said

Disclaimer: i spend a lot of time on public transportation. this is another entry dedicated to its loveliness.

There was a failed attempt at scanning for news articles that give some credence to the word around town of imminent change in the public transport system, aka death to the minibus (marshutkas). As a matter of fact, listed priorities for 2012 on the ministry of transport's [and communication] website under "passenger transportation" are that of 1) a railway, 2) the North-South road corridor, and 3) general road projects. sorry, marshutkas, better luck next year.

In the mean time, blog posts like mine written by nonArmenian visitors, Diasporans, and natives, will continue the sassy talk about crowdedness, dilapidation, and smell. The last complaint truly irks me a bit, as i feel it unfounded - and i rather enjoy the smell of 'natural' compared to some lysol disinfectant thickness in the air that will leave you wondering how many carcinogens you were ingesting per breath.

Look, the MAJORITY of people use these highly efficient routes, meaning that this idea of festering waste-hole (as some would like you to believe) just doesn't exist! Sure, you may find a letter or two etched next to the shape of a heart on a window or back of a seat, but it is quite UNLIKE the tagging-mess-movers (the.bus.) you find in any urban center in the states. Most passengers have high levels of respect for their fellow riders as well as the driver's vehicle. social contract.

Heh. Let me be clear, i do not approve of what these routes stand for - a monopoly by people in power to spend the least amount of dinero while getting the most profit. Too many tatiks and papiks (grandmas/pas) have slipped their way out of these vans.

hmm, this entire soap box monologue to remind and inform people about the beauty created by the people when they work together with what they are given. The face of kindness will be made up in different hues once the government decides to invest in safety for the people. Bright sides similar to this one of an impromptu group-along, which was captured just after midnight in the middle of the week, will fade into sweet memory.

viva la mashtots park!