Move over, airbnb, here comes Ziferblat! Everything is free at Ziferblat, except the time you spend inside. Ziferblat means 'clock face' in Russian, and Zifferblatt the same in German. Guests are given an alarm clock on arrival, and keep it until clocking out at the end, when they pay for the time spent inside by the minute.
As its Russian website explains, "Циферблат — это социальный эксперимент, первое в мире место с поминутной оплатой. В каждом Циферблате есть кофе, WiFi, пианино и мягкие кресла. Мы создаем место, удобное для работы, неформального общения и отдыха." Now you know!
And it all started with poetry! A bunch of poetry enthusiasts would meet in a small "Tree House" in the center of Moscow. As the group expanded, they needed larger premises which cost money. As a joke, they started to advertise that from that day forward, visitors would have to pay for their time spent there, and that every minute would cost a ruble.
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They've since discovered the poetry of money because Ziferblat now offers franchises around the world (one just opened up in Mongolia) to become part of their 'Ziferbrotherhood'. I'm thinking of opening up a "Zifferblatt on the Clyde" (note the German spelling). Just give me all your money and sit quietly in the corner. Alles klar? Verstanden? понял?
