Airplane
Perhaps the most expedient way to get in and out of the country, flying (and, more specifically, low cost airlines) are all the rage! With a sparkling, yet sparsely traveled airport, Kutaisi's David the Builder airport is preparing for the droves of tourists without the current droves of tourists! Georgia's recent EU visa liberalization and expanded low cost carrier routes will sure help in expanding continental travel! Meanwhile, Tbilisi's airport continues to be the main hub while smaller airport's exist in remote Mestia and in Batumi.
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| Kutaisi's David the Builder Airport |
Ferry
Although i've personally never rode on a ferry in Georgia, there are supposedly many ferries criss-crossing the Blask Sea with the most notable heading to Varna, Bulgaria and Odessa, Ukraine from Batumi, Georgia's largest coastal city. However, my friend told me that the ferry from Ukraine lasted 4 days so be prepared for that excursion!
Marshutka
Who needs an adrenaline pumping roller coaster when you have a marshutka? Simply enough, a marshutka is a mini-bus with scheduled direct routes and varying degrees of quality transport. You can either go to the 'avtosadguri' or bus station and buy a ticket for further distances, or, as most people do, you can stand on the side of the road and flag the next one down! Beware, though! Drivers will pick you up if they want and often passengers are cramped inside like a can of sardines! Standing for the entirety of a several hour excursion is not unheard of! And, of course, don't forget about the speed limit, or lack thereof! If your driver is a real lead foot, you will be there in no time, but, hopefully, in one piece! Naturally, seat belts are optional, but the police are now strictly enforcing those rules!
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| Avtosadguri or bus station |
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| Marshutka |
Car
Car culture is actually quite interesting here. Both young and old men alike worship their cars! The age old feud between BMW and Mercedes Benz rages between friends-occasionally-turned-foes. As intense as that is, the real action happens on the roads! Georgian drivers have limited rules of the road except to 'yield' and 'not die'. Speed limits are suggestions and motorists actually destroy speed bumps on purpose! In fact, 2 lane roads have an invisible, center 'third lane'; drivers can pass despite oncoming traffic!
Speaking of roads, the important thoroughfares are paved while the rest are gravel. Despite this, often paved roads face poor maintenance and it's not uncommon to find pot holes the size of Texas!
Exacerbating the poor roadways is the heinous parking situation. Tbilisi's traffic is notoriously a headache and finding a parking spot is a fight. Although cars are convenient, it's not always comfortable!
Taxi
Car culture is actually quite interesting here. Both young and old men alike worship their cars! The age old feud between BMW and Mercedes Benz rages between friends-occasionally-turned-foes. As intense as that is, the real action happens on the roads! Georgian drivers have limited rules of the road except to 'yield' and 'not die'. Speed limits are suggestions and motorists actually destroy speed bumps on purpose! In fact, 2 lane roads have an invisible, center 'third lane'; drivers can pass despite oncoming traffic!
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| My host brother, Givi, working on the love of his life: his car |
Exacerbating the poor roadways is the heinous parking situation. Tbilisi's traffic is notoriously a headache and finding a parking spot is a fight. Although cars are convenient, it's not always comfortable!
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| Paved, but unplowed roadway near my house |
Honestly, taxi drivers are the worst! You have to haggle to the death, and, if you're a woman, they will relentlessly harass you (more on that in a later post). Luckily, 'Taxify' is becoming Georgia's Uber and the prices are set for you! A great alternative for the hassled!
Train
With recent updates, Georgia's train system is becoming a viable option for regional and cross country travel. Connecting Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, tickets are inexpensive and trains are comfortable! However, there are pockets of poor train travel! The 2 hour marshutka drive between Chiatura, my hometown, and Kutaisi is a 5 hour ordeal! But the ticket is 1 lari (35 cents!) compared to the 6 lari marshutka (2 dollars)! Pick your poison!
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| Overnight train from Tbilisi to Baku |
Biking
I've only seen a handful of bikes (mostly children in the villages and the cities), but the roads are not biker friendly! Remember that 3rd 'invisible lane'? That was not meant for bikers!!
Walking
Like biking, walking can be dangerous. However, walking is often the only option and motorists (generally) are careful when passing. Sidewalks are in the cities and everyone just walks the shoulder elsewhere. I find Georgia a lot more pedestrian accessible (or at least walking is more socially acceptable) than parts of the U.S.! However, the country is FAR from being handicap accessible! More on that later!
As for crossing the street, that's a different story! Any point is a crosswalk, and one crosses at their own risk! I've seen people cross several lanes without looking both ways! If jaywalking was an Olympic sport, Georgia would certainly get the gold!
Metro
Tbilisi's Metro is a relic of the Soviet past (think 13 story deep tunnels), but stations have been remodeled and an additional line has been added! Costing 2 lari for a card and 50 tetri (cents) for a ride, the Metro is a great value! The signs and announcements are in both Georgian and English and the ride is like any other subway: hecklers, and humongous hand baskets!
Cable Car
Like biking, walking can be dangerous. However, walking is often the only option and motorists (generally) are careful when passing. Sidewalks are in the cities and everyone just walks the shoulder elsewhere. I find Georgia a lot more pedestrian accessible (or at least walking is more socially acceptable) than parts of the U.S.! However, the country is FAR from being handicap accessible! More on that later!
As for crossing the street, that's a different story! Any point is a crosswalk, and one crosses at their own risk! I've seen people cross several lanes without looking both ways! If jaywalking was an Olympic sport, Georgia would certainly get the gold!
Metro
Tbilisi's Metro is a relic of the Soviet past (think 13 story deep tunnels), but stations have been remodeled and an additional line has been added! Costing 2 lari for a card and 50 tetri (cents) for a ride, the Metro is a great value! The signs and announcements are in both Georgian and English and the ride is like any other subway: hecklers, and humongous hand baskets!
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| Didube Metro Station |
Cable Car
Unique to my city in particular, cable cars are used throughout Georgia's mountainous regions! Chiatura has a particular history with cable cars though! Built in 1956, 17 cable car lines were established throughout the city. Now, 4 cable cars or 'sabagiros' work today and they are used as a legitimate form of one's commute. It is difficult to reach the cliff side villages without the cable cars!
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| Cable Car in Chiatura |
Welcome :)
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