In few years, unemployment soared, and so did crime. Velikije Luki became home of a brutal mafia gang that waged its wars as far beyond the city's borders as Budapest. Resilient as ever, local residents survived. The city is surround by beautiful lakes and forests, which are still, despite the International Monetary Fund, in the public domain. So fishermen can fish without paying to some Global Water Ltd., and many sell their fresh catch on the market.
Old ladies sell berries in the market, using glasses for measures.
They heard that the IMF had sucked all the money out of Russia, but do not think the forests may be privatized one day. Nobody will allow that to happen. Like characters in Shakespearean plays, residents of Velikije Luki rarely say everything that's on their minds. They can hardly be surprised by anything, and if they are, they'll never show it. They have a good if not too courteous sense of humor.