Russian Potatoes

The vendors on this morning’s platform stop were in full force. They were peddling all sorts of goods – framed images of Russian orthodox idols, knit shawls, carnival-sized stuffed animals, Russian trinkets, and a whole array of food, like pre-cooked chicken or fish or sausage set among potatoes all wrapped in cellophane, big chunks of pickled cucumbers in plastic bags, an assortment of Russian pastries, peanuts, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, sliced bread, small containers of pickled fish or salad, milk, among other items. After eating bread with cheese and salami and ramen for the last several meals, we jumped at the chance for something different. We purchased a piece of chicken with potatoes, a bag of pickles, one Russian pastry, and we stocked up on bottled water. The chicken was good, the pickles superb, but I think those potatoes were the best potatoes I’ve ever eaten.