so, or seems to be, you can never be sure about Moscow.
Alcohol is available in all brands and sizes, which can only mean that Russians have stopped drinking in times of crisis.
Toilet paper is readily available, which probably means the Russians turned to the old Soviet habit of using communist newspapers. What do I know?
The streets are neither crowded nor empty, as most people continue working as before.
My favorite coffeeshop, which, unfortunately, sells only tea and coffee, remains open but restricts its service to the take-away MO.
Sure enough, I had replenished my supplies ahead of the crisis – I am no Vanga nor Nostradamus, but it was clear from the beginning where we all were going to.
Well, yes, there is a change. I stopping eating and drinking out, but cook and eat and drink at home. Alone.
Miss my fitness club, too…
