Showing posts with label Prices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prices. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Observations

The 80's are alive and well in Moscow and I am not talking music...

Pantyhose are stil in vogue whether for professional dress or under shorts.Neutral color, bright solids, patterns and fish nets, whatever your mood there is a pair to suit. They even have stores that ONLY sell just pantyhose, tights and socks!

Fishnet stockings are perfectly acceptable daytime fashion, especially when paired with a rainbow colored, textured skirt and matching jacket.

it is normal to have pink or magenta hair.  this is their version of red although you never see a true red head.  I did see purple, like an Easter egg, and this is normal...?...

Little Russian girls do not wear bows in their hair.  However, on a special occasion you will see bows as big as their head!

Do not judge what you wear today by looking out your window to see what others have on.  It could be comfortable outside and you will see everything from shorts and short sleeves to a coat and scarf.

Rain comes out of nowhere unexpectadly. Always carry an unbrella. Rarely is it a down pour, but more of a drizzle.

Do not judge the day by morning. Morning clouds may clear to reveal a crystal blue sky!

Do not judge the night by the day.  Blue skies may turn to rain at any moment.

Do not be suprised if Russia smells...it goes between rotten potatoes and farts, with a little diesel mixed in.  either way, not pretty!  (sidenote: now that i have gotten used to the smell does that mean i smell like Russia? oh my...)

Dont be afraid to stare. Americans are taught not to stare.  Russians stare all the time. Don't be afraid to look!  Unless it is the police and then in that case no eye contact.

Observe what others are doing around you, how they behave, how they do things.  It was by doing this I learned when you are done with a tray of food, leave it.  Someone will come and pick it up.  In America, we would never do this. You pick up after yourself!  Here...someone picks up after you.

Never pass a supermarket without going in.  You never know what you will find!  Prices and products vary.  What one store has the same one in another location may not.  You can never get what you want or need in a trip to one supermarket. 

At times, it may be best you don't know what you are eating until after the fact.



Sunday, October 21, 2012

Heaven on Earth


I love baking with Philadelphia Cream Cheese! There is nothing better than a cream cheese frosting smeared on a carrot cake, stuffed into a pumpkin roll or poured onto a crust topped with apples.  I remember not too long ago when I could easily buy this for 99 cents at my local grocery.  When the price jumped to $1.29 I was beside myself. A whole 30 cents!  Oh the drama!  Ok, I was not really was beside myself. More like inside thinking "what the heck just happened?"  When it went on sale I stashed up on my Philly.


Fast foreword a few years to Russia. Imagine my excitement when I saw my favorite brand stocked on the shelf!  I grabbed three, just to be safe.  You never know when you may see it again.  I saw the price quickly did the math and moved on. Yes, I knew how much I was paying, but it didn't absorb fully into my overloaded brain...until now.  Do you know how much one of these tubs cost? Take a guess, I'll wait.
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Let me add that you do not get a full 8 ounces in one tub. It's more like 7 ounces, not a big difference unless you are baking. Because all recipes call for an even ounce quantity. I'm still waiting.
Got the number?
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I paid 120 rubles for two of these babies.
I paid 150 rubles for the third...different store.
Let me do the math for you. That is $3.89 each for two and $4.89 for the other.
That is $12.67 in cream cheese for that luscious, creamy dessert above.  
Add in the cost of the other ingredients and we are probably nearing the $30 mark.
It's an apple crumb cheesecake!
Also known as a piece of Heaven on Earth.
And worth every ruble I spent of the Mr.'s hard earned money.



Friday, April 27, 2012

Cost of Coke

Coke is still served in glass bottles here. This bottle costs 190 rubles, just under $6. Of course, this is restaurant price. In grocery I have seen a 1 liter bottle for $2...about double what we pay for half the amount. This seems to be the standard.

A tall peppermint mocha from Starbucks is 250 rubles....approx 30 rubles to the dollar. $8 for my addiction.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

The Cost of Things

Lunch yesterday cost $90. It included...
(1) bowl of soup and (1) juice for the Relocation Consultant
(1) Ceaser salad, French style (whatever the was) with chicken and (1)water for me
(1) fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp and spinach and (1) Pepsi for the Mr.

Dinner last night cost $54. It included...

Beer ($5) and beef stroganoff ($20)for the Mr.
Coke ($4) and Viennese schnitzel ($25) for me

We stopped at a local grocery to check prices.
Milk costs $5
Asparagus costs $2 for 5 stalks
Sundried tomatoes costs $6 for a small jar
Bananas cost $1.50 gram
Strawberries for a small container cost $10
Cereal costs about $6 a box, small box
Ice cream, small container with M&M, costs $10
John Frieda blonde shampoo, $13 for a bottle