November 12, 2005

Let's hear it for the Soviets

It's snowing outside my window, but inside the apartment I wear a t-shirt. I have four large radiators supplied from the central heating system. It's not even in my building, there's one huge furnace per city block. I don't have a local hot water heater either. It is supplied centrally through foot-wide pipes. Twenty-four hours a day. Totally unmetered. It's so good even the cold tap runs hot sometimes.

Terribly inefficient I'm sure, but somehow comforting that the state is taking care of me this way.

A few other legacies of Soviet days remain. The Opera House has a performance every day of the week. Rigoletto, Aida, Scheherazade. For six dollars you can get a fantastic seat in a box. You can even smuggle in champagne and caviar if you're careful.

And the metro system is fantastic. Wonderful stations deep underground and a train every two minutes. All for ten cents a ticket.

Of course, most people here are glad to leave the Soviet days behind. They feel that Ukraine is progressing and moving towards Europe. But enough remember the old ideals of the state taking care of everyone, no-one left behind, that the communist party is the largest single party in the parliament. But without allies to form a government.

Ukraine is indeed moving forward, and prosperity is everyone to be seen. The designer fashion stores and the downtown Bentley dealership. But when you read about the multi-billionaires then see the old ladies selling pumpkin seeds in the metro to supplement their tiny pensions you wonder if something was lost in the transition from communist to capitalist state.

Posted by David at November 12, 2005 12:30 PM