The Lawless Roads of Yerevan

While Istanbul was a completely different type of Hell due to the traffic and roads, where motorbikes casually road on the pathways and the honking of horns never ended, Armenia seems to have its own insanity when it comes to roads and the art of private transport. Though, I can't help but find this one to be incredibly fun. Yerevan is a very historic city. The nation itself is one of the oldest, even down to the language. It makes sense that the people appreciate the old. The items of the past that still are capable of serving their functions. Cars, trucks, vans, motorbikes, and even industrial vehicles all seem to have their own special charm here. To roam the streets is to see the past and present mixed together in such a fun blend. You never feel as if you're getting too much of one thing, that each street contains a fresh surprise. From an old Lada to some completely roughed up car missing parts, yet still driving around. I mean, even the working taxi cars contain huge dents and scratches, parts missing.

Even in the city centre, where one may assume this are modern and new, it's quite the opposite. I saw the oldest, rustiest looking bus chugging away. Something Soviet era for sure, towering over the smaller Soviet era buses which still function also. Little yellow buses that make a weird beeping noise when the doors open, and are packed with people. For 100 dram, about 20 pence, they'll take you around the city and to the outskirts. I've seen old Subaru's busted up, coated in dust tucked away by apartment buildings, telling their own stories despite the neglect and idleness. Weirdly, even with the city being relatively poor, you still see the modern sports car running through Yerevan. I'm not one to care for cars, especially sports cars, but this contrast is so fun!

I've been thinking of starting a little series with the odd vehicles I come across here on Liketu. It's amazing what I can come across with just a few hours of walking around. Every single one of these photographs was taken within one day. And funnily that weird gold and glittered monstrosity was parked outside a supermarket, next to it a few cars down the damaged one that looked ready to fall apart. Never before have I seen such variety. Such tacky styles. Such broken down piles of crap. But again, each of them tell a story. And I love it!

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