Cardboard or Card Bored? #2 - Leningrad People Mystery Cache

Cache #2 in this series.

Cache is not at posted coordinates

I love to travel and I love to Geocache so I thought I'd combine two of my favorite hobbies.  I love to travel to new and exciting places.

When I travel I love to meet interesting people.  It’s fascinating to learn about cultures that are different from my own.  One of my favorite experiences was a trip I took to Leningrad (I hear they don’t call it that anymore).  I met so many interesting people and learned a great deal.

On my first morning in Leningrad I discovered a small café located in the town square just a few short blocks from my hotel.  I was looking for a place to have a coffee and something to eat and sit and people-watch.    As I approached the counter there was a man in front of me in line.  His clothes were filthy and he was carrying a small bag that seemed to contain tools of some sort.  He didn’t seem to speak English and because I couldn’t understand Russian I simply nodded and smiled as he went on his way.   The server behind the counter told me that he was a Gold Miner and that many of the mines in the surrounding area run around the clock and this man made regular stops here on his way home from work.  I thanked her as I took my coffee and headed outside.     The tables were nearly all full on this busy morning and I was fortunate to find an empty seat facing the square.  I tried to strike up a conversation with a small man from Potjomkin’s Village.  He spoke enough broken English for us to have a brief chat and he introduced me to the others sitting around the table.  The man to his right was an Author who often came to this café to write, drink coffee, and seek inspiration from the amazing people in the square.  The final person at our table was a striking young lady who claimed to be a Shepherd although she seemed too well dressed to spend much time in the fields chasing after sheep.   I finished my coffee, said goodbye to these folks and headed out to tour the city.   Returning to my hotel at the end of the day I happened upon two cheery individuals – a Judge and his Secretary who was leaving.   I nodded to them both and couldn’t help but notice his spirits were lessened by her departure.   Tired from a long day I headed up to my room to bed.

The next morning I headed back to the same café leaving a bit earlier to ensure I would get a seat.  I nodded to the Gold Miner as he shuffled past me heading inside.   I took the same seat as the day before.  I struggled to understand the gentleman sitting next to me and could not make out his name or occupation – only that he worked in some capacity at a Warehouse nearby.   Seated across from us at the table I could see a large Czar & Carpenter.  Such diverse and interesting people in this city!   Young and old, rich and poor, all sorts of interesting people!  After another full day of sightseeing, I made my way back to the hotel.  As I approached, I happened to spot the Secretary speaking to a Ship Builder on the corner near the hotel.  The Ship Builder quickly departed as I approached.  I smiled and shuffled inside and had a seat at the bar.    I happened to overhear a loud argument coming from a booth in the corner that didn’t sound like Russian but it certainly wasn’t English either.  I turned to see what was happening to learn that the argument was between the local Tax Man and the Secretary I had met earlier.  The argument continued as the Secretary turned and ran out.   I ordered another drink and began to reflect on the day and all of the interesting people I had met.  As I was about to leave a gentleman sat down next to me and struck up a conversation in perfect English.   He was fresh off his first day on a new job as a Warehouse Manager having recently been fired from a job at the local Pub.  We shared a few drinks and I stumbled off toward my room.  I was almost certain that I spotted the Secretary near the elevators with a gentleman that could only be described as a Lumberjack.    The gentleman was hurrying off leaving the Secretary to her thoughts.  I don’t remember actually making it back to my room.

I woke the next morning with a lessened motivation.  My head was pounding and the room seemed too bright.  I may have stayed in bed all morning but my caffeine-starved veins were craving coffee.  I ambled toward the café to see it was packed.   The tables outside were all completely full with many folks standing and milling about.  I headed inside to the counter and spotted the Author and Shepherd huddled together in a booth.  I got the impression that they were a couple – that is to say – together.  I waved politely and wandered off to see if I could find a seat.   I was unable to find an empty seat outside so I stood and sipped my coffee and watched the people scurry by, waiting for my head to clear – or at least stop pounding.   I noticed a young man struggling to pull a large wheeled trunk through the cobble-stoned square.  The trunk was bumping and tipping as he wrestled it forward doing his best to dodge the passing crowd.   Suddenly motivated, I set down my cup and headed over to see if I could assist.  Together we managed to carry the trunk through the square toward the market.  I was pleased to learn that the young man spoke perfect English.  He was a Fur Trapper from the countryside and once a week he would head into town to sell his furs at the market.  He agreed to join me for lunch and we discussed many lively topics.   I was torn between squeezing every ounce out of my last day in Leningrad and retiring early to get some much needed rest.  Ultimately, I took a meandering walk back to the hotel stopping to see a few sights on the way.  I arrived at the hotel early, bypassed the bar and headed upstairs to order room service.  Crawling in bed early I couldn’t help but reflect on all of the strange and interesting people I had met.

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