What is a Marshutka you ask? Marshutka is what we call the local cheap transportation we have here in the Republic of Georgia. They are basically big vans where the drivers try and pack as many people and objects into them as they can for the journey from point A to point B.
Now to other Peace Corps volunteers, I am sure a lot of their countries have transportations like this but going by other names but for the people in the Unites States, there is nothing that comes close to a marshutka experience.
SO...I am going to use the five senses and make of list of things you might come across when you are riding on a marshutka.
Beautiful mountains and fields going by as you drive...If you are lucky enough to get a window seat
Sun glaring into the windows as I sets over the mountains
People staring at you because you forgot where you were and spoke english in the marshutka so now you have people looking at you for the entire marshutka ride.
People sitting on buckets or boxes or even each other to fit comfortably into the marshutka
Cars speeding by you on the road even when the marshutka is going 80 miles an hour
If the marshutka is passing a car on the road, it will go into the on-coming traffic lane, so you have cars coming head on at the marshutka which usually gives passengers a heart attack if they are not used to it
Food stands and restaurants on the sides of the road where people pull off to go shopping or to eat.
Sight of people trying to sell food of of the food stands at speeding cars as they go by
The unbelievable sight when the Marshutka some how fits another passenger into the Marshutka when there seems to not be anymore room.
Cages of chickens or dogs on people’s laps are not unusual to see on the trip.
Body odor and sweat if you are in the Marshutka during the summer because no one likes the windows to be open on a Marshutka...So make sure you get a window seat!
Smoke from the Marshutka driver’s cigarette or from the clothing of the other men’s passengers
Perfume from the women passengers
Smell of food that are brought in the Marshutka in bags and buckets
Cow manure from the windows being open and you are driving past farm fields
The melodies and beats of music coming from your headphones, the only way to keep you sane during a 2 - 7 hour drive across Georgia.
Silence from the passengers except for the driver and the front passenger
Russian or Georgian music blaring from the Marshutka’s radio
Pedlers selling things to other passengers as I wait to leave the Marshutka station
Children fussing and crying on the Marshutka
Cellphones going off, family members asking when the passengers are going to get to the destination
Passengers yelling STOP! to the Marshutka repeatedly because he doesn’t hear them at first
Horns blasting, like their own communication system asking to be let back into the lane or HEY! I’M PASSING YOU!
Sweet bread hot from the oven that you bought on the side of the road
Dust and dirt from the roads and Marshutka stations
The salty taste of Khatchapuri that someone kindly bought you at a road-size restaurant
Snacks I brought on the Marshutka for the very long rides
Sometimes I think I can literally taste the Body Odor some days, it is so bad haha
The smooth feel of leather or rough wool as you bump against someone trying to get comfortable while you packed into the Marshutka.
Metal poking you from the seats or rough seat coverings rubbing against your hands.
Dust and Dirt caking your skin as you ride with the window open or on a windy day in the Marshutka Station
A person’s hand as they grab onto you so they don’t fall over when the Marshutka driver swerves or makes a sudden stop.
Cold - air blasting in from a window when you are sitting behind the Marshutka driver and he wants to smoke a cigarette
The ache in your muscles when you have been riding in a marshutka standing up for 4 hours and you know you have another hour to go
That is just some of the things that I have come across or felt on a Marshutka ride and I hope that gives some insight on how it is to ride a Marshutka. I have had some horrible experiences and some good experience on Marshutkas...It really depends on a lot of circumstances.
Such as this circumstance, the one and only time I was in a Marshutka by myself the whole trip for a GLORIOUS 45 mintues and probably one of the nicer Marshutkas I have been on.
I am sure other Peace Corps volunteers both in the Republic of Georgia and other countries can attest to some of the things I said.
Marshutkas are an unique experience...I am sure not going to forget them anytime soon haha
Check out http://www.bloggingabroad.org/blog-challenge/ for other people’s experiences
