'The Post-Soviet Ukrainian Butcher Shop'

The pig, lamb, or calf comes in at morning and by afternoon, even the squeal

has been sold from these non-refrigerated, stainless steel counters, loaded with

cup up meat, sold from scales that use genuine balance mechanisms with kilo

or so counterweights, in Kyiv, Ukraine, all seen here during a slow time. Your

ratings, critiques and observations are invited and most welcome. If you rate

harshly, very critically, or wish to make a remark, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment; please share your photographic knowledge to help me

improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! john

This is one example of how meat is sold; freshly cut on butcher block, sometimes with bones cleaved with an old fashioned ax.

On the other hand, there are supermarkets everywhere with all kinds of goods, and no import restrictions (like in neighboring Russia which has banned certain EU imports as a counter to EU-US political sanctions).

There even are hypermarches (hypermarkets) large enough to swallow several Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs, with latest freezer and refrigerator cases, cryovacced or plastic meat in trays and highest sanitary standards -- no human hands (ungloved) touch that meat.

I write this so no one thinks the above photo is representative of the way things are with meat processing in Kyiv and in Ukraine in general.  Old fashioned butcher shops do exist, and especially in summer the meat can sit on a stainless steel counter all day long, but I have purchased some of that meat at the end of a hot summer day (when the price falls drastically) refrigerated it several days in a very cold refrigerator, and found it absolutely untainted by any smells or other indicators of contamination.  (applies to pork and beef, but I'm not sure I'd want to try it with chicken, but chicken is not often sold that way in such markets.)

john

The Unexpected Rightist, Hiding? , Vending Momma and the Digital Babysitter, 

The Young Girl and the Bookstore.......... 

!!!!  

You snuck an unusual multiple comment in on me, and I almost missed it.

Thank you for the compliments -- I truly do appreciate your taste, which is very much in synch with my own.

I don't always post the 'best' photos in the world, but sometimes ones I just find 'interesting' even if not world shattering from an artistic and/or photographic point of view, but I like to see them exposed to an audience at least once -- sometimes to my great surprise.

It is that surprise that is what I am searching for -- the hidden wonder that has qualities I overlooked but was still 'interesting' enough to post under a more relaxed standard.

You have tough standards though, and I'm delighted when you comment.

Best to you my cyberfriend.

john

John (Crosley)