In the Yaroslavl Kremlin, I encountered the smallest zoo in the world. There, you can see a bear for 60 rubles. Truly, a cage with a bear, surrounded by a solid fence with an entrance where a price list hangs and a woman stands. And all this within the Kremlin, where entry is ticketed. No, it’s not styled for children, you cannot feed, pet, or take a photo with the bear. It just sleeps in the corner. The paid bear sleeps in the corner of the Yarosvlavl Kremlin.
Of course, I held back the 60 rubles. Nearby was a mound of construction sand covered with a soft material. By jumping onto it, the bear cage was visible. But that didn’t go well! The woman from the ticket booth sprinted a hundred meters in a second to reprimand me. Basically, the cash register’s over there, buy a ticket. Seeing the bear without paying is like stealing 60 rubles from the cash register!
The Yaroslavl express to Moscow is better than the “Sapsan.” The train has internet and power outlets, and the dining car offers reasonably priced food. It’s slightly surprising to see a canned Budweiser for 480 and tea for 500 rubles, but there’s always an alternative – Zatecky Gus for 170 and half a pot of tea for 250. Interestingly, the tea for 500 differs from the 250 only in the amount of boiling water.
Yaroslavl is beautiful. Visit if you haven’t been there yet. Along the Volga embankment, there is internet and singing fountains. I want to return here.
Hi, I'm Rauf Aliev. 