Marshutkaloads of Trouble
February 19, 2010 at 11:54 am 7 comments
Well,
The other day I was going to my class, and I just wanted to take a 10 руб marshrutka to the university, because many of the marshrutkas are beginning to charge 12. So, I saw one, marshrutka # 90, and on it I saw Гост-Ангара, which is the hotel right across the square from the university.
I got on the marshrutka and all seemed well. We were going in the right direction, when suddenly we turned a different way than normal, or so I thought. Up until this point the marshrutkas that I had rode were always encased in ice, and I could not see out the windows. So, how was I to know that we were heading far far away from campus?
I passed a tank, a war plane, and another Всё Будет ОК, which I guess most of you might not know about yet because I have not blogged about my first trip to Всё Будет ОК, so it will remain a mystery until then.
Finally the marshrutka stopped and everyone got out. I looked out the non-iced window and saw none other than the airport.
After a few minutes the marshrutka driver came back and asked me what I was doing, and I told him I got the wrong marshrutka and that I wanted to go to the Гост-Ангара. He told me that we would go there, but it would take 50 minutes.
I had no other choice than to just sit on the marshrutka and wait. Sure, I could have caught another marshrutka, but I already missed my class, and then I would have to pay even more. So, I stayed on the marshrutka and 50 minutes later I arrived.
If that were not enough marshrutka troubles for one day, on the way back home the marshrutka broke down four times. The driver kept trying to get the engine going, but it would not start. The inside of the marshrutka was making noises that reminded me of The Poseidon Adventure. Part of me wanted to get off before it exploded, but the part of me wanted to stay so I could see how long it would take to get home.
The marshrutka’s engine woes ended up adding an extra 30 minutes on to my return commute, and we all got dropped off about a 10 minute walk before my dorm. The good news? We did not have to pay.
And there you have it, more things to read and comment on. I will try to get around to blogging about last weekend, but we shall see.
AWAY!
Entry filed under: Irkutsk, Life, Siberia, Technology. Tags: .
1.
Erin | February 19, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Wow, you are so cheap! Isn’t 10 rubles like 30 cents? So you didn’t take another marshrutka going in the right direction to save 30 cents? Bus tickets here are 2 litas–that is like 80 cents. Marshrutkas are even more. I think 3 litas? Although when you are here it is summertime. Beautiful weather so we can walk everywhere.
Just ask mom.
2.
andrewjwilliams87 | February 19, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I had already missed my class, so I might as well save the money. Plus I only have a limited number of 10 ruble notes, so I like to conserve them. Bus drivers don’t like to dole out change, but they will if they have to.
3.
andrewjwilliams87 | February 19, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Oh, and if that is not a good enough answer, listen to Pat Green’s song, “We’ve All Got Our Reasons.”
4.
Matt | February 19, 2010 at 4:37 pm
There’s a guy you’ve got, driving marshutkas down the street, must be out of his mind.
He’s got a couple of degrees from some universities, he’s way overqualified.
You all wonder what it is about that work a genius finds so pleasin, but you guess we’ve all got our reasons.
5.
Erin | February 19, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Is it about marshrutkas?
I see. I feel you on needing the small bills. I often take take taxis and they don’t want to give you paper bills, just change. I wish the ATMs dispensed money in 20 lita bills. My life would be much easier.
6.
Erin | February 24, 2010 at 4:02 pm
You are going to be in a marshrutkaload of trouble if you do not post another blog soon.
7.
andrewjwilliams87 | February 24, 2010 at 4:22 pm
ok, ok. sometime tomorrow night maybe.