Brighton Beach

Our acquaintance with the United States began  by a very original way. Through the Internet has been withdrawn *cozy apartment in downtown Manhattan with indirect sunlight*.

And this was our fatal mistake.

Upon arrival in USA in the evening, an hour later we had been in the area near the proposed place of residence. Number 14-B was absent. We searched more  carefully. Never mind. Call back to someone who found this perfect place, and also hurry  to us. Comrade was on his way.

Then my eye accidentally fell on a door in the basement compartment of the building. Steps were closed  by grills. In the depths mysteriously flickering number 14-B. We didn’t want believe in this!

But 5 minutes later young Chinese man  materialized, cheerfully opened all the doors and let us down.

The words stuck in my throat. Outside  was 11 pm of completely nights. We are on the N… line  in Manhattan. And we were in this basement. Absolutely true – with indirect sunlight! The only window looked out onto a blank concrete wall, holding up the pavement – we had  been in the basement, but people passed much higher!

In the room was a sofa 1918 issued, on the floor leaning on the mattress with a suspicious clothes. House ware was very little. For  three  of us – one towel. View of toilet start me trembling. We did not know that  the toilet  was with a surprise. In plum,  American system, the water initially recruited, and then abruptly goes down the drain.

So: our toilet just collecting water.

Then water with a merry noise poured out.

Conversation about payment   was long and painful. The Chinese claimed that  what he has –  was the best in Manhattan. To go anywhere it was very late. We stayed in the basement.

In the morning, revealing a surprise toilet, we also found a free application to it – a smart man with a finger-thick chain and a looks like  Bob Marley. In his eyes there was marijuana, in his arms  he held a weapon of the proletariat. In  10 minutes he finish our problem. Gently asked not to throw bags into the toilet (!).

On the third day we went to the famous Brighton Beach.

The trip was long. Therefore  we started  very early.

And then we came out of the subway. Nostalgia washed over immediately – that’s it, barefoot Soviet childhood, with the eternal deficits and queues! Clumsy sticky  on shops  announces about  available  to buy medicine after alcohol night and arriving of super star  Kashpirovsky. Divination, recipes and even PARFUMY from France!.

Just think, we have moved towards the beach. Along the houses were chairs.  Our age-old pensioner  sat on chairs and followed  each passing.

And then we actually went to the beach. There we hoped to drink a morning coffee break.

Select of cafe was small *Tatyana*; and another. In the first cafes were our men played in domino  and drinking vodka with pickles. It was 10 am. We went into the second cafe. Nice  woman from Tashkent  served us pretty quickly. The price of two cups impressed – more expensive than we   drink in America  before.

Then we moved to the beach –  there were no umbrellas, deck chairs and dress-rooms. Rubbish bin absent, too. Our grandmothers in T-shirts and Panama hats sauntered along the shore. Russian speech was flowing everywhere.

We sat a bit on the shore and walked back to the subway. On the way we went back in a cafe, ordered an okroshka, Olivier and dumplings. Okroshka was sour.

The last thing to remember, an elderly woman in socks and slippers. In the queue for the dumplings.

It was very sad.