October 7th | 7 октября

12.45 p.m. - Hostel

Sending a message to the cold water swimming club to know about their training planning, via a phone number found on the 2GIS map application.
Testing my resistance to cold with a cold water shower. By reflex, I contract muscles and breath heavily. But it's manageable to relax and control breathing. It provokes "brain freeze", a similar sensation as eating too much ice cream. It hurts, the first time. I hold it less than a minute.

1 p.m. - Hostel kitchen

3 p.m. - Under the usual supermarket

There is a antique dealer shop under the supermarket. Full of Lenin and soviet era artefacts. I found it, because I'm looking for a hardware shop to get tools to repair the bike.

Later - In front of the hostel

I ask for tools to a worker repairing something in the hostel. He tries to help, but can't find any tools eather in the garage nor his car. I notice he has fishing gear.
There is a guy repairing a car in one of the garages in front of the hostel. The car he repairs change regularly. I ask him for tools, and he tries to help. He unscrews two bolts and goes back to his work.

Later - Walking around the city

I'm looking for an appropriate hardware shop. I need basic tools. (adjustable wrench, Allen keys, bicycle pump)
I manage to find a multitool. But can't find a pump. I explore three different shops.
I see three motorbikes following one another. First time I see some in Blago.

4.53 p.m. - =

I'm in another shop, without pump for sale. I ask for a place to find any. The two women behind the desk tell me about "три кита". I look for it on a map and go there. I buy a knife and a cap.

Later - три кита front

I ask for a pump to one of the sidewalk stores owners. They have it. I pay for it buy entering a phone number in my Russian bank application (сбербанк). Since I do not know how to do it, a woman from the other shop comes and help. She acts nice and everything, and sells me a chapka for way to much it's actual value. Anyway, now I have my tourist chapka, made in China, bought into the confines of Russia, for probably twice its retail price. Great deal.
The shops are full of knifes, military design clothes, bags, hats, fishing gear, plastic guns, hoods, boots and other boy things.

9.50 p.m. - Hostel

Browsing the internet.
Got an answer from the cold swim club: Trainings on Thursday 6 p.m., and Saturday 12.01 p.m.

11 p.m. - Bike riding near the river

I go around the construction site. I take a photograph of one of the pannels explaining the project. Yes, a cable-car on construction here, along with a huge mall/terminal. That's good to confirm. But no mention of a french company involvement.

Three guys are blasting music out of a big Bluetooth speaker. They are heading to the river. That's my kind of fun.
I get back and try to tinker the brakes. No real effect. But I now know how to mount and unmount them, and what type they are.

Later - Hostel

The new roommate has an awesome red, blue, white sport jacket with a golden double headed eagles in the back and Russian flag on the shoulder. He asks me about my chapka, since I have the eagle sewed in the front. But he speaks way to fast for me to understand.
Luda tells me I have to decide until when I stay. But I want to change place, just to try.

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