CLASSIC EASTERN EUROPE (continued, part 2) Here in Belarus, the language barrier is twice as strong. Local residents not only do not speak any language other than native, so more and use the Cyrillic alphabet, which makes the street signs are much more difficult to understand. Does not help even the fact that local say in Russian, because all the signs in Belarusian (and often on their inscriptions in two languages). Many streets still carry the name in honor of Communist idols, like Karl Marx and Lenin, only reinforcing the impression that the country is behind the whole of Europe. Our walk around the city, which was held the next day was a real lesson in Stalinist architecture and planning. The roads were ridiculously broad, sometimes so broad that housed the six lanes. Almost all the buildings stately and imposing. The windows of the biggest and most important of them come out into open space. The city was almost entirely rebuilt, as 80% of buildings were destroyed during the Second World War, so there are many new homes. But modern capitalist skyscrapers, which can be seen in Warsaw and Kiev are not enough. After all, anything is not clear! About an hour of the day we were near the McDonald's on the main street, when Lukashenka and the accompanying escort went to lunch. The president himself, we have not seen, so went on to look for a place where we could eat. We were lucky, not far from Independence Avenue, we found a nice restaurant, which was an English version of the menu. See in particular not on that, so we decided to visit the National Stadium, which, when there is no sporting event is transformed into the market. There's a woman who spoke a little in English, tried to sell us a fur hat. "These dead animals," - says she is. We had just eaten so quickly retreated, passing by the KGB building, probably the sixth time in the day. Before that they did not watch us, then just started to follow after that. KGB building Crossing the quiet river Svisloch, we looked at the apartment, where once there was a Lee Harvey Oswald, and then looked at the Obelisk of Victory, near which burns an eternal flame. Living in Minsk for the most part dressed in the same way as in the West, though there are those who, judging by their clothes, stuck in the 80's. I can say that the hairstyle "Mullet" (popular in the 80's hairstyle with short hair in the front and sides and long back, approx. Perevi.) Belarus is very common. Almost all young people (and some girls) allow thin curly strands fall back on his neck. Naturally, we photographed them for a long time than killing a little time in it, not the tourist, the city. House of Lee Harvey Oswald Money is called the Belarusian ruble exchange rate - 3800 to one pound. Coins are not here, but the smallest denomination is the ten-. For this reason, before every purchase had to find the right notes in a thick stack of nearly worthless money, just like in a film about gangsters. It seemed as if paying with money from the Monopoly (board game in the genre of economic strategy, approx. Perevi.). The situation is complicated by the fact that the cashiers are not willing to make change, because of what had once again scour the bundle of money by delaying the impatient people behind us in line. They must have scolded us about yourself. On the second evening we were able to become real millionaires. We took off at an ATM Belarusian money for 350 pounds. And if the day was full of interesting recollections of the past, the evening was even more exciting. And all this without leaving our hotel. It all started over dinner, when we were literally the only visitors to the restaurant, located on the second floor. Waiter our appearance seemed frightened and very upset at the same time. Apparently, he thought he would be an easy change, during which there will need to do anything. While we were eating, the kitchen now and then show up someone's head, watching us with great curiosity. Start material: Completion of material:
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