My Moscow

I found this picture on the internet site oldmos.ru. The site is a database of old Moscow pictures. You pick a time frame from 1830 to today, and click the location on a map of Moscow and ‘Bulls Eye’. 

I could not believe myself that I found the picture of Yuzhnoe Izmaylovo circa 1982-83. I clearly see the path which I was taking home from school everyday for 4 years in a mid 80’s ( 1982 to 1986 to be exact)     by crossing the tree grove, the place  were I and my friends used to play during my childhood years. Occasionally stopping at pastry or ice cream kiosks next to the neighborhood Supermarket/Department store - called among the locals “Gorka”  ( supermarket – on a first floor,  and department store on the second) ( on a photo you can see them next to each other just before the grove) , where we would spent the money given to us by our parents for lunches at school.   

 Next to “Gorka” but slightly left of pastry and ice cream kiosks, you would find stand alone kiosk where we would buy KVAS. The years before this picture was taken the big barrel was standing next to the supermarket, the “Gorka” employees would pure the Kvas out of the barrel for locals and in early 1980’s the barrel was taken away and at the place of it was build a kiosk which you can see on the picture.

 “Gorka” was also big part of my life, my mom and dad usually ask me to by some bread and milk on a first floor and usually after the completed chore I would go to the second floor to get myself  something in a toy section of the department store, I would not spent all the money given to me by my parents for bread and milk. And don’t forget about Ice Cream and pastry kiosk next to the “Gorka” . Too little money and lot of places to spent it. 

Left of “Gorka” you can see a slightly bigger kiosk ( you even can see a separate path leading to it) . Until the 1986 they would sell vegetables there, and ones in a while I was asked by my parents to get potatoes and other produce  as a chore. Even now I still remember big ladies in a dirty aprons, weighting the half spoiled produce on the covered with dirt scales.  After 1986 they open up center for recycling the glass and glass containers (soda bottles and glass jars). 

In early 1982 the public toilet open up just left of “Gorka” ( you can see it on a picture) . It was underground facility and most of the kids in a neighborhood though of it as a hidden subway station for government officials or even spies. However hidden subway was really a meeting place for a local drunks to shear the bottle of vodka in a privet settings. 

You can see a huge ( wide) 16 story building,  the place were we used to live, you can see even windows and balcony of our apartment. Behind the “Gorka” is a tall 16 story building, were my school friend Valera used to live, you even can see his balcony on a 14 floor ( 3^rd floor from the top). 

Ordinary picture for most of you, but bunch of good memories for me and the people who used to call it home back in forgotten 80’s of last century.

And as a bonus areal treasure, the picture was made on a corner of Sakolnechesky Val  and 1ya Rybinskay right on a place were dom 6 korp 2 would be build in a 25- 30 years. The year is 1934. The picture was shot in south-east direction toward House of Cultures "Burevestnik" - the only recognizable building on a picture.

Enjoy!!!