Ice Cream

Monday, May 5, 2008
Beijing

There’s something ironic about the audio set return booth being located at the Gate of Loyal Obedience.

Anyway, I returned the set, got my 100 RMB (yuan) deposit back, then started shuffling things around in my shoulder bag so the long trek to my next stop would be easier. Grabbed an ice cream bar at the little cart outside the gift store...

...and decided there’s something about Communist countries that equates to rock-your-world frozen dairy products.

Back in ’76 when I was visiting Russia as a high school kid, we were faced with what one might call “really bleak options” for breakfast (ie, sardines and milk that was actually thick). Learned pretty early on to grab fruit wherever we went, but still, needed more.

Then, one day in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), we stumbled across an ice cream cart. And nirvana.

I don’t know if it’s less pasteurization or heavier cream, but once again, I’ve found it—ice cream redefined.