Moscow and citizens of Moscow (prosperous view of a provincial)

… Getting from Smolensk province to “Minka” – the Moscow-Minsk high-way captivated by transport and roar day and night – and in the stream of cars I spin the pedals to Moscow. The sky first gets covered with thunderclouds, and then all around suddenly is lighted up with strange orange light – the closer to the capital I ride, the more it’s powerful unequal breathing is felt. It first scalds and then freezes. I stop from time to time to have a quick snack and cheer up with a cup of tea. Salespeople take me for a capital citizen. They charge exorbitant prices, skew at me either watchfully or indifferently. If some delay happens, often they let the words slip: ‘These Muscovites...’. I silently go to another side, usually with the mug of tea sit somewhere on the curb, thinking of the way I’ve already made by bicycle from Ukraine to Russia, and usually meditate about what I have seen and heard.

Volodymyr SUPRUNENKO