May 8, 2007
Show and tell: Russian rubles
My grandfather served in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. Having never been outside of rural Ohio, he found the naval experience to be very horizon-expanding (when he wasn't being shot at, that is.) He visited the Middle East, South America, Great Britain, and a myriad of other places. While he liked some locales better than others, he had something pleasant to say about practically every port of call.
Every port of call except one, that is: Russia.
My grandfather spent a whole year in Russia aboard a U.S. Navy vessel docked in the port city of Arkhangelsk. (He called it "Archangel.") I have no idea why he spent a whole year there. But he found the climate to be inhospitable, the local food unpalatable, and the natives distinctly unfriendly. This was during the Stalin era, after all; and ordinary Russian citizens were discouraged from having contact with the Americans.
Anyway, one of the things that he brought pack from Russia was a cache of old ruble notes. Here is one of them.
He also brought back an unopened package of tobacco (this was in the "roll your own" days). Again, I have no idea why; but the package still has the original seal after more than 60 years. And in case you're wondering: no, I have no intention of opening it.
