by miltiades » Sat Oct 12, 2013 10:20 am
Thursday was my last evening in Minsk, came back yesterday, and decided to go for dinner along with a couple known to us both, to a very exclusive restaurant, Italian by name, in central Minsk.
We had dined there before and enjoyed the ambience, especially listening not to Italian backround music, but Nina Simone, Billie Holliday , and Ella Fitzerald amongst other all time classics.
I had noticed before that they were no waiters apart from behind the bar and all waitressess, each selectively chosen, no doubt, by their stunning looks and figures.
We talked amongst our selves and being the inguisitive type that Im I plugged up the courage to bring monthly salaries into the conversation. The menu prices were not cheap and more in line with UK fine dining.
I asked the lady friend, I knew she was a teacher and in her late 30s early 40s, what was her salary at the school she taught at. 240 Dllars she replied. Her husband was a taxi driver and made anything upto 1000 dollars a month if working 7 days a week.
They were both shocked by the prices on the menue, an Italian Frascate costing 700,000 Rubbles, about 57 euros, most main course meals started from around 15 euros to about 65 euros for Lobster or King Prawns.
The service was immaculate, the waitresses obviously well trained in the art of serving and pouring wine.
I talked to our " main waitress" by the name of Katerina, I told her that my youngest grand daughter was also called Katerina.
I was dying to find out what kind of money she was making per month.
I left this delicate qusetion to our friend's husband, telling her that I was a....journalist writting about Belarus life and earnings in general. She gladly obliged telling him that the monthly pay was 100 dollars plus tips, a tronk system was operational so at the end of the month it would be shared amongst the staff, this amounted to about 100- 150 dollars per month. Good money by Belarus standards.
On paying for the bill which came to just over £200 , I offered our waitress a 10% tip which was 300,000 Rubbles,my lady friend was not amused and removed from the tip wallet two of the 100,000 notes leaving just 100,000, about £7.
We made our way out and Katerina wished us all goodnight and thanks. I shook her hand and deposited the two 100,000 notes in her palm.
I hope she kept it herself, I would have done!!!