So,
I have been spending a couple of days visiting with my friend Patrick in the
city of Dnepropetrovsk. I initially came up to go to the Scorpions concert,
which we really enjoyed, but stayed a couple extra days to spend time with
someone I see way too little of. He has
kind of a crazy work schedule as he shuffles between engagements on a daily
basis. This means we have been able to grab breakfast together every morning,
and then I am pretty much on my own until the next time we plan to meet. Being
not that familiar with this city and knowing that anything I do decide to do
will cost me a lot more than it would at home in Razdol’noye, I decide to find
a place with wi-fi and any combination of beer, coffee, and/or food. I order
something, play on the internet and wait for Patrick to call. Today I did
something and had something done to me that each put a smile on my face.
The first thing makes me feel old and brought me back to my childhood. A bunch
of volunteers had spent that last couple of days in Odessa and their train got
in around 8:00am. They all decided to hit the McDonald’sin the center as a
meeting spot. Patrick and I went down to meet them and I decided to get some
food. Well, one of the menu items was pie or McPierog (McPie). The reason it
brought me back to my childhood was the fact that not only did they have cherry
(in addition to apple), but they still deep fry their pies. I remember getting deep
fried pies when I was a kid, but am pretty sure that McDonald’s stopped
offering fried in favor of baked in the U.S. several years ago. A deep fried
cherry pie at McDonald’s- something I could only get in Ukraine.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think McDonald's even sells cherry pies anymore and certainly not deep fried
The other thing that put a smile on my face was during my afternoon pit stop.
There is a coffee shop here called Friend’s Time. I don’t want to compare it
specifically to Starbucks (there are zero Starbucks in this country), but it is
set up like a coffee place for friends to meet and they have free wi-fi and
decent hot beverages. At this place when you order they ask your name and write
it on the cup. Then when your order is complete, they call your name for
pickup. As most are aware from previous posts, I have been walking around using
my neck brace. As ridiculous as it looks, it really does help, so I have been
using it. I went to Friend’s Time today and ordered my mocha. I left to go
stake a place near an outlet. They called my name a few minutes later. I went
up and got my order and returned to my seat. When I went to take my first sip, I
smiled because this is what I saw…
I got more from the barista at the coffee shop than the people I work with every day!
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