Why Go shopping...

...when the shoppping can come to you? That is the question that I was asking myself yesterday as Julie, David, and I were sitting on the train traveling to Moscow to visit Brent and Jennie, my boss. We again took the slower, cheaper local trains (compared with the fast intercity trains) to Moscow. Unlike last time, which was packed, this train left midmorning, a time much less desirable for commuters. So, it was full (that is to say, most all of the seats were filled), but not standing room only.

This space afforded people to move effortlessly through the train compartments selling various wares--something we did not experience on the last train due to the overcrowded nature of the train. However, yesterday's ride offered us all sorts of things to buy: magazines and newspapers, train schedules, Moscow metro maps and guide books, alarm clocks, super glue, magnifiying glasses, strapping tape, key chains (comprised of a frog in a small snow globe), chapstick, and other things that have now slipped my memory. It would not be an exaggeration to say that there were between 15-20 different people on this two hour train ride who walked through the train peddling their various items.