For centuries, the Ukrainian city of Odessa has served as the region’s great trading port. But legend has it that it took a fabulous bribe to pave the way. The story goes that 18th-century Odessa wanted money to build their port. Unfortunately, when the new tzar Paul I took power in 1796, he diverted the badly-needed port money elsewhere. That left the city in limbo. As a result, town officials came up with an interesting solution. They imported 4,000 Greek oranges and sent them as an exotic gift to Paul…
